Mechanics

[CurtSD]

Heya wondering if anyone could give me some advice on a career and learning etc.

When I left compulsory education I choose as my GCSE subjects History, ICT, Geography and Sociology. I didnt have a clue what I wanted to do. After my GCSE's had finished and after passing everything but Geography I carried on into Sixth Form. I did this because college was too specific going with one subjects as AGAIN I didnt know what to do so I picked Sociology, Psychology and ICT for my A levels. Currently havent finished them and all I know is I dont want to do them as a career.

Which gets me to the present. Since taking my A levels I've started lessons, passed first time, got 2 cars (both Saxos :y:). Ive realised that during my ICT lessons I had been looking at cars, in my spare time I have been looking at cars, so I have found a subject im interested in, but I have failed to do any work on my car since im fucking useless mechanic as I dont even have a GCSE in technology.

So currently im looking at Apprenticeships and College. So im wondering as I know a couple of people on this site are trainee mechanics or are already fully fledged. What path would you suggest for me, going to college where they teach from basics which would be ideal or go for an apprenticeship which would be longer and will also have to teach from basics.

By the way im 18 already after going through Sixth Form. Thanks for reading I know it may be a bit long but thats the story. Thanks :y:

[Mieran]

Did you pass your A-levels?

Imo it'll be a waste enrolling for an apprenticeship if you can get into uni and do a degree.

[Saxo-Mike]

I went to college full time and now im a qualified level 2 mechanic, i dont want a job working in a garage i just wanted to learn how to fix stuff on my own. Saved myself a bit of money so far, and when i was at college they used to let the lads who had cars take them in to do services, lowering etc

[My4tt91]

like wat mieran said if u can get the chance 2 go 2 uni defonutly do it mate!
mechanics is orite i have been doin it for about 3 years at my local garage and it aint to bad but to be honest i wish i did somthing like sparky or plumber thats where the real money is but if u like cars n want 2 work on them go 4 it!

[CurtSD]

Ok thanks havent taken final exams yet for A level.

Thing is dont want to go Uni and didnt really see much I liked at Uni subject wise. Didnt see much to do with mechanics which is kinda the only thing thats keeping me occupied at the moment.

[Tontsy]

Did you pass your A-levels?

Imo it'll be a waste enrolling for an apprenticeship if you can get into uni and do a degree.

i studied for 3 years after school, and now taken a step back to become a trainee ... end of the day, its a trade to have under the belt.
who cares if its a wast of time, i enjoy it, and dont regret throwing 3 years away :y:

[Ocego_VTR]

I do panel beating and painting need to do my level 3 in a garage.

[DAN-VTS]

I regret being a mechanic, wish i had gone down another route to be honest

[CurtSD]

Any experience from someone who works in a garage, do they regret it, whats day to day work like?

Also looking at apprenticeship with the AA so has anyone done anything similar to this road side repairs etc

Thanks

Edit: Got a response while writing this.

[CurtSD]

I regret being a mechanic, wish i had gone down another route to be honest

Is there any reasons? Any more details.

[My4tt91]

Is there any reasons? Any more details.
if u get on wiv every1 in the garage and can have a good laugh then ur sorted lol! but just make sure its wat u defo want 2 do

[DAN-VTS]

wages are below average,working conditions poor, get treated like shit. going with the aa you prob wont get any of that, just depends if you want to do shift work. I used to love working on my car, when i was doing my apprenticeship people warned me about how shit it is but at the time i enjoyed it. But now i hate working on my car or any car to be honest.
At the end of the day you just have to try it, some people like it and cant complain,but personally i would rather be doing something else

[LeeM]

im going back to college at 22 to do mechanics, starting straight at IMI level 2 and then intend to carry on to level 3 all at college. they have told me they try to get the best guys work placements and most often suceed so hopefully i'll get to do that but ive been looking myself and havent found much in the way of apprenticeships but i'd rather get to at least level 2 before i go into a garage

[Paul]

I'm in a simular position as you.

I did ICT all throughout my education years, primary school>highschool>college. Worked as a computer engineer, then went back to college to do a level 3 diploma in software.

But as i did more and more i lost more and more interest in computers. Now i'm working as a barman and spending all my free time teaching myself about cars.

Just bought an old banger 1.1 106 to learn stuff on. As my brother did college>apprenticeship>fulltime mechanic. And he said he learnt fuckall the 3 years he was at colllege apart from how to use pen and paper writing notes.

[CurtSD]

I'm in a simular position as you.

I did ICT all throughout my education years, primary school>highschool>college. Worked as a computer engineer, then went back to college to do a level 3 diploma in software.

But as i did more and more i lost more and more interest in computers. Now i'm working as a barman and spending all my free time teaching myself about cars.

Just bought an old banger 1.1 106 to learn stuff on. As my brother did college>apprenticeship>fulltime mechanic. And he said he learnt fuckall the 3 years he was at colllege apart from how to use pen and paper writing notes.

Yeah main thing ive gathered from my A levels is I dont want to do them as a job. Got really interested in cars since ive been able to drive before then I lost interest as a kid. But only thing holding me back is its not a great paying job to say the least, not sure about any career advancements either.

[blackvtr08]

I was one year off been a fully qualified sparky(2 and half years at college), didnt like the work it was a ball ache when your at a different site everyday it wasnt hard it was just the same thing over and over.
Now 2 months off being a fully qualified car painter and love it, money isnt as good but my job is my hobby, the money i miss out on i make up for in cash jobs in my garage. Perks are painting your own car etc, cost me about 100 in materials to do a full wag on my car after de-locking etc.
If you like it go for it i dont regret a thing at the minute

[LeeM]

oh thats another thing im doing paint and body work along side repair and maintenance. already got my dad signed up to "invest" in my garage when ive had some experiance lol

[wobble_vtr]

if you want to do it mate then go for it, wages will prob increase the better you get, like moving onto better garages and doing homers and shit

tbh uni isnt all it cracked up to be, i wanted to draw cartoons since i could hold a pen, wen through the motions, art, higher art, advanced higher, uni, got my degree in animation and found i had lost interest in first year but just kept it up. done my dissertation on body alteration and modification and now im using my drawing skills to get into a tattoo appretinceship lol

[Ocego_VTR]

oh thats another thing im doing paint and body work along side repair and maintenance. already got my dad signed up to "invest" in my garage when ive had some experiance lol

Masking a right tw*t you know.

[LeeM]

think theres parts of every job thats a bit of a ballache tbh

[Ocego_VTR]

think theres parts of every job thats a bit of a ballache tbh

This is more than ballache lol i've been doing it for 2 years and its still a bastard.

[LeeM]

im just doing paint and body on the side so i have a qualification and can do the basics, dont wanna specialise in spraying

[CurtSD]

Thanks lads has been helpful. Think il have a look at apprenticeships firstly while applying for a college course if i can find one so if I fail to find apprenticeship can fall back on the college course in september hopefully.

Panic at lunch about my future and by midnight ive got a plan lol

Sax p :y:

[LeeM]

after five years working jobs i hate ive realised its important to do what you like, good luck finding something! my college course is only 2.5 days so plenty of time for part time work i'd probably be able to earn more with a bar job or something than i would on an apprenticeship lol

[0rang3peel]

good luck in whatever you decide, im like paul did ICT all the way and now I can't stand fixing computer crap.

I have yet to find something else to warrant a career change tho