Why did you choose an apprenticeship and why automotive?
I choose an apprenticeship because I didn't enjoy college. I didn't enjoy sitting in a classroom all day and I chose to be a mechanic because I started doing work on my car and I did enjoy it. I chose Kia, and the dealership that I work for are very nice and they make work enjoyable.
How have you found the experience as a whole?
I found it good. They're all very helpful. My mentor helps me out if I ever get stuck. He helps me out and they're always there for me. So, I enjoy it a lot. And they make work very entertaining.
So, what does your day-to-day life look like as an apprentice?
Day-to-day life is work with my mentor, sometimes doing services, sometimes doing other stuff, and mostly the things that I physically can't without his assistance. He'll show me how to do and then he'll leave me to do it for a bit and if I can't do it then he'll step in and help me out. But most times he tries to push me towards doing things by myself.
What were your perceptions on the industry before you joined and what are your perceptions now?
I always thought it was a good industry, because it's never ending because cars will always be around. So, I thought it was something good to get into because it's a job for life. So, I thought it was something that I could keep doing for as long as I live really.
Have you found that there's a lot of different opportunities within the work you do?
Yes, after you do the apprenticeship, you can go many ways even if you don't want to go to do your Master or Diag Tech, you can go into sales or after-sales or do other things like that. So, there's multiple choices after finishing my apprenticeship.
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Do it as quickly as possible. Don't leave it too late, because they're key. You get paid to work and learn. So, it's a win-win.
What would you say are the main benefits of being an apprentice?
You get to learn how to fix cars. You get to understand how they work and what they do. And it also benefits you, because you're learning. So, if anything does happen with your car or someone's relatives’ cars, you'll know how to fix it. And you're also helping society out.
So, do you think that you wouldn't get that kind of experience if you weren’t an apprentice?
No, I don't think you would. I think going to college it's good and all, but it's nothing like coming here for Kia where they have the state-of-the-art building. They give you everything you need. They show you everything you need. They teach you everything as well. This is just a silly question to not want to do an apprenticeship for Kia.
What facilities do you have in the workshop and tools and equipment do you use at the Kia Academy?
On your first block that you got here, they give you a tablet that you can use, and you have it for the whole of your time here. And they also have smart screens where you can look up technical data on them outside in the work area and in the classroom where you can use them. And they're very handy because they are big screens, so you can see everything.
You can use the tablets for VCT's, which is virtual online classes where you have a teacher for two weeks and they give you the basics of the block that you're on. So, for instance, if you're on block 2, you'll be doing chassis, which you'll be learning all about chassis, brake pads and all of that, and the teacher will go through it all for you.
And then you'll come to the centre, and you'll have all the equipment, tools and everything you need for the stuff that you'll be doing there.
What courses are you doing on the Kia Apprenticeship programme?
I'm going to be doing an IMI level 1 ADAS, an IMI level 1 Hydrogen Fuel Cell. I'm going to be doing a Level 3 First Aid, IMI Level 3 F-Gas, and an IMI Level 3 EV. And after all that, I will be a Kia certified technician and I'll be able to do a lot of things with all those qualifications that I have under my belt.
How do you think that will benefit you by the time you finish the apprenticeship and then move to becoming a fully-fledged technician?
As a Kia apprentice for Skillnet, you learn multiple things, and these are included in them. No other dealership that I know of, or brand, teaches you 5 different things that you can learn, and it will benefit me as I go on to learn even more. Even if I work all the way up to a Diag or Master Tech, I'll still be learning things, and they will come in handy while I'm using them.
Find out more about becoming an apprentice here.
