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Advice

Posted by Michael Stefanou on September 5, 2008, 8:42 am
Michael Stefanou

Just wanted to find out how you all feel about advising someone (my son!)as to whether to start in this trade, l've been in the motor trade since leaving school and a garage owner for 25 years. Would you start again,would you train to specialise in any particular area given the complexities of todays and future technologies?
Any thoughts would be greatly valued

Thanks

Re: Advice

Posted by Tony Ludford on September 5, 2008, 1:39 pm, in reply to "Advice "
Tony Ludford

If he wants to, let him. My only advice, would be try and get him into a dealership training scheme.

I tried to persuade my son away from becoming a technician. The local training college, put him off too!
So off he went to become a plasterer..... After 2 years plastering, guess where he works? Parts dept at a Peugeot dealer! (So much for my advice, but at least he's guaranteed a job)

It's got to the point, when they're busy in the workshop, he puts on overalls and helps out!!

3-4 years ago, when I was working on cars at home, I couldn't get him interested.
Now, whenever I've got a bonnet up, he's there (including assisting changing a Discovery clutch on the drive)!

Re: Advice

Posted by Tom Williams on September 5, 2008, 6:48 pm, in reply to "Advice "
Tom Williams

Hi,

After 38 yrs repairing cars and owning a small garage I would never recommend this job to anyone. Let alone a son or daughter.
My daughter is an accountant, she loves the job and the pay is very high. My wife was a schoolteacher, up until the last 10yrs of teaching when I caught up, she always earned more than me, with plenty of time off.
My own view is that cars will, in the not too distant future, go the way of other consumer goods, made cheaply, scrapped and recycled with minimal repairs.

tw

Re: Advice

Posted by mark rushby on September 5, 2008, 9:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Advice "
Mark Rushby

unless i'm mistaken if you haven't a degree in electronics then you are struggling nowadays, i consider myself relatively ok on the modern stuff, but recently havening bought a couple of books by james dillion i realise just how little i do know, i suppose if you believe your 100% up to date then you will quickly be caught out unfortunatley it is the customer that usually pays for that mistake/inability, that will come back and bite you eventually!

Re: Advice

Posted by ford elekie on September 5, 2008, 9:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Advice "
Martin Desbrulais

Hi Michael,
You can only advise,my eldest went to Westminster college in London to train as a chef,I didnt want him to do it,but never told him,he now works in the Fat Duck,voted the best restaurant in the world,my other son trained as a teacher at Loughborougher college,again I didnt want him to do it,but I kept my mouth shut,and in both cases I am glad I said nothing,as for the motor trade,yes I came out and retrained as a sparky,financially,I am far far better off,however,I have enjoyed the motor trade far more then any other job I have had,at the end of the day you can only learn by your own mistakes,until you find your calling in life.

Re: Advice

Posted by Keith Simpson on September 6, 2008, 10:16 am, in reply to "Re: Advice "

My father was a Mechanic, myself and my brother followed suit. And worked for some right Bastards but I cannot remember ever looking back thinking I wish I'd done something else.

Yes they are other trades with higher pay, so what. I enjoy this job and so do my people. I have to make sure of that. My wife worked for Halifax Building Society for 10 years as a mortgage consultant, her pay was higher than the rest of our household for years but hated the job (pressure) she now works for me Receptionist.

My Daughter trained to be a Vet after nine years, she now works for me Receptionist. I have been targeted in the past by Burger King and McDonalds for my property enough money to retire without a doubt but still here.

I have never been able to do everything that came through the doors, and I know I never will. But what we have done we have done it good. Had some of my best times working in the motor trade,and after 35 years hope to enjoy many more.

So yes I would do it all again and so would many more on here. Monies not everything?

Re: Advice

Posted by Michael Stefanou on September 8, 2008, 8:14 am, in reply to "Re: Advice "
Michael Stefanou

Thank you all for your opinions,l will try and explain how difficult and frustrating this trade can be but at the end of the day he will have to make the decission.In life, money isn't everything and job satisfaction comes high on the list so we will have to wait and see, once again thanks to all that repied

Michael

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