The Job Thread

[JWM]

Hey everyone, I haven't posted here much but that is because I don't have much to say... since I don't even own a B-series yet

At this point in my life, I have no idea what I want to be when I go out to get work... I don't know weather to go to UNI and do a course or look for an apprenticeship or something else...

So I decided to start this thread, to get an idea of what job's you all have... how much you get paid... and what you did to get there...

I am finishing my 2nd year at TAFE doing an automotive-light course... but I don't really think I'm going to be paid anything decent doing that.

I usually get above 80% in all my tests I've done in the course, and I usually beat everyone else in my class by at least 10%... usually 30%... but I still don't think I'll get a decent job and getting paid well enough...

Is there any area of mechanics that gets paid well?

Maybe company's like nizpro you might get extra... but what are the chances of that happening? lol

My dad has taught me a lot, I build computers, I've built custom computers and sold maybe 10 in the last year or 2 (without advertising... just friends of friends get told I do computers.)

I'm also thinking of being an electrician... since my dad has shown me a lot about electrics I don't think it will be too hard... and electricians seem to get paid alright...

But I haven't done any courses yet... I'm wondering weather or not to go to UNI and maybe do a course or if I should try and get an apprenticeship...

Sooo... just fill in this if you like;

What job have you got?

How much do you get paid?

What did you do to get there?

And if anyone has any suggestions on what they think I should get into for some decent money, feel free to suggest.

Cheers,

Jake

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I'm 16 turning 17 this year... and I'll be finishing year 12 this year. And also, I can't get a UAI to get into UNI but I can do something at UNI called newstep which goes for 1 year and will get me a UAI.

Edited 28/02/09 11:14 PM by JWM

[MRDOSE]

man... im 21 now and I tell you what, if I had my time again in high school id kick my arse n work damn hard. id love to be in police but I have to go thru alot of sh*t cuz I didn get a UAI. currently im a security officer in a mental health unit, 12hr shifts 4 on 4 off, I have no problem sayin what I get paid but some people can be touchy about it, im on $22phr plus penalty rates and overtime, worked xmas and got triple time mutherfuker! lol before this I was a audio visual technician apprentice on 7.50 a hour so yeah f*cked that off. good money in security man but not a whole lot of places to go. did I mention im at work now? lol alot of down time

Edited 28/02/09 11:21 PM by MRDOSE

[ms700]

If you want to make decent money, get out of mechanics/car industry!

It will take you a long time before you earn anything decent. Or go open your own shop.

The fully qualified techs where I used to work took home approx $700 a week. Bonus on top of that. The foreman and workshop controller take home more than that, but they have been doing it for about 15 years.......

[MiKa]

JWM im sorta in the same boat as you but im 24.. Currently got a job in the car industry, and get paid bugger all really, plus in times like these and my age job security is becoming more and more important. So im thinking of learning a trade, through an apprenticeship, or something with security and getting paid more...

Good luck mate, you have time on your hands so think about it carefully...

[Mike XR6T]

Hey dude

nothing wrong with auto trades

Ive been an Auto Electrician in Adelaide for 8 years now

Did a 4 year apprenticeship

I take home just over $1000 a week

and this trade has opened the door for me to go to antarctica

as a auto elec/mechanic where you get payed 100k ever 6 months

I think sparkies get a bit better money than mechanics 2

[XRSics]

studied to get a bachelor in multimedia. worked in the industry for almost a year before it was enough

Stumbled across someone needing a line hand on a concrete pump, bin doing that for about 4 years now (operator now)and still enjoy it most of the time.

im on 24 ph, which is the base level of pay for an operator, but I only do fairly easy jobs (roughly 50 -60 hrs a week). If I were to go do bigger (usually union) jobs, one can expect 28 - 40 bucks an hour.

concrete pump 4 thoes not in the know: (before I started I had no clue what a concrete pump was)

[Dagabond]

It's harsh to say but in these times I wouldnt look to being an apprentice, most places now hire for the cheap labour and once your times up your shown the door. So if you do decide to take this route make sure you choose the right company, do some background on the company before locking yourself in.

Best advice you'll get is to stick with your education as long as you can, go the Uni path.

But if you want to get out and make a few bucks go the sparky path.

[ZAP]

I was a mechanic, but got paid alot more than award wages because I was doing trade work in my 2nd year. The boss wanted to keep me, so he offered me more money to stay.

After I got my ticket, I left and drove boats and water taxis. I realised that it was not a long term career, so I got into IT.

I have been running my own IT company for 15 years now and I pay my <26yo over $50k, so it is a highly paid job.

It is safe, clean and the hours are good. Generally Mechanics make good Network engineers because of their skills in diagnosis and logical thinking.

It can also be a fairly recession proof industry as people always need their computers working

[JWM]

Thanks for the replies, its helping me make up my mind a bit haha

ZAP, I'm just wondering what courses you did to run this IT company? if any?

How much do you need to know about IT?

What type of work exactly is it?

Since I know a bit computer, I'll probably have a bit of an idea what you are talking about if you want to get a little technical

I'm thinking either electrician or something with computers now...

Computer are clean, that's one thing I like about it them...

I love cars and all, but I really don't really want to be getting my hands dirty every day... dirt under my nails and stuff... "dirty mechanic hands" I don't care if that sounds gay either haha + the pay just isn't really high enough for the amount of work they usually do.

[druxr6t]

I am 22 now, soon to be 23 but I left school and went straight into uni doing a Computer Science degree. Was doing great but decided that being behind a desk isn't where I wanted to be for the rest of my life. After jumping from jobs to jobs (panelbeater, surveying, operator, photographer - nearly 6 months in each), I finally got into plumbing where I just really started to enjoy what I did (been there 1.5 years).

I'm only 1st year apprentice at the moment, but 3 years down the track it will really pay off. I'm on above award wages and still manage to get extra money every now and then on weekends working for the railway.

I say, try and find an area that you think you will be absolutely happy working in. Money plays a big part in choosing a career but your more likely to make the big bucks doing something you enjoy (and doing it well/working hard) then doing something you hate and half-arsed. Also, uni isn't for everyone. One of my best mates went to uni and did aerospace engineering, worked for boeing on some big projects and guess what...he quit, and now runs a drainage/pump business and drives his bogey truck and excavator....he has never been happier!