REVscene Automotive Forum - What's it like being an "Automotive Collision Repair Technician?"

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- - What's it like being an "Automotive Collision Repair Technician?" (https://www.revscene.net/forums/578083-whats-like-being-automotive-collision-repair-technician.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Type R B0i (Post 6453758)

This thread is very informative, thanks.

even though I could give a crapless about paint or bodywork, i have to say, that was a really good read through! :)

thanks to all in the thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismosx (Post 6452019)

anyone taking collision at vcc right now?
im currently in the same class as nvasion, what up pw lol
as i was told by my friend(painter 2nd year journeyman) is that after you grad from first year you go out and find some work experince and most likely get paid 10-12 at most washing/cleaning cars(thats when you bust your ass to show your employer you want to be in this trade)

like any other jobs out there you obviously start at the bottom of the barrel and if you wanna move up you just have to work hard

I am taking this too.... collision ftw. however yeah it's going to be hard, because in level 2 they are expecting us to find a shop to do work experience at. I have a shop where I could be doing this, but it's definately hard to have moved from out of town, commute everyday, and be able to work for free, and be able to afford to live on my own. So I have to get a night job and balance the 3. Should be fun.... But I've been told by everybody I know that this is where the money is at and this is where the work is. Especially if you are working in Richmond... or East Van.... :haha:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer91 (Post 6451995)

Being in your mid 20's is it even possible to make a decent living at 10bux an hour?

I mean I'm 18 and sell Computers making 11 hour (which requires hardly any skills, just communication, and know how to use the stores database server)

yeah, I mean you could try to say that making $1 more an hour selling computers is a better career choice. But... where is it going? wanna work for Dell customer service calling centre.. didn't think so. This is $10 / hr to be a complete greenhorn when it comes to the trade, when you are finished, you are making 20-30 an hour for work hours. If you don't know, ICBC pays for a certain amount of hours to repair something, if it takes 140 hours to fully repair a wrecked rig, and you take 70, boom, you have just banked another 70 hours on top of that. And shop owners heart you for that, henceforth you get more work, finish quicker, and the amount you make goes up and up.

and it depends on the shop, my brother started out at $14 an hour, and it was work hours, so he wasn't exactly poor, and he didn't even have to sell Vista! Just troubleshooting Vista would be a full time job and make me shoot myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzystar (Post 6454146)

Fock communting to work brah...this trade...especially BODYMAN can walk into any shop and find work...your an apprenticeship aka biatch...they love guys like us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzystar (Post 6454146)

If you don't know, ICBC pays for a certain amount of hours to repair something, if it takes 140 hours to fully repair a wrecked rig, and you take 70, boom, you have just banked another 70 hours on top of that. And shop owners heart you for that, henceforth you get more work, finish quicker, and the amount you make goes up and up.

This trade needs more people...but the problem is guys who can do fast and good work...guys who bank a lot of hours are actually good bodyman/painters and have 15+ years of experience...you're kinda leading people on saying it's fast and easy money.

Should be posted in the Employment Forum

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ludepower (Post 6454176)

Fock communting to work brah...this trade...especially BODYMAN can walk into any shop and find work...your an apprenticeship aka biatch...they love guys like us.

This trade needs more people...but the problem is guys who can do fast and good work...guys who bank a lot of hours are actually good bodyman/painters and have 15+ years of experience...you're kinda leading people on saying it's fast and easy money.

you're right, I should say, if you know wtf you are doing and you can do it quickly, then the money comes in. you can get by making the bare minimum for fixing a car in the hours alloted, but it is up to you to figure your shit out SO you can bank a lot of cake :)

I heard this one shop in Richmond was looking for hire 22 journeymen.... shouldn't be too hard... lol

^^^^shut up dizzystar im gonna beat you up at school tuesday!

Finished the collision repair program late april.
Been apply at body shops but everyone of them would already have apprentice spots filled, or it has just been too slow. Even both.
One shop I applied to, its been so much slower lately that even the apprentice was in the office doing some work instead of bodywork.
It was a fairly large body shop too.
If anybody out there knows of any decent bodyshops out there in need of an apprentice, hit me up with a PM! :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismosx (Post 6465696)

^^^^shut up dizzystar im gonna beat you up at school tuesday!

Your class has a lot of revsceners, huh.
All but 1 of the guys in my class had never even heard of RS.
There was even a guy in my class as old as Pat, lol.

yea we got some old guys in our class but we tend to joke around alot hopefully our new instructor is cool