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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Automotive career choice
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Tue, 07 June 2005 06:22
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Hey people... I start a pre-employment course at TAFE soon and was trying to decide what area of automotive i would like to get into... I am really keen on auto-electrician, yet also really keen on working with suspension.
I am 6ft 2in and i would of thought it would be pretty uncomfortable working as an auto-electrican but Has anyone had any experience in these areas of automotive and any advice on which one is good for the long run, most beneficial etc....
Any help is much appreciated,
Michael
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Tue, 07 June 2005 11:17
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Anyone?
Michael
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Location:
melb
Registered:
March 2004
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Tue, 07 June 2005 12:10
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do what you enjoy and what you're good at
sab
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Wed, 08 June 2005 01:48
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Yeah thanks for that but i am asking if anyone had any experience in these fields as a career??
Michael
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Wed, 08 June 2005 01:59
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Yeah the guy i usually get to do my auto-electrical stuff is quite "Large".... Anyone else out there a auto-electrician or suspension specialist?
Michael
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Location:
Brisbane, QLD
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Wed, 08 June 2005 05:46
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My auto sparkie makes a frikken decent living charging through the teeth, but i dont blame him...it can be a bit of a headfuck sometimes(different car manufactorers go about things differently)
Guess there could be worse trades to do.
I dont think you can really do an apprenticeship in 'suspension'
Out of the various automotive trades, why those two areas?
Thats the important question, VERY important, as signing out of a training contract CAN be difficult(easiest way is to be dismissed for things criminally related or gross incompetence, ie break stuff a lot)
If i were to chose an automotive apprenticeship *shudder* i'd probably lean more towards a deisel fitter as you can make a SHITLOAD of cash at the mines. But i'd hate to live in a mining town...i'd also hate to work on cars all day 
So i'm probably not the best person to listen to.
Best advice i can give you is, make a list(either mental or written) of what you think each trade is like, why you want to do it etc and then talk to people in the industry about the things you've listed. Most will give you a no bullshit version of what they think(unless they want to employ you then they'll sugar coat it until its almost a lie)
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
March 2005
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Wed, 08 June 2005 06:08
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auto electrician will be a sweet trade.. get into it and dont look back. you will always have work too they are in pretty high demand
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Wed, 08 June 2005 06:52
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Alright cool thanks guys,
Michael
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Location:
Sydney, Northern Beaches
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Wed, 08 June 2005 12:38
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Sorry to hijack this thread, but has anyone landed a career as a engine rebuild specialist? Whats the best part and worst part of the job? Would an apprentice expect to be machining parts/replacing internals or just gruntwork like carting heavy shit around?
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Location:
Batemans Bay, NSW
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Thu, 09 June 2005 02:58
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....^^^ as above... same question pretty much...
Thinking about auto trade next year, just not sure which area to get into.. all have pros and cons.
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Location:
in the shadows
Registered:
April 2004
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Thu, 09 June 2005 03:42
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i am 6'3 and an auto elect in the trade for 13 years so far...
get used to sore backs and lower leg cramps - especially if you intend to work on lowered vehicles or under dashes (which you will). i had work to do behind the dash of an ac cobra last week - not a comfy place to be!
the pay is generally poor, but on the bright side, you will always have heaps of friends! make sure you turn your phone off after 9.00pm if you want some sleep 
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Thu, 09 June 2005 04:09
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Alright cool thanks for that, how do you mean generally poor? Just stays shit the whole career or just starting out?
CHeers
Michael
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Location:
Bottom of the hill, Sydney
Registered:
April 2004
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Thu, 09 June 2005 11:27
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You could say there is 2 sides to auto electrical, light vehicles and heavy vehicles.
Heavy vehicles is where the money is but generally requires a lot of after hours call outs. Most big transport companies don't flinch at a big bill as long as the freight gets to where it is going on time.
Light vehicles can be harder to make alot of money because as everyone knows people don't want to pay a lot for things that "they could have fixed themselves".
It is also pretty expensive to set up a business as there is a lot of equipment that is required to get a business licence.
At the moment it is hard to find staff be it apprentices or tradesmen. We just got an apprentice after advertising for about 4 months. We also advertised for a tradesman but couldn't find one although my boss is a bit picky.
Just remember that auto elecs are normally required to work on more than just cars. We work on basically anything with an engine and wires. This can range form cars to trucks and buses, trailers, caravans, cranes, earth moving equipment, stationary engines, ride on mowers, forklifts, even garbage trucks.
To sum it up, I enjoy being an auto elec although there are days when you come home from work covered in grease from head to toe and you wonder why you bother but it does make it a bit better when you enjoy what you are doing.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Automotive career choice
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Thu, 09 June 2005 22:31
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Thanks for that Brad thats what i was after, just a straight forward answer from an auto-electrician,
Cheers
Michael
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