Adult apprenticeships - whos done one?

[FormulaFG]

I'm seeking a change and have considered doing an adult apprenticeship. I am seeking advice or experience from those of you that have done one.

How much do you earn? Can you actually live off it? What industry/apprenticeship was it? How did it work out for you?

Write up your experiences and advice in here. Would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Franco Cozzo]

Its going to be hard to land because they have to pay you more over a junior apprentice. I've done the automotive apprenticeship but not as an adult apprentice, just the regular junior apprentice.

If you're going to do it, don't do it in the automotive industry as the pay is crap and the conditions are worse, unless you get in somewhere with heavy vehicle/earth moving/agricultural equipment and A/C experience otherwise you'll be going backwards in pay.

Seriously you might as well as work at IGA stacking shelves than be a LV mechanic working at a small local shop as the pay rate is the same.

Find out what field you want to do it in and do a pre-apprenticeship Cert II course at TAFE, its pretty much a prerequisite to get a look-in as it knocks over just about all of your first year of schooling.

[Trevor 57]

I am a TAFE teacher (not in a trade area), there are heaps who do adult apprenticeships from what I see, I guess it all depends on what you want to do, I am not sure about the money.

My son did one (he was 22 when he started) as a builder, he was on **** money for the first couple of years, probably more to do with the **** bloke he worked for I reckon

[Franco Cozzo]

One of the guys I went to trade school with at Richmond Kangan Institute was an adult apprentice auto electrician, first year he was on $13/hour but that was back in 2011 so things might be different now.

[FPV GTHO]

I was looking into this last year, I got told by a few electrical agencies the employer paid the same for junior/adult, it was up to Centrelink to make up the rest.

[boss310]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Seriously you might as well as work at IGA stacking shelves than be a LV mechanic working at a small local shop as the pay rate is the same.

Really?

In my opinion the cream always rises to the top, a basic, 38 hour mechanic with no drive or ambition will most likely stay on **** wages, someone with a bit of go in them, would be off, earning better money utilising the skills he or she learnt over 4 or 5 years.

I would defo take an adult apprentice, good young blokes, today are few and far between and don't seem to want to work for it.

Spike

[FormulaFG]

Definitely staying away from the auto sector. Looking into building. Plumber/gas fitter has triggered some interest.

[LyleXR8]

I've done it but mine was a bit different, I'd been building since I was 17, sub contracting to bigger companies, on wages as an employee etc. I'm my mid 20s after working with one guy for 3 or 4 years and getting paid full qualified chippy rates I asked him if I could get my paperwork side of things signed off while I was working for him, he had no dramas at all, he did lose me for trade school blocks which was only about 8 or 9 weeks worth coz I RPL'd nearly everything else, and the kickbacks from the government well and truly made up for the time I was away from work, I couldn't tell you what the minimum hourly rate of pay is for an adult apprentice but Ive heard it's still pretty ****, either gotta have a full time working partner to carry you through or if your single it's at the point where you'll have to move back home with the parents and lose your party life for a year or 2,

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by FormulaFG

Definitely staying away from the auto sector. Looking into building. Plumber/gas fitter has triggered some interest.

I've been told several times that plumbing and electrical is where there's money to be made.

[boss310]

A lot of that is pretty normal Lyle, I started 22 years ago earning a little over $4 per hour as a fitting/machining apprentice, I had to live at home, had an XA coupe with a 4v clevo I could only afford to drive for a few minutes each Thursday, but that was life, It's definitely worth it if you can scrape through. It gets heaps better.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by boss310

Really?

In my opinion the cream always rises to the top, a basic, 38 hour mechanic with no drive or ambition will most likely stay on **** wages, someone with a bit of go in them, would be off, earning better money utilising the skills he or she learnt over 4 or 5 years.

I would defo take an adult apprentice, good young blokes, today are few and far between and don't seem to want to work for it.

Spike

I live in the real world and worked in Melbourne where shop Auto Electricians get paid $19.50/hour around Melbourne, and auto electricians get paid more than LV Mechanics bud.

Which is why I left

[boss310]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I've been told several times that plumbing and electrical is where there's money to be made.

For sure, heaps of avenues for cash jobs after hours and good pay to start with.

[calais]

I believe the light vehicle 'apprenticeship' schemes these days are a rort.

38 hours a week to mop floors and get treated like your nothing more than a shops lackey all the while being told your lucky to have a job and someone paying for your 'education'. Unfortunately this is all too often the case of disgusting employment conditions and poor support.

I felt exactly what that was like in 2004 working for A large luxury dealership in Parramatta. I lasted three months, resigned and never looked back. I finished my trade certificate working for a one man show working solely on Honda and Subaru in a single hoist shop. I learnt more in three years there than I ever would have learnt at the large dealership. He respected my effort and paid me tradesman wages, it was my responsibility to pay my reasonable tafe fees and buy tools as I went along.

I do however wonder what the conditions would be like a chippy though, but I'd only do that through the ADF where the salary and benefits are second to none during the training phase, fully qualified I'd jump ship.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by FormulaFG

Definitely staying away from the auto sector. Looking into building. Plumber/gas fitter has triggered some interest.

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I've been told several times that plumbing and electrical is where there's money to be made.

My son who is the builder said if he had his time again he would do an electrical or plumbing apprenticeship, good money and big demand post apprenticeship, subby builders get **** money, their wages are driven down by the big domestic builders (and by themselves under-cutting each other)

[LyleXR8]

not wrong there trev, ive got mates still in vic working for 35 bucks an hour as subbies to the big mobs, the only way they make money is the tax benefits they claim back at tax time and meeting the clients onsite for the new houses they build then doing there patios, decks, retaining walls as cashies after they move in

[mex351]

OK my 2 bobs...I'm a adult apprentice @ 41 and earn $35 or so a hr.But it's worth every cent in the industry I work. If I get a job after my time is up (thanks to the gov) my wage will only go up $200-250 odd a fortnight

Just saying...

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I've been told several times that plumbing and electrical is where there's money to be made.

Good money playing with turds, Ever seen a poor plumber ?

[Giant Cranium]

id be a plumber if i could do it again, being a chippy is good but to make big money you have to be prepared to lose it all.

re adult apprentice, if you can be told what to do by a trade 10 years younger then go for it.
nothing worse than having a 40 year old apprentice not listen to you coz you are young

[tut0r]

I've thought of doing adult apprenticeships but was turned off by the amount of people who don't want to employ me! But that's painting for you, been doing it 5 years and the only work I can get is sub contracting at around $25ph which is seriously making me think of a career change.

Hell I've even thought about stacking shelves at woolies as nightfill....They're on the same rate.....My only advice if you go ahead? Be prepared to put up with a lot of **** and work hard, but supposedly its worth it in the end! I wouldn't know I'm not up to that bit yet!

[capesy]

I think the first year adult apprentices i work with are on around $15 dollars an hour as a diesel mechanic

[FormulaFG]

Great insights fellas, keep em coming.

My brother in law is a builder, does very well, mostly cash in hand after hours. Will ask him to ask around for me.

Should mention I'm 32. I do not have an ego and am willing to listen to anyone who shares their knowledge regardless of their age. I have a brain too, not like a lot of these young snots getting around these days.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

My son who is the builder said if he had his time again he would do an electrical or plumbing apprenticeship, good money and big demand post apprenticeship, subby builders get **** money, their wages are driven down by the big domestic builders (and by themselves under-cutting each other)

Any of the licensed trades would be OK. But being an old(er) bloke, I say choose one that you can stay in in later life. I have three under my belt, Fitter and Machinist, Air conditioning/Refrigeration and Electrician. Being a sparky suits me now as no heavy tools or equipment to cart around and really, you only need a screwdriver and pair of pliers to make a quid.

[FormulaFG]

Originally Posted by olfella

Any of the licensed trades would be OK. But being an old(er) bloke, I say choose one that you can stay in in later life. I have three under my belt, Fitter and Machinist, Air conditioning/Refrigeration and Electrician. Being a sparky suits me now as no heavy tools or equipment to cart around and really, you only need a screwdriver and pair of pliers to make a quid.

True that. I'm not very big physically so lugging around long beams of timber aint for me. I've got to use my brain rather than brawn.

[LyleXR8]

Originally Posted by tut0r

I've thought of doing adult apprenticeships but was turned off by the amount of people who don't want to employ me! But that's painting for you, been doing it 5 years and the only work I can get is sub contracting at around $25ph which is seriously making me think of a career change

There are painters in town here charging 100 bucks an hour!!
Plumbers and sparkles the same or more, chippies 70-90

[56L]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Good money playing with turds, Ever seen a poor plumber ?

The main reason that electricians and plumbers get good money as they are less likely to be screwed by builders as the builders need both of those trades to sign off on the job with there license number to be complete.

If builders screw over these trades they need to find someone else to sign off which will cost a fortune.

Other trades get screwed all the time ,i was a plasterer for 12 years and i had to subby for chinese rates or not at all ( sydney,newcastle).

I was a construction foreman on the BER program and personaly witnessed Afgan painters painting small buildings inside and out for $1000.

These painters are hardly ever likely to become plumbers or electrians.

[56L]

As time as a foreman on Woloworths/Coles refurbs i have seen some trades earn very good money, commercial flooring subbies earn bucket loads ,alot of people dont see this as all the work during refurbs is done at night.

As for trades on wages it would be hard to beat commercial refridgeration mechanics ( and thats not counting the tons of scrap copper they haul away on each job)

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I live in the real world and worked in Melbourne where shop Auto Electricians get paid $19.50/hour around Melbourne, and auto electricians get paid more than LV Mechanics bud.

Which is why I left

This must be the exception not the rule?

I've been looking around a couple of places in Melb as diesel mech and told I'd be on $35-40/hr plus over time and call out rates. Sparky/AC tech be similar or more for a decent one going off other places I've worked, they usually command higher rates.

To the OP, too many people don't see that an apprenticeship is only 4 or so years, and if you're good, maybe half that of crap pay. Not a long time to make financial and lifestyle sacrifices to compensate for the low wage. Show initiative, study in your own time every week, don't be a know all, take interest and pride in what you're doing and if your employer is good then your pay will adjust to suit. It's not all doom and gloom, those who whinge about how hard apprentice wages are were probably the sacks of **** for their year and the first ones to grab a broom because they couldnt be ****** doing anything else.

[jstanovic]

In 2001 I started my electrical apprenticeship at 22years old. $8/hr for the first 2 years but I didn't care, I lived at home and saved my money. Well worth it and is paying off now I work for myself.

My old boss would hire adult apprentices and only had one dud. Had many dud young blokes that's for sure! One of my apprentices started at 51 and he was awesome. Never complained once, got the job done, was always on time and reliable. And because of that I treated him like a tradesman and he respected that and worked hard while I was in charge.

Just check the pay rates where you are. I know the sparky scene in Melbourne is a bit down after a couple of big players shut their doors. My advice would be to get a job as a TA in whatever you want to do to see if you like the work before committing to an apprenticeship.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

This must be the exception not the rule?

I've been looking around a couple of places in Melb as diesel mech and told I'd be on $35-40/hr plus over time and call out rates. Sparky/AC tech be similar or more for a decent one going off other places I've worked, they usually command higher rates.

To the OP, too many people don't see that an apprenticeship is only 4 or so years, and if you're good, maybe half that of crap pay. Not a long time to make financial and lifestyle sacrifices to compensate for the low wage. Show initiative, study in your own time every week, don't be a know all, take interest and pride in what you're doing and if your employer is good then your pay will adjust to suit. It's not all doom and gloom, those who whinge about how hard apprentice wages are were probably the sacks of **** for their year and the first ones to grab a broom because they couldnt be ****** doing anything else.

HV Mechanics are different, they're the only auto tradies on decent coin, and same with the auto elecs servicing that industry, but light vehicles, forget it.

Even auto elecs with AC license, $19/hour is the going rate for just light vehicle industry and they can't afford to pay you more.

The problem comes from where you do your apprenticeship, if you do it in the LV industry you'll get stuck there as you just don't get the look in for the HV stuff,as you don't have that experience.

You really need agricultural/earth moving and heavy vehicle experience to get the good $$$ otherwise you join the mass of LV boys and get stuck there.

I was the first apprentice through my shop to get the AC certificate and licensing, and did it all on my own back and cost.

I guess it comes down to $$$, the people who own heavy vehicles will spend what ever it takes to get their vehicle back on the road, if you give a customer a bill over $500 to fix their car they spit chips and your the worst person in the world.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

In 2001 I started my electrical apprenticeship at 22years old. $8/hr for the first 2 years but I didn't care, I lived at home and saved my money. Well worth it and is paying off now I work for myself.

My old boss would hire adult apprentices and only had one dud. Had many dud young blokes that's for sure! One of my apprentices started at 51 and he was awesome. Never complained once, got the job done, was always on time and reliable. And because of that I treated him like a tradesman and he respected that and worked hard while I was in charge.

Just check the pay rates where you are. I know the sparky scene in Melbourne is a bit down after a couple of big players shut their doors. My advice would be to get a job as a TA in whatever you want to do to see if you like the work before committing to an apprenticeship.

I started out on $7.05/hour in 2010 man.