Currently in the role of mobile mechanic. As far as the trade goes, mobile is definately my favourite place to be as opposed to in a workshop, but i’ve lost the love for it thesedays and feel like a change in career is going to be my best option. I moved off the tools for a while and did the controller side, even covered aftersales management for 6 months, but got bored behind a computer very quickly.

Im just at a total loss as to where i can move onto with my skillset and qualifications. Have tried a couple of agencies and they just seem to keep coming back with nearly identical roles in different roles. Any mechanics about that have done the same and gotten out so to speak?

Thanks in advance
Dan

Just in case…

I am guessing you have been an cat / LGV mechanic? Does moving to HGV / psv interest you? Or maybe industrial plant.

What area are you in? There maybe a industry near by. Mining, quarrying, oil and gas.

Alternatively machine mechanics / fitter as in factory etc? Maintenance to keep machines running, would probably involve shift work. Your experience with modern car and their control systems will help but industrial control systems have different basis e.g. 24v and plc run rather than custom controllers ECUs etc so if your electrial / electronical side is good that will help. Food plant are all over the place but you have to deal with some wearing hair nets etc all the time. Dairy,

Also oil refinery. May take some getting into but would be worth it.

Basically think outside of the domestic market and construction industries that people seem to think are the only hands on jobs we have.

Ant large processing plant of anything near by? Paper, wood, paint…

Also are you willing to travel internationally? There are plenty of companies looking for fitters in various industries that will travel. You will need to get to know the industry but once in you can be set. However don’t underestimate traveling, you could be away for extended periods (which can take it’s toll) but the money should be good.

think outside of the domestic market and construction industries that people seem to think are the only hands on jobs we have.

If you want a different job using the same set of skills…… (and depending on where in the country you are) theres film and TV work as a ‘vehicle wrangler’ – sourcing cars, getting them to set, getting them / keeping them running and so on

The vast majority of work in film and tv is doing quite ordinary jobs in quite unusual circumstances. The actual discipline of working on a shoot is very unusual – as a working day and as a working life – but its often using the same skills and knowhow you’d use in more conventional professions. Theres currently a skills shortage in the region of 30,000 personnel as the sector has grown very rapidly in recent years and the skills base hasn’t managed to match the pace of expansion -there are initiatives to try and tempt people from other trades across into equivalent roles on productions.

Not a bike mechanic I guess?

My background is mostly main dealer, but the last few years i have taken on a mobile role. Cars, vans, minibuses, trailers and plant. I have dabbled with motorbikes but no formal bike specific quals/accreditations as such. Its all just nuts and bolts eh? International travel would probably be a risky start to married life, also having 3 younger children, i dont think id want to spend much time away from home.

Its all just nuts and bolts eh?

Exactly. Don’t be worried about exact qualifications too much. You know about tolerances, linkages, timings. You know about sensors. If you have done plant you probably know some hydraulics. If you have done any HGV you will know some pneumatics. You know about shims, liners, hardened surface…. Be open about what you know and don’t know, be prepared to learn but don’t sell yourself short on what you do know and where it can be applied. Sometimes in difference industries the difference is just names, in other the same problem will be solved differently but it will not be rocket surgery.

The thing is to get an idea of what you want and approach agencies that specialise in those areas. Just going to a vehicle mechanics agency will just have jobs for vehicle mechanics in the usual places. Agencies only want people in positions to earn their money. They are not out there to give job/ career advice. They themselves only have a narrow experience and interest.

If you fancy the idea of factory maintenance, then look for an agency that does that, if you fancy film and tv support crew then look for an agency that does that. If you fancy machine building and or installation and look for an agency that service that area of engineering. Also try several different agencies, then you might be able to get information on what people are looking for and how to best present your C.V / experience to sell yourself. Usual advice of then tailor your C.V. to the job applies.

The mobile mechanic we use started out as a man and van, pretty sure he was just friends and family type of business. He s good, seems to look after all the pensioners cars. Business took off so he took a unit and now employs a few staff.

Best advert was his van, he was always driving and when doing home work, used to park in the road so everyone knew him. He s actually done really well, he does the taxi servicing so has them in all the time.

His prices are about half the main dealer.

The mining industry is always after experienced mechanics. Travel isn’t great at the moment obviously but generally the conditions and pay are good, once you get in the door at a company you will never not have work available.

Pre COVID my roster was 6 weeks on and 3 off, it is now 10/5.

Agree with the above you might be better off out of the motor trade and into something with a better culture.

However an acquaintance of mine was a mechanic, he got a gig for the RAC doing purchase inspections on cars on driveways and forecourts, then he started inspecting garages for RAC approval – things like quality of work and how tidy the place is, how good the coffee is etc etc.

He much prefers it as you don’t have to get your hands dirty and don’t have the stress of going over an allotted time frame when things are out of your control.

OP – Have you thought about wind/renewables?

The industry is going through pretty big expansion, with construction and operations. Off shore (not oil rig offshore) where its a day boat transfer for operations and a rotation for construction.

I see lots of guys coming with backgrounds like yours, some like it and stay, some move on. They will look to train you in the electrical side as well.

Decent prospects if you want to move away from the hands on activities and good continuity for the long term.

What have you lost the love for? You won’t work out what’s better than mechanicing if you don’t know what’s bad about mechanicing. e.g. if you are fed up with not actually fixing stuff and mostly just plugging it in a computer and swapping dodgy sensors then marine engines are not quite so sophisticated (although starting to head that way) and marine engineers seem to be in high demand especially if you’ll go to the boat. If however you are fed up with cramming into damp tight spaces trying to free up seized bolts, routing cables through crap conduit and working on engines that should have been better cared for you’ll probably hate marine! If you like simple things then based on recent lead times (and cost) for fitting tow bars or doing trailer servicing then you could set up as a mobile trailer and tow bar guy making quite good money if you have some basic marketing skills / telephone manner you’ll do well – but if doing the same thing every day (fit a tow bar, change the bearings) does your head in then trailers and tow bars probably aren’t the best.

Operations roles in large plants, pharma, water, paper etc.

Aviation, if your near anywhere like airbus, massive skills shortages in fitters, car mechs used to be sneered at, not now.

As above, renewables, what about the likes of calmac ferries? 2 weeks on 2 off?.

Where are you based?

The suggestion above from poly re – Marine is a good one.
We do Marine/Naval HVAC/Refrigeration and every dockyard is full of contractors servicing everything from Engines/HP Air/Hydraulics/refrigeration.

The work is varied and usually fairly interesting.

Some car mechanic friends of mine got jobs at a small plane hanger and are enjoying that.

@poly I think its the motor trade itself in general i’ve lost the love for. I have always been hands on and love a good problem to solve.

@freeagent Based in Worcestershire so just about as land locked in the UK as can be.

I’ve pinged some emails across to various industry agencies with my situation and what im looking for, so fingers crossed i may have some inspiration start coming in next week.

Thanks for the tips and suggestion everyone, alot of sectors there that hadn’t even crossed my mind as possible moves

Motor trades not what it was and after sales is the biggest pile of shite you can do for a job!

Amen to that @duncancallum