any one know off any garages in the kildare laois offaly area taken on aperntices? because ive been putting this off for to long
TGi
QUOTE(TGi666 @ Oct 30 2006, 02:40 PM) [snapback]37735[/snapback]
any one know off any garages in the kildare laois offaly area taken on aperntices? because ive been putting this off for to long
Can be a bit tricky gettin one because of the influx of qualified foreigners , its easier and cheaper for employers to hire these guys then to go through all the hassle of training appentises
any one know off any garages in the kildare laois offaly area taken on aperntices? because ive been putting this off for to long
Can be a bit tricky gettin one because of the influx of qualified foreigners , its easier and cheaper for employers to hire these guys then to go through all the hassle of training appentises
G
Do you really want to be a mechainic???
Id think long and hard about it mate, if I where you!
Id think long and hard about it mate, if I where you!
The only way I'd work as a mechanic would be if I was working for myself, it's the only way to get paid well enough to take the hardship
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more to the point,
can you afford to live on absolute shit money for four years while you serve your time?
I remember spending 70 quid a week on petrol while I was earning 100 punts a week as a second year apprentice.....and I'm not that old ( I'm 30) and its not that long ago
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and I was on 20 quid a week more than some of the lads I went to FAS with.
The money improves a bit in third and fourth year but the real kick in the teeth is when you qualify and (as happened a main dealer based friend of mine just a few months ago) and only get a 40 or 50 euro bump up.....
Theres also a huge amount of bullshit talked about what qualified mechanics are taking home, the general trend seems to be to talk up the wages,so be careful when listening to what lads say they are making.
The other thing to bear in mind is the cost of equipment, you need to spend fuck all on tools to start as a tiler,chippie,block layer, sparky etc,but even a basic starter set with all you need to work on modern cars will get to over a grand and thats buying shite, not snap on and most garages will expect you to have your own tools,
It is possible to earn a good living at this game, but for every lad who manages it, theres twenty more who dont.... and forget about hanging with your mates down the pub on Saturdays and having evenings off during the week, if you want to serve your time you'll be working every hour god sends just to make ends meet and even when you're qualified, a 39 hour week wont leave you flush.
We( like a lot more garages these days) dont take on apprentices,as to be honest, when they start they cant do fuck all and expensive qualified lads spend to much time supervising them and checking their work, so even if the apprentice was free,it still doesnt really make sense for us.
Unfortunately as Dirty1 said, its much easier for us to take on a qualified polish guy with ten years experience and pay him decent wages, than spend four years getting someone up to speed while on shite money, who may not even be that good when they're finished training.
Think long and hard about it dude,
There are easier trades to make a living from.
can you afford to live on absolute shit money for four years while you serve your time?
I remember spending 70 quid a week on petrol while I was earning 100 punts a week as a second year apprentice.....and I'm not that old ( I'm 30) and its not that long ago
The money improves a bit in third and fourth year but the real kick in the teeth is when you qualify and (as happened a main dealer based friend of mine just a few months ago) and only get a 40 or 50 euro bump up.....
Theres also a huge amount of bullshit talked about what qualified mechanics are taking home, the general trend seems to be to talk up the wages,so be careful when listening to what lads say they are making.
The other thing to bear in mind is the cost of equipment, you need to spend fuck all on tools to start as a tiler,chippie,block layer, sparky etc,but even a basic starter set with all you need to work on modern cars will get to over a grand and thats buying shite, not snap on and most garages will expect you to have your own tools,
It is possible to earn a good living at this game, but for every lad who manages it, theres twenty more who dont.... and forget about hanging with your mates down the pub on Saturdays and having evenings off during the week, if you want to serve your time you'll be working every hour god sends just to make ends meet and even when you're qualified, a 39 hour week wont leave you flush.
We( like a lot more garages these days) dont take on apprentices,as to be honest, when they start they cant do fuck all and expensive qualified lads spend to much time supervising them and checking their work, so even if the apprentice was free,it still doesnt really make sense for us.
Unfortunately as Dirty1 said, its much easier for us to take on a qualified polish guy with ten years experience and pay him decent wages, than spend four years getting someone up to speed while on shite money, who may not even be that good when they're finished training.
Think long and hard about it dude,
There are easier trades to make a living from.
Bricklayers are by far the best paid tradesmen & work the least amount of hours.....if you want to earn big money, work small hours & retire well before the rest of the tradesmen with a number of properties rental income to live on, that's the one for you!
No dont you'll nearly always be changing job trying to get that bit better and as one of the lads said for every lad that makes good money at it another 20 dont. and al the lads i know who aree doing well out of mechanics are tunning their own garages and you need money behind you for that.
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents
I always wanted to start as mechanic too and again my old man turned me off the idea and so started in the electrical trade, but I have to say, not only should you think long and hard about what trade but about starting a trade at all. I finished school 7 years ago, never wanted to go to college just wanted to work. After serving my time as a spark and dont get me wrong I loved and still love the work but I packed it in last year and went back to college as a full time student. So much more to be gained in the long run. To much cheap labour available in this country.
I understand that not everyones circumstances would allow such a change, and there are times when I wished I hadn't left the trade.
Nothin ventured, nothing gained!
I understand that not everyones circumstances would allow such a change, and there are times when I wished I hadn't left the trade.
Nothin ventured, nothing gained!
I decided that after nearly 4 years of being a programmer and on very good money i wanted a change and signed up with my mates garage. 160 quid a week through FAS, then overtime for saturdays. I never had a night off and was shelling out a fortune for tools on the drip, good but affordable stuff like Facom and Britool. Luckily enough i used to get my dinners up at the garage for free, if not i would have been broker!
Off to FAS and even worse off. Think long and hard about it. Common enough thing now is once ur qualified the garage lays u off.
Most mechanics i know are buying and selling stuff on the side to earn a few quid, but 6 days weeks and late nights are a must.
Off to FAS and even worse off. Think long and hard about it. Common enough thing now is once ur qualified the garage lays u off.
Most mechanics i know are buying and selling stuff on the side to earn a few quid, but 6 days weeks and late nights are a must.
QUOTE(RICHIE L @ Oct 31 2006, 12:38 PM) [snapback]37885[/snapback]
I always wanted to start as mechanic too and again my old man turned me off the idea and so started in the electrical trade, but I have to say, not only should you think long and hard about what trade but about starting a trade at all. I finished school 7 years ago, never wanted to go to college just wanted to work. After serving my time as a spark and dont get me wrong I loved and still love the work but I packed it in last year and went back to college as a full time student. So much more to be gained in the long run. To much cheap labour available in this country.
I understand that not everyones circumstances would allow such a change, and there are times when I wished I hadn't left the trade.
Nothin ventured, nothing gained!
That can be very hard to see though at times. I spent 3 years in college after studying hard for leaving cert and then a further 3.5 years in a training contract (with crap money for first 2 anyway) with exams to get my professional qualification (like most prof qualifications) and i know mates of mine in the tiling trade are earing more than I am, and without working an huge amount of hours more than me. I know that in the long run going to college etc is usually the better option but lately it is proving harder to justify it!!!
I always wanted to start as mechanic too and again my old man turned me off the idea and so started in the electrical trade, but I have to say, not only should you think long and hard about what trade but about starting a trade at all. I finished school 7 years ago, never wanted to go to college just wanted to work. After serving my time as a spark and dont get me wrong I loved and still love the work but I packed it in last year and went back to college as a full time student. So much more to be gained in the long run. To much cheap labour available in this country.
I understand that not everyones circumstances would allow such a change, and there are times when I wished I hadn't left the trade.
Nothin ventured, nothing gained!
That can be very hard to see though at times. I spent 3 years in college after studying hard for leaving cert and then a further 3.5 years in a training contract (with crap money for first 2 anyway) with exams to get my professional qualification (like most prof qualifications) and i know mates of mine in the tiling trade are earing more than I am, and without working an huge amount of hours more than me. I know that in the long run going to college etc is usually the better option but lately it is proving harder to justify it!!!
QUOTE(Davec @ Oct 31 2006, 04:24 PM) [snapback]37949[/snapback]
Its not hard to justify...its impossible to justify.
true, Brick/blocklayers are the highest paid on any site, even more than the site managers!
how frustrating is that for everyone else
Its not hard to justify...its impossible to justify.
true, Brick/blocklayers are the highest paid on any site, even more than the site managers!
how frustrating is that for everyone else
If I could start again I would have gone to the Building Sites. After Skool I went to college for 4 years and got a job as a Computer Tech. Money/Hours are good but nothing like all my mates who hit the building sites after school. They worked hard for 3/4 years and now most of them are self employed with a load of lads working for them. Blocklaying was the best earner.
How much is it to lay a block now..........€1???
Best of Luck in whatever you do but remember what VST said about keeping in with your mates. Its very important in this day and age to have disposable income so you probably will end up working big hours as an apprentice to make any sort of €€€€€€€
How much is it to lay a block now..........€1???
Best of Luck in whatever you do but remember what VST said about keeping in with your mates. Its very important in this day and age to have disposable income so you probably will end up working big hours as an apprentice to make any sort of €€€€€€€
G
Wow, glad to see everyone is of the same opinion here, good thread, Listen well to what the guys are saying TGi666...
Firstly my Dad was a mechainic, he gave it up but still works in the motor trade, just behind a PC! Who wants to be up to their elbows in oil and hardship, listening to customers wanting it done on the cheap so you have to work every hour to earn enough, till you retire at 65, that is if you can afford to!
Every aspect of the car trade has crap pay, especially in the service end of things, theres always some half assed handy man willing to 'give it a go' and people are always looking to get it cheaper, so chance him over a main dealer! main dealers charge silly hourly rate's but the staff sure dont see it!
If you become a mechainic, you'll soon loose interest in your own cars as its all too much like work!
My dad's a mechainic of the old firm, he can fix things! Diagnose a problem and put it right, he's fed up of the crap mechainics in his dealership as they are just nut and bolt men, plugs filters, oil and pads! ask em to sort a problem, they cant, they just order enough bits and swap em all till the find whats wrong!
If you really want to get into the game, go off to college to do auto electrical work, no-one has a clue about electrics and thats where the money is! You can charge what you want!
I spent a while repairing bikes after Uni as the work was there, in the end I was fooling myself as the money wasnt and I ended up neglecting my own bike and thus not doing so good racing as I should have! Just not worth it!
As for the building trade.......... all good now but how long will it last, especially with all the cheap labour available!
I spent 7 years at UNI, what pissed me off was the guys who left school at 16 were lucky to be finished their apprenticeships as chippys etc before the Celtic tiger, thus as I qualified these guys where rolling flash cars, their own houses and their own companies!
Thats just this generation though, I know lots of my mates Dads who had to move to the UK or US to get work as brickies back in the day! Lifes a gamble.........!
I remember when Bohall became an apprentice, first thing he had to do was fork out silly money for tools, then try survive on feck all, he looked fucked from day one, dirty, tired and broke......different dude now though, hasnt looked back since he got out!
In the end, lifes not about the big dollar, its just Ireland and its current economy has everyone looking for the big house, 06 car and the apartment in Spain, thats all bull,
Do what you gotta do to get the dollar, at the end of the day, work is work, its what you do with the rest of your time that counts!
Firstly my Dad was a mechainic, he gave it up but still works in the motor trade, just behind a PC! Who wants to be up to their elbows in oil and hardship, listening to customers wanting it done on the cheap so you have to work every hour to earn enough, till you retire at 65, that is if you can afford to!
Every aspect of the car trade has crap pay, especially in the service end of things, theres always some half assed handy man willing to 'give it a go' and people are always looking to get it cheaper, so chance him over a main dealer! main dealers charge silly hourly rate's but the staff sure dont see it!
If you become a mechainic, you'll soon loose interest in your own cars as its all too much like work!
My dad's a mechainic of the old firm, he can fix things! Diagnose a problem and put it right, he's fed up of the crap mechainics in his dealership as they are just nut and bolt men, plugs filters, oil and pads! ask em to sort a problem, they cant, they just order enough bits and swap em all till the find whats wrong!
If you really want to get into the game, go off to college to do auto electrical work, no-one has a clue about electrics and thats where the money is! You can charge what you want!
I spent a while repairing bikes after Uni as the work was there, in the end I was fooling myself as the money wasnt and I ended up neglecting my own bike and thus not doing so good racing as I should have! Just not worth it!
As for the building trade.......... all good now but how long will it last, especially with all the cheap labour available!
I spent 7 years at UNI, what pissed me off was the guys who left school at 16 were lucky to be finished their apprenticeships as chippys etc before the Celtic tiger, thus as I qualified these guys where rolling flash cars, their own houses and their own companies!
Thats just this generation though, I know lots of my mates Dads who had to move to the UK or US to get work as brickies back in the day! Lifes a gamble.........!
I remember when Bohall became an apprentice, first thing he had to do was fork out silly money for tools, then try survive on feck all, he looked fucked from day one, dirty, tired and broke......different dude now though, hasnt looked back since he got out!
In the end, lifes not about the big dollar, its just Ireland and its current economy has everyone looking for the big house, 06 car and the apartment in Spain, thats all bull,
Do what you gotta do to get the dollar, at the end of the day, work is work, its what you do with the rest of your time that counts!
lads i tought long and hard about this i know for the first year all i will be earning is €171.50 every week and its something im prepared to do because ive helped a few people work on there cars before and i realy liked what i was doing even though it was hard and fustrating at times its something im realy prepared to do
well tom as u and anyone else on that met me here no im just a simple country chap. i worked real hard fot the lc and fell short on points. i managed 340 but fell back on maths!!
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i was gonna get an apprenticeship as i wud make a good tradesman(runs in the family) but then i got an offer for civil engineering in carlow it. i no its not the "best" college in the counry but i sed id give it a shot for the simple reason that no matter wat trade u do ur bound to get hardship. my father is a fabricater and works all hours and has no time for himself. i want a more comfortable like if i can stay in college and get it i will. an apprenticeship is my last resort
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All joking apart, regardless of whatever occupation or career you choose, there's nothing worse than poorly spelled communication. Some people think txt-speke is cool, when, in fact, it's next nigh impossible to read and intrepet.
A little time to check the spelling and to use the SHIFT key improves presentation no end.
As regards choosing mechanics as a career? If you're young enough, then go get the qualification but my advice to anyone choosing a career is to not be afraid to change your mind. If you graduate as a mechanic you show your aptitude in a certain discipline. If you feel being a mechanic is not for you then at least you have certain skills you can use elsewhere. One is never too old to change one's mind and never too old to change one's career. If you have a choice, and are undecided, then I'd only suggest you choose a career where you can work for yourself.
A little time to check the spelling and to use the SHIFT key improves presentation no end.
As regards choosing mechanics as a career? If you're young enough, then go get the qualification but my advice to anyone choosing a career is to not be afraid to change your mind. If you graduate as a mechanic you show your aptitude in a certain discipline. If you feel being a mechanic is not for you then at least you have certain skills you can use elsewhere. One is never too old to change one's mind and never too old to change one's career. If you have a choice, and are undecided, then I'd only suggest you choose a career where you can work for yourself.
QUOTE(PGTi @ Oct 31 2006, 08:44 PM) [snapback]38004[/snapback]
As regards choosing mechanics as a career? If you're young enough, then go get the qualification but my advice to anyone choosing a career is to not be afraid to change your mind. If you graduate as a mechanic you show your aptitude in a certain discipline. If you feel being a mechanic is not for you then at least you have certain skills you can use elsewhere. One is never too old to change one's mind and never too old to change one's career. If you have a choice, and are undecided, then I'd only suggest you choose a career where you can work for yourself.
How true
you dont have to be a mechanic after you qualify , all it means is you have the aptitued to learn .
If you wana make money , try get a trade as a auto electrician . Its a really good one to get as most mechanics dont have a clue about modern electrical and electronic systems .
As regards choosing mechanics as a career? If you're young enough, then go get the qualification but my advice to anyone choosing a career is to not be afraid to change your mind. If you graduate as a mechanic you show your aptitude in a certain discipline. If you feel being a mechanic is not for you then at least you have certain skills you can use elsewhere. One is never too old to change one's mind and never too old to change one's career. If you have a choice, and are undecided, then I'd only suggest you choose a career where you can work for yourself.
How true
you dont have to be a mechanic after you qualify , all it means is you have the aptitued to learn .
If you wana make money , try get a trade as a auto electrician . Its a really good one to get as most mechanics dont have a clue about modern electrical and electronic systems .
ive wanted to do mechanics since the junior cert but moving house getting a car then paying for it and so on ive had to put it off for a while i did my leaving cert got 200pionts i never tought id even make 100 let alone 200 but its always been my choice off career as i just like working on cars we used to have a fiat tipo and i took the engine apart in the car with €30 worth of tool tought it was great finding out what everthing did and since then i just wanted to go on from there and start an apprentiship
QUOTE(TGi666 @ Oct 31 2006, 09:06 PM) [snapback]38007[/snapback]
ive wanted to do mechanics since the junior cert but moving house getting a car then paying for it and so on ive had to put it off for a while i did my leaving cert got 200pionts i never tought id even make 100 let alone 200 but its always been my choice off career as i just like working on cars we used to have a fiat tipo and i took the engine apart in the car with €30 worth of tool tought it was great finding out what everthing did and since then i just wanted to go on from there and start an apprentiship
You can always do what you have described above without becoming a mechanic - The vast majority of people here and other car forums do yet it's not their profession! It's called a hobby. I often pity mechanics today as most of the time it appears to be rip and replace with very little troubleshooting other than using high tech diagnostic equipment - grass is always greener and when you are taking apart your engine in your own time without any commercial sensitivities it always seems better. Have a garage supervisor say get that done in 2 hours or client won't pay is slightly different.
Having said all that, if your heart is on it then go for it and don't let anything or anyone deter you. Some people get hung up on going down one path and staying on it eventhough they don't like it. You can always change your mind and try something else. Whats the phrase, I'd rather die regreting I did it rather than die regreting I didn't
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ive wanted to do mechanics since the junior cert but moving house getting a car then paying for it and so on ive had to put it off for a while i did my leaving cert got 200pionts i never tought id even make 100 let alone 200 but its always been my choice off career as i just like working on cars we used to have a fiat tipo and i took the engine apart in the car with €30 worth of tool tought it was great finding out what everthing did and since then i just wanted to go on from there and start an apprentiship
You can always do what you have described above without becoming a mechanic - The vast majority of people here and other car forums do yet it's not their profession! It's called a hobby. I often pity mechanics today as most of the time it appears to be rip and replace with very little troubleshooting other than using high tech diagnostic equipment - grass is always greener and when you are taking apart your engine in your own time without any commercial sensitivities it always seems better. Have a garage supervisor say get that done in 2 hours or client won't pay is slightly different.
Having said all that, if your heart is on it then go for it and don't let anything or anyone deter you. Some people get hung up on going down one path and staying on it eventhough they don't like it. You can always change your mind and try something else. Whats the phrase, I'd rather die regreting I did it rather than die regreting I didn't
QUOTE(Mike @ Oct 31 2006, 09:20 PM) [snapback]38008[/snapback]
Having said all that, if your heart is on it then go for it and don't let anything or anyone deter you. Some people get hung up on going down one path and staying on it eventhough they don't like it. You can always change your mind and try something else. Whats the phrase, I'd rather die regreting I did it rather than die regreting I didn't
![Image]()
its a hobbie at the moment but as the polo is diesel im stumped dont no a thing about diesels feel more at home working on a petrol but the lots of thing that i dont know but woild like to learn like last week one of me mates whos a mechanic showed me how to change discs and pads and im going to do my own in few weeks with him supervising ive droped my cv into the garage he's at but its lookin like next year befor i get an apprentiship there
![Image]()
Having said all that, if your heart is on it then go for it and don't let anything or anyone deter you. Some people get hung up on going down one path and staying on it eventhough they don't like it. You can always change your mind and try something else. Whats the phrase, I'd rather die regreting I did it rather than die regreting I didn't
its a hobbie at the moment but as the polo is diesel im stumped dont no a thing about diesels feel more at home working on a petrol but the lots of thing that i dont know but woild like to learn like last week one of me mates whos a mechanic showed me how to change discs and pads and im going to do my own in few weeks with him supervising ive droped my cv into the garage he's at but its lookin like next year befor i get an apprentiship there
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