Career change to mechanic ?

[Rotunda82]

I'm 25 and completely fed up with my current job as a plumber - hate it in fact so was thinking about a career change and as I've always had a keen interest in cars thought I might give it a try ?

I know that at 25 I will find it difficult as I have missed the standard 16-24 age intake but you never know

So to all the mechanics out there - what are job prospects like at the minute ? - I've heard mixed opinions some say terrible and that small garages are closing - some say booming because people can do less and less to their own motors with all the new technology ?

Also I know apprentices wages are crap ( been there once ) but what sort of wages can a qualified mechanic expect to earn ? £22000 ?

Just looking around at the moment and talking to some main dealers in my area to get a feel for things - Havent fully decided yet but I do know that I can't wait to leave plumbing behind me

Cheers for any replies

 

[Watchmaker]

Just an observation from someone with no connections, or experience, in either the motor trade or plumbing. The motor trade is changing fast. Gone are the days of repairing every faulty item, and present day skills are in a totally different area from, say 30/40 years ago. The skills required now are mostly in the electronic, diagnostic etc areas and, who knows, is the time not far off when engines/ gearboxes etc are never opened up in the workshop, thus making almost every vehicle component an exchange item. Having said all that, motor technology IS still interesting and demanding, requiring different skills but, quite possibly, not so challenging as in the past.
It seems to me that plumbing has also undergone similar changes, ie, simply fitted components, no pipe threading or lead work but, with the current emphasis on energy conservation and solar and wind powered systems, are future career prospects equal, if not better, than the motor industry?
Is there a danger that your total disillusionment with plumbing might also be found in the motor trade and that you have to think long and hard about a change of career? There are still great skills required in both (and many other) technical careers but, my view is that you do have to consider how they are rapidly changing.

 

[^neo^]

I'd stick to what you know if you want to be rich!

All the fun has been taken out of being a mechanic by technology, unless you specialise in older cars only.
Nowadays you don't need much of a brain, just a computer. Plug the car in, computer says whats up, undo the 4 bolts and swap the faulty part and job done.
When the computer says there is nothing wrong with the car then the mechanics at most dealerships are stumped because they don't have the first clue where to start looking for the problem!

 

[Richard C]

Totally agree with the above posts. I’m an 'older' & well qualified mechanical engineer but cars & working with them have always been my first love. I’ve always dabbled over the years & have several friends in the trade, including 2 freelance with their own well equipped w/shops. They are concerned they have only a limited time left in the trade &, sadly, I think the days are numbered for independents like them. There is increasingly little they can do on modern car engines, apart from changing the oil & plugs, without the necessary & very expensive equipment & so increasingly have to rely on general servicing to make ends meet. There is also the possibility of some frightening legislation which (if ever introduced) would not only rule out DIY servicing but kill off most independents as well.

It’s a far cry from tinkering with the car on Sunday morning & unless you want to specialise in classics (which is another world), I'd stick to the plumbing or become a sparky; at least you should be able to earn a good living!

 

[andyandy2]

I would agree with the above posts i've been in the motor trade since leaving school, last 20+ years self employed, and i would get out if i could its just knowing what to do (everyone always thinks the grass is greener) its always been a poorly paid, dirty trade (hgv's especially) and dabbling with cars in spare time as a hobby is much different than trying to make a full time living from it. One thing which hasn't been mentioned is that modern vehicles with all the technology do not need as much maintenance, service intervals are 20 even 30,000 miles and are still running well then, (years ago cars would be serviced because they were running rough,poor brakes etc, and the change in the vehicles performance, economy was very noticeable to the customer, after a good service, not so much nowadays) in fact alot of vehicles only get looked at at mot time, the diagnostic problems as suggested can be a nightmare even with the right equipment, gone are the days of stripping and rebuilding engines, new cranks and pistons etc, which did give a lot of job satisfaction. Vehicles are becoming more part of our "throw away" society, not needing major repairs untill they are quite old and low value. I'm sure we are not far away from sealed engines (top up oil only) trials have been done on hgv's using synthetic oils, with once yearly oil changes, clocking up well over 100,000 miles, which is approaching the lifespan of alot of cars. Sorry if i've rambled on its along time since i've worked in a main dealer so maybe someone else can give you a different story, (bonus schemes and job times, that's a totally differnt story lol) stick to the plumbing Good luck