NRR: How does someone actually become an apprentice in a trade?

You see, the auto mechanic industry is not structured at all.

You work until you are knowledgeable, then open your own business.

If you dont run your own business you will never make a ton. Probably 35k MAX.

I got started by going to a vw shop and literally said; i will do anything for $5 an hour.

Fast forwards 2 years and I am managing the shop while doing the work and scheduling. I am the only employee, lol. Unique situation to say the least, but I now make $13/hour and set my own hours. Probably around 25k a year pre tax.

I plan on opening my own business in a couple of years when the gf graduates with her degree. 98% of people in this industry don't understand that some people have a passion and enjoy work, and they are mostly pretty dumb. You have to make it for yourself.

Maybe not what you want to hear, but it's the reality.

being licensed/certified is over rated in this trade. too many little tricks to possibly test. If you aren't good then you F stuff up all the time and it's obvious.

Neither me or the owner of our shop have any official training and we are still the best shop around hands down.

xrunnerz wrote:

If you dont run your own business you will never make a ton. Probably 35k MAX.

Money isn't the goal. What I did in college would probably get me between 60-80k a year, but I absolutely hated it. As long as it pays the bills while I live modestly, I would rather enjoy what I do.

xrunnerz wrote:

98% of people in this industry don't understand that some people have a passion and enjoy work, and they are mostly pretty dumb.

Seems to be the case EVERYWHERE. People would rather take someone with experience even though they hate it over someone such as myself who would love to do what they do and wants to learn from them.

...though your comment about offering to do anything for $5 an hour is intriguing.

If I were you I would search out a specialty shop. Spend 2-3 years learning all the small tricks on the mid range and older cars (1995-2005,) while keeping up on newer stuff.

If you are a hard worker and a good cleaner(about 20% of the job) you should be able to make between 15-18k your first year. May not sound like much, but if you budget you will be ok, I support my gf, have 3 cars (part of the trade) and rent a moderate house. I've never had to go into debt or eat poorly for budget constraints

Dealerships simply pray that older cars (lets face it, 2005 is getting old and 1995 is practically an antique nowadays) dont come in, I would go to a dealership with that experience and show them that they can't function without you. Another 2-3 solid years and you have a 35-40k job as a cushy diagnostician.

Although you always have to stay on top of the new stuff that comes about.

#1 trick that 95% of american mechanics don't understand. INTERNET..

It has every single bit of information you need to take on just about anything car related that you can imagine. Googleing problems can solve 90% of them. You just have to learn how to search that genre efficiently on the web.

If I were going to make a career out of being an automotive related technician I would definitely aim for the dealership for the professionalism (hopefully) and job security.

#2 tip to remember. The money is in late model maintenance. Not aftermarket:

If someone says they want a cold air intake installed and you say $300, they leave thinking "was that worth it? can I tell the difference? maybe a little bit."

When someone comes in and says "I CANNOT STOP MY CAR" and you fix it, they leave feeling like, OMG, my mechanic saved my life! I can stop my car, my car was worthless without brakes and that shop made my car functional again ect ect ect.

You adopt a different way of thinking and looking at things.

But most importantly remember, you don't owe anyone else a favor unless they have done an equal or greater favor for you. Don't give in to sob stories. You have to eat and keep the lights on just the same as everyone else. It is a nice perk to help someone out but you are a business man there to make money first and foremost.