becoming auto mechanic in Canada with mechanical background

[Garak]

Originally Posted by clinebarger
It's sad that the "under-achievers" of society are the ones pushed toward "Trades", Like it doesn't take a smart, driven person to excel in a Trade?

Exactly. I think some students on both sides of the equation are being sold a bill of goods here. Smart people who would be good at trades are pushed elsewhere and people without all the academic skills are being pushed there under the ill conceived notion that it's somehow easy to do or some sort of shortcut, which isn't the case.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted by clinebarger
Originally Posted by Trav
Its a long road from DIY to a successful working mechanic. When I started and possibly Cline too it was probably easier than today but still not easy.



There were Apprenticeships back then that was a good alternative to Tech/Trade school, Although some stuff came harder to me because my lack of formal schooling.

Do Mechanic Apprenticeships even exist anymore? For the last 20+ years....All the inexperienced mechanics that get hired on where I've worked went to a trade school & still have to start at the bottom near minimum wage hourly!

There are VERY few that can start a career right-off on Flat Rate, Even if you can produce quality work with few come-backs.....Your efficiency, Especially on jobs your not familiar with, Will be VERY low.
Being familiar with OE, Alldata, Mitchell or whatever repair software the shop uses will greatly affect your efficiency, Spending 20 minutes to find torque specs won't fly.


I did both, trade school and apprenticeship although I was offered a job at the Chevy dealer (at the bottom) I worked at in my senior year in trade school I wanted to learn from and old school mechanic. Years later I had the opportunity to apprentice for a body man who had had multiple cars in magazines and shows, I leaped at the chance and it was the best thing I ever did.

I became lifelong friends with these guys and got an education from them you couldn't pay for. The thing these guys had in common was they were talented, very smart and were the among the best at what they did.
Today things are way different, every kid with the intelligence of little more than a bag of hammers expects to go to college, the rest try to go into the trades and we see the result, some of the worst trades people in history.

 

[Railrust]

In the US there is a real shortage of techs, people have left the trade and new people aren't coming in, which gives potential new mechanics leverage. Right now all these employers are looking for is a good driving record, good criminal record, some sort of formal training and you're hired. What happens after that is up to you. If you show a little something and have good work habits/reliable? They'll work with you. If not? It's off to the next guy (if there is a next guy, if not they'll keep you around for a while till they find the next guy).

It's a tough trade, you're going to have to hustle for everything you get, no one is going to hand you anything. If you make it, congratulations - you just made it in an industry that thinks 2 weeks of vacation and two sick days a year, are good enough. And benefits? Good Health insurance, retirement, profit sharing, bonuses, incentives...are mere afterthoughts. You'll get the bare minimum. But you'll always have a job if you're good. And if you're really good? I know guys making $130,000...not many but I know some.

 

[Trav]

It also helps if you have other skills that give you added value to the company eg transmission specialist, electrical specialist, machine shop skills, body shop skills, etc.
You right it can be a tough racket but for me its winding down because of my age but its been a lot of fun and made good money for a lot of years.