Automotive Trade (getting Out)

mrgo40rd · 30-01-2007, 09:35 PM

Well ive had enought ive only worked in the automotive trade as a mechanic for the past seven years but ive had enought.firstly the money is crap you do a trade work on crap apprentice wages and at the end you dont earn much better. the award is $15.65 a hour (what a joke) its a skilled job.thank god i earn slightly more than that.you work your guts out for a company making them around 5k-6k a week in services and you take home $550 and you work dam hard for it.why would you wont to do a trade as a mechanic i must say you do have a great skill at the end but nobody wants to pay good money.well thats my ***** i wonder if anybody else has the same feelings as me.

Psycho Chicken · 30-01-2007, 09:36 PM

Where were you working if you don't mind me asking?

mrgo40rd · 30-01-2007, 09:38 PM

dealerships -mitso - alfa - subaru

irsa76 · 30-01-2007, 09:39 PM

Been there, done that and got out. Now a courier. One problem though, keep thinking about getting back in!

**thefargo** · 30-01-2007, 09:40 PM

with your skills, what's the alternative? is there more money in opening your own workshop? I guess you could have a total change of direction, but as you say you have learned skills and are good at it. I'm not a mechanic, but understand what you are saying, just am interested in what other options you have.

Dave_au · 30-01-2007, 09:43 PM

Tuner & Machinist?

Engineering?

MON10A · 30-01-2007, 09:45 PM

apply for jobs at mines,pick where you want to live and earn $$$ im on 85500+ super,most are screaming for people experienced or not

GXL078 · 31-01-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MON10A

apply for jobs at mines,pick where you want to live and earn $$$ im on 85500+ super,most are screaming for people experienced or not

What jobs can you do there that don't involve going underground?

mrgo40rd · 30-01-2007, 09:49 PM

opening a workshop is expensive looking at getting into the freight industry more money more chances of moving up the ladder a mate is helping me get a job i can earn more in 3 days than a week as a mechanic

ORESUMSR · 31-01-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgo40rd

opening a workshop is expensive looking at getting into the freight industry more money more chances of moving up the ladder a mate is helping me get a job i can earn more in 3 days than a week as a mechanic

Have you given any consideration to starting your own mobile workshop with a fully kitted out van?

A good mobile mechanic is worth his weight in gold and customers will keep coming back for the "Home" service.

Not too hard to set up, Van, tools, a GOOD eye catching ad in the yellow pages and some letterbox drops will probably see you under way and you only answer to yourself and your customer, no middle man hovering over you and dictating working conditions here.

MoreHPformyXR6 · 30-01-2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgo40rd

Well ive had enought ive only worked in the automotive trade as a mechanic for the past seven years but ive had enought.firstly the money is crap you do a trade work on crap apprentice wages and at the end you dont earn much better. the award is $15.65 a hour (what a joke) its a skilled job.thank god i earn slightly more than that.you work your guts out for a company making them around 5k-6k a week in services and you take home $550 and you work dam hard for it.why would you wont to do a trade as a mechanic i must say you do have a great skill at the end but nobody wants to pay good money.well thats my ***** i wonder if anybody else has the same feelings as me.

Im hearing you mate, not that im a mechanic but it seems like pretty hard work for a fully qualified tradesman of seven years experience to taking home $550 a week in Sydney after working your guts out & billing out 5k to 6k a week. Hope you got something to go too? Or you just walking without another job to go too? If its the later is that the best decision

:

sfr rob · 30-01-2007, 09:54 PM

I know what your on about mate....
I cant believe how bad the money is in the industry. You guys that are qualified have put in 4 or so years of learning, practical experience etc should be getting more than the kid flipping burgers at mcdonalds does.
There is simply no incentive for anyone to jump into the trade or to work at full steam when you are getting paid peanuts.

One word of advice, dont look into the Transport Industry, I am looking at getting out of it soon, It WAS good about 2 years ago, but too many new law's are being passed and making it harder and harder to do your job.

BlackBa · 30-01-2007, 10:01 PM

Dont get me goin on the crap wages , started in 1966 as an apprentice on 6pound per week.Got out in 1980 to do sales.Its a job i love but you coudnt live on the wage.Cleaners get better money. JCXR

HLC · 31-01-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfr rob

I know what your on about mate....
I cant believe how bad the money is in the industry. You guys that are qualified have put in 4 or so years of learning, practical experience etc should be getting more than the kid flipping burgers at mcdonalds does.
There is simply no incentive for anyone to jump into the trade or to work at full steam when you are getting paid peanuts.

One word of advice, dont look into the Transport Industry, I am looking at getting out of it soon, It WAS good about 2 years ago, but too many new law's are being passed and making it harder and harder to do your job.

I'm 19, and i get ALMOST $14ph flipping burgers :P

if i stay on a couple more years ill be earning like $20ph LOL

redranga · 31-01-2007, 09:38 PM

Im a diesel mechanic. I earn reasonable money here in SA but I consider the award wages for my trade to be a joke.

Consider what a sparky or a plumber earns. How hard are their trades? They are a piece of **** compared to mine.

A sparky plays with 3 wires - active earth and neutral and there colour coded. Electrics on what I work on is all black or all white wiring which the numbers wear off. Theres hundreds of wires in a vehicle.

A plumber unblock drains, fixes taps are plumbs up thing in copper pipe and brazes it together. Seems easy to me.

Both of these tradies are earning more than a mechanic.

A mechanic has to know how to fault find repair rebuild engs, trans, gearboxes, pumps, hydraulics, generators, starters, alternators etc etc which is all computer controlled these days.

A mechanic also plays with tyres, brakes, steering and suspension components of a vehicle which all effect safety.

Surely with all of this diversified and varying workload and responsibility for peoples safety we deserve a decent award wage?

Ford_V8 · 31-01-2007, 09:51 PM

I agree with you police, mechanics are like doctors for cars. Diagnose and repair. And when you think about it they take on the equivalent of many specialist roles as well, not only is it diagnose and repair, but also maintain, uprgade and customise. I think diesel is the way to go nowadays, I remember last year the first thing my engineering teacher did when he walked into the room was wave, and said "That's me saying goodbye to V8s and hello to diesel "

boss-290 · 01-02-2007, 08:23 AM

****, what am I supposed to do?

I'm about to do my second year of Cert 2 at TAFE in Automotive, and I want to get into an a apprenticeship once I finish VCE.

Of course Apprentice wages are going to be crap. But maybe in this blokes case its sour grapes, perhaps somebody is more liked than another. Jelousy of another, getting promotions and such.

I'm still going to fllow my Auto path. Theres nothing stopping you from getting back on the learning curve.

4.9 EF Futura · 01-02-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by police

Im a diesel mechanic. I earn reasonable money here in SA but I consider the award wages for my trade to be a joke.

Consider what a sparky or a plumber earns. How hard are their trades? They are a piece of **** compared to mine.

A sparky plays with 3 wires - active earth and neutral and there colour coded. Electrics on what I work on is all black or all white wiring which the numbers wear off. Theres hundreds of wires in a vehicle.

A plumber unblock drains, fixes taps are plumbs up thing in copper pipe and brazes it together. Seems easy to me.

Both of these tradies are earning more than a mechanic.

A mechanic has to know how to fault find repair rebuild engs, trans, gearboxes, pumps, hydraulics, generators, starters, alternators etc etc which is all computer controlled these days.

A mechanic also plays with tyres, brakes, steering and suspension components of a vehicle which all effect safety.

Surely with all of this diversified and varying workload and responsibility for peoples safety we deserve a decent award wage?

Here's the thing tho. Plumbers and sparkys demand such high pay because of the current labour market for their skills.

The complexity of the job is irrelevant. The important role a mechanic plays in safety is not the force that drives the remuneration.

It's about how many people need their skills and how many people are available to provide that skill. It's a market, the remuneration is the price.

nobbystang · 01-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by police

Consider what a sparky or a plumber earns. How hard are their trades?

A plumber unblock drains, fixes taps are plumbs up thing in copper pipe and brazes it together. Seems easy to me.

Playing with other peoples waste, you couldn't pay me enough to do that!!

boss-290 · 01-02-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nobbystang

Playing with other peoples waste, you couldn't pay me enough to do that!!

More simple and closed minded people. I don't get this society.

Somebody has to do it.

sfr rob · 30-01-2007, 09:55 PM

by the way, i dont roll out of bed for under $250, I dont know how you guys do it. Honestly.

MoreHPformyXR6 · 30-01-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfr rob

by the way, i dont roll out of bed for under $250, I dont know how you guys do it. Honestly.

Sounds like you have got a job rolling around in bed for $250 rofl.

:

mowog · 31-01-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfr rob

by the way, i dont roll out of bed for under $250, I dont know how you guys do it. Honestly.

**** I pay more than that in Tax per day...

I use to fix cars as well... I tried Aircraft for 20 years then got into IT... IT is so easy... No getting dirty in Aircon all day... And its not hard work.

Smoke Pursuit · 30-01-2007, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgo40rd

Well ive had enought ive only worked in the automotive trade as a mechanic for the past seven years but ive had enought.firstly the money is crap you do a trade work on crap apprentice wages and at the end you dont earn much better. the award is $15.65 a hour (what a joke) its a skilled job.thank god i earn slightly more than that.you work your guts out for a company making them around 5k-6k a week in services and you take home $550 and you work dam hard for it.why would you wont to do a trade as a mechanic i must say you do have a great skill at the end but nobody wants to pay good money.well thats my ***** i wonder if anybody else has the same feelings as me.

Pretty ****poor whne you consider what your boss would be charging you out at..

Green X · 30-01-2007, 09:57 PM

Pick up some HD Diesel units at Tafe and hit the mines, 100K+ easy and you will do less work.

I am a Mechanical fitter (3rd year) working in the Metro aria; soon as my time is up I will be Dust.

Got a mate who works for Chevron Texaco as a Fitter in WA, works 6 months of the year and that’s not including his annual leave and makes easy double what I do, Man I hate him for it, thou I what him to 2 tee me up a Job so I am nice LOL.

LUXO_8 · 30-01-2007, 10:04 PM

while im not a mechanic i am in the auto industry, been there 7 years and will be getting out this year.............
being full time employed on apprentice type wages sucks the big one

Miller · 30-01-2007, 10:05 PM

I always tried to convince my mate to leave cars as his hobby rather than his occupation.

He didn't listen and is now regretting is $300 a week apprentice wages.

EBFalcs · 30-01-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

I always tried to convince my mate to leave cars as his hobby rather than his occupation.

He didn't listen and is now regretting is $300 a week apprentice wages.

i learned that my self i started an apprenticeship in the auto industry, 5 months in i thought stuff this, i like working on cars as a hobby and at my own pace but not under this pressure and deadlines. and $240 a week, no wonder i quit.

FPV8U · 30-01-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

I always tried to convince my mate to leave cars as his hobby rather than his occupation.

He didn't listen and is now regretting is $300 a week apprentice wages.

Not the 1st case of this i have heard of, a mate of mine loved cars, did the same thing, just under a year later quit, bad wages, bad treatment and started hating his only real passion.

DJR MAN · 30-01-2007, 10:17 PM

Diesel shops are screaming out for mechanics, but make the switch now.
There are massive recruitment drives in schools and TAFE's to get kids into the diesel trades to counteract the shortfall. Get in the diesels now and get yourself established. Even working in a truck shop in a capital city will earn you good dollars, definatey better than the car industry, and usually there is regular paid overtime too.

After that then hit the mines.....$$$$$$$$$$$$

One more thing, don't tell the employment provider or diesel shop that "your 5 year plan" is to go to the mines. They'll drop you like a bad habit. They've had a gutful of training guys only to go to the mines, and losing their fully trained men.