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One question I'd have is how easy is it to get into an apprenticeship program? I have a friend who's working at a dealership driving and shining cars with the h

One question I'd have is how easy is it to get into an apprenticeship program? I have a friend who's working at a dealership driving and shining cars with the hope that after some period he'll become an actual mechanic apprentice, so the situation seems like it's less than a sure thing (my friend had a scare when someone tried to pull scam claiming my friend had dented his car and police report would be filed, which can be bad for a commercial driver).

xemdetia 8y ago
I'm no expert but if you are at a dealership trying to become a mechanic by detailing cars that seems like a weird/longshot unless there is a specific program to take people without certification and apply them to their specialized program from being a porter. I imagine that most people that start off at dealerships probably start off certified or with experience. If I was this person I would ask an independent shop and also a chain shop (Midas, Jiffy Lube) what the best way into the industry was if they don't want to go through trade school and get a basic automotive certification. I feel like dealerships for better or worse generally aren't in the business of training people from scratch (or have stringent requirements from corporate on who they can have service cars for warranty work) unless they have a damn good reason. Then there's also the usual questions you should give your friend: are you sure that this dealership knows you want to become a mechanic? Are they just wanting you to be porter? Are you friendly with the head mechanic and the mechanic staff or are you more friendly with the sales part of the dealership? Does the head mechanic know you want to become an apprentice? Have other porters become apprentice mechanics at this dealership? It also is worth asking if the mechanic's shop is an hourly or flat rate shop. A flat rate shop maybe not be the easiest place to get an apprentice compared to an hourly shop where taking an extra five minutes to explain something is not going to cut another mechanic's pay.
nimbius 8y ago
I think you're right, its not always easy. Apprenticeship is mostly based on the strength of a union. Mileage varies state to state That having been said if your friend is young I'd absolutely recommend trade school. Its relatively inexpensive and based around regular adult working schedules for the most part. 2 years is always faster than just hope, but if not, definitely hold management accountable for offering that hope. Make sure its known that buffing fenders is his temporary goal and ask about the requirements for apprenticeship often, if there are any.

xemdetia 8y ago

I'm no expert but if you are at a dealership trying to become a mechanic by detailing cars that seems like a weird/longshot unless there is a specific program to take people without certification and apply them to their specialized program from being a porter. I imagine that most people that start off at dealerships probably start off certified or with experience. If I was this person I would ask an independent shop and also a chain shop (Midas, Jiffy Lube) what the best way into the industry was if they don't want to go through trade school and get a basic automotive certification. I feel like dealerships for better or worse generally aren't in the business of training people from scratch (or have stringent requirements from corporate on who they can have service cars for warranty work) unless they have a damn good reason. Then there's also the usual questions you should give your friend: are you sure that this dealership knows you want to become a mechanic? Are they just wanting you to be porter? Are you friendly with the head mechanic and the mechanic staff or are you more friendly with the sales part of the dealership? Does the head mechanic know you want to become an apprentice? Have other porters become apprentice mechanics at this dealership? It also is worth asking if the mechanic's shop is an hourly or flat rate shop. A flat rate shop maybe not be the easiest place to get an apprentice compared to an hourly shop where taking an extra five minutes to explain something is not going to cut another mechanic's pay.

nimbius 8y ago

I think you're right, its not always easy. Apprenticeship is mostly based on the strength of a union. Mileage varies state to state That having been said if your friend is young I'd absolutely recommend trade school. Its relatively inexpensive and based around regular adult working schedules for the most part. 2 years is always faster than just hope, but if not, definitely hold management accountable for offering that hope. Make sure its known that buffing fenders is his temporary goal and ask about the requirements for apprenticeship often, if there are any.