Career Advice

[Bailes1992]

Quick background....
I'm 17, doing a BTEC National Diploma in IT, I have 7 GCSE's and ECDL Advanced.
I don't like working on computers very much.
I'm very hands on.
I love car paint, detailing etc.
I love mechanical work.
I love anything practical.
I hate theory (although I accept I have to do it).
I'm not fussed on maths, I can't do anything in my head and I bearly know my times tables but I have a C Grade in GCSE.


Once I finish my course in IT I need to go onto do a HND or BSc/Hons.

If I was to stay in IT I'd go do Network Engineering but I don't really want to do that. I would love to do something with cars. I'm looking at stuff like Automotive Engineering, Automotice Electronics etc.

Thing is after these courses I don't know what they will lead onto? Is the car industry dying in the UK? Will I be able to get any decent job?

Anyone willing to offer me any careers advice, courses etc etc. I'd love to just do an appentaship or just find a job but I have the option to go to Uni on my perants so I might aswell take the chance.
My careers advisor is completly useless by the way

[highlander]

I don't think there'll be any shortage of mechanically-broken cars any time soon, and the way the economy is right now, people are more likely to be buying 2nd-hand cars - meaning there should be plenty of work for independent auto-repair shops repairing and servicing cars that are out of warranty.

Judging by your own repair efforts on Bernard, you're a hell of a lot better mechanically than I am - you'll probably do quite well as a mechanic.

If you don't like working on computers, then I don't think you could go too far wrong if you studied mechanics/auto repair.

At least if that doesn't work out, you've got some IT qualifications on your CV, which is likely to help you get a job in a wide range of other careers, or into Uni for a higher level computing qualification.

Also, if you do go towards networking, I can give you a few pointers (I'm a network engineer working in the oil sector, and I love doing what I do).

Good luck with whichever path you take, young man!

[Welly]

I'm 17, doing a BTEC National Diploma in IT..........

I don't like working on computers very much

Did you get in the wrong que on Career's day?

Sorry, err, there's loads of Car-Derived techy type companies in the UK and loads of R&D type places linked to motor sport and testing facilities etc. companies like Cosworth and Prodrive spring to mind. Mercedes Benz have a huge engine testing facility in Northamptonshire where they run their high performance engines in test cells etc.

Have you checked out Cranfield University? they specialist in motor sport etc.

Car manufacturing in this country is reserved for big globals like Nissan/Honda and I tend to think you'd thrive much better in a small specialist place with strong links to big companies etc.

Can't think of anything else but DO NOT go into the construction industry like I did, a life of much stress and little reward

[steve_earwig]

My old dad used to say try to avoid working for someone else...

I like Welly's suggestions myself, is there anything to be gained by stalking these companies, then approaching them, telling them you like what they do and asking what sort of quals they'd be looking for?

[Doggy]

Mostly, I'd agree with welly. The car industry, as regards volume production is all foreign owned with the important techy bits being decided on outwith these shores. BUT almost all of the top motorsport organisations worldwide are based here because of our established technical excellence in this field. There's other related opportunities with component manufacturers, oil companies, and outfits building dynos, wind tunnels and so on.

Try and cop a look at http://www.theengineer.co.uk/ or similar publications for ideas.

DO NOT go into the construction industry like I did, a life of much stress and little reward

DO NOT go into maintenance engineering either

[FarmerPug]

Automotive Electrics there isnt enough around i dont think, and with eejits like me wiring things up to their cars they are quite handy to know, but you should firstly know the mechanicals before going onto the electrical side, theres nothing worse than them 'car repair technicians' who dont even touch the bonnet but just plug in the computer, read from a list and say theres nothing wrong

[STALLED]

I was chatting to my mates (who are mechanics) at dinner the other night about trades which are slowly disappearing...Automotive Electrics was one of them. I think the industry as a whole tends to replace, as oppose to repair and with the increase in new cars which have non-servicable items, there's your demise of the industry!

I'd imagine a motorsport based course to be very competitive!

[mjb]

Aye, I'd say there's definitely a call for people who can use a diagnostics interface as a tool instead of taking it as gospel...

Don't pursue IT any further if you've got no real passion for it. Seriously. You'll find it nearly impossible to get work, and if you do, it'll be low-end and you'll hate it.

Manufacturers do courses and such don't they? jameslxdt was a fairly young guy I think, and he spent some years with Volvo training to be a master mechanic didn't he?

[Welly]

jameslxdt was a fairly young guy I think, and he spent some years with Volvo training to be a master mechanic didn't he?

Well he had taste, obviously

[highlander]

Either that, or no other option

[Welly]

Ouch

[swiss]

Merchant Navy engineer officer. All sorts of different companies offer to pay for your HND / FD and pay you wages while you study. Upon completion of the course you walk right in to the job. Fair bit of maths involved in the academic side, but once you leave college you can memory dump the lot ^_^

[Welly]

Swissy might show you a picture of him holding his enormous tool if you ask nicely

[DaiRees]

Hmmm, I dunno the answer to this one fella. Getting into a truly rewarding automotive job could prove tricky. I did my degree in Mechanical Engineering aiming to get into Automotive Design or R&D, but I stumbled into Quality, firstly for Bosch, then for an injection moulding company making automotive and other components. My point is that making bits for cars is totally remote from actually making cars, yes I was in the automotive industry but I could've been making anything... The other problem with main stream automotive stuff is it's always time and cost limited. No matter what car you buy it'll be a collection of thousands of components all made by the cheapest, fastest supplier. The way the OEMs achieve this is to screw the suppliers into the ground which makes for a pretty miserable existance for the people who work at those suppliers.

If you have the drive and ambition to work your way up to the job you really want then go for it . Loughborough and Coventry are also good Unis for Automotive courses.

[kevtherev]

Merchant Navy engineer officer. All sorts of different companies offer to pay for your HND / FD and pay you wages while you study. Upon completion of the course you walk right in to the job. Fair bit of maths involved in the academic side, but once you leave college you can memory dump the lot ^_^

and if you are out the country for more than (i believe) 6 months ya dont pay income tax
my brother was in the merchant navy 2nd officer iirc 25k a year tax free ,and gave it up , still think he was a muppet for doin that