Love Of Cars Revs Up Career
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday October 27, 2001
Name and occupation:
Chris Warriner, second year light automotive apprentice mechanic.
Describe your job:
Fixing cars. It can be anything from brakes and clutches to servicing a car, which involves changing the oil, spark plugs and checking the condition of the car.
We fix light automotive vehicles and some small trucks. I also attend TAFE to do the theory side of my apprenticeship.
Describe a day in your job:
Arrive to work at 8am and immediately begin work.
Sometimes it might be finishing a job I started the day before and other times it might be starting a new one. Most of the time the boss tells me what to work on and it goes from there.
Up to eight cars a day can come into the workshop.
What is the best thing about your job?
The variation in work.
One day I will be working on an old car and the next day it might a brand new car. So it is always interesting.
Any negatives?
Trying to remember everything to do.
Why did you get involved in this industry?
I love cars. From the age of about 15 I have been into cars. While we were at school I learned more about being a mechanic and I knew it was what I wanted to do.
Working hours:
8am to 4.30pm
Courses:
TAFE offers Light Automotive Mechanic Certificate III. Check out www.tafensw.edu.au for nearest location.
Salary:
About $270 per week.
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury