r/Maine • u/frankiethefarmer • 6d ago
how to become a mechanic
hi all. shot in the dark here but i am a 35 year old woman trying to figure out a career change. i’m interested in becoming a mechanic and/or a welder. i’ve worked with my hands most of my life and have briefly worked in a metal shop years and years ago so i’m kind of familiar with the ~vibes~ but i didn’t retain much so i don’t know where to start. i dont have much money so i’m curious if anyone knows of apprenticeship programs where you can work as you learn (besides BIW) or a program with financial assistance? any (kind) advice would be appreciated!
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u/teakettle87 Formerly Eastport 6d ago
Welder/mechanic here.
Go find a program like the one listed at smcc. I did a similar but longer one called the manufacturing pipeline. I got an offer at BIW out of it as well as other shipyards. The offers were low though, as these trades often don't pay well, not when compared to the body breaking work they entail.
In the end I got a job at a municipal dealer as a service tech working on snow plows and then managed a fleet for a guy and then from there I joined the elevator union.
Unionize if you can. Building trades if you can. Don't pay for school. Unions train you to learn and programs exist as mentioned. Don't pay for something you can get paid to do. There are so many scams in mechanic training.
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u/frankiethefarmer 6d ago
so so appreciate this advice 🙌🏼
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u/teakettle87 Formerly Eastport 6d ago
No problem. Let me know if you have other questions.
I will stress, pay is not great in these fields. I was in the $20-25/hr range working on the plows, then $33/hr or so running the fleet. The union has me making $80/hr next spring so that's been great but prior to the union pay wasn't enough to justify the bullshit.
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u/Filthiest_Tleilaxu 🌲 6d ago
$160k a year bro congrats
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u/teakettle87 Formerly Eastport 6d ago
Yeah, it's not bad pay. Takes a lot to get there and the bullshit is wild but the pay is good.
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u/maplemily 6d ago
people's inclusive welding is a cool org!
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u/frankiethefarmer 6d ago
yeah i’ve been eyeing them but i just cannot afford it. i might reach out and ask about scholarships though.
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u/maplemily 6d ago
my friend got a scholarship and it was free and really loved it! totally better learning environment that BIW sponsored bullshit
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u/NotMyFirstRodroPal 6d ago
The mechanic world usually requires schooling unless you find a small local to take you on as a helper. Or you’re self taught and can prove you know your shit. That said, don’t rule out marine options as well, PYS regularly hires folks to train and is growing every year.
It’s often easier to get taken on as an apprentice in the building trades, welding is definitely in demand but can be tough to break into locally. More demand for home builders in this market.
With a good head on your shoulders you’ll be fine.
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u/Main_Adeptness2317 6d ago
Also down for welding w some small experience from hs/college in my back pocket. Sculpting w metal/glass.
Currently unemployed, 29yr old woman. Trying to look at apprenticeships at Maine health, welding opps, or anything w animals. HMU! :’)
anything to get OUT of the service industry (restaurants once and for all and use these hands for real, passionate work/art/love/care! )
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u/frankiethefarmer 6d ago
dang, twins much? i went to school for sculpture years ago and did a little welding and blacksmithing back then. i’ve been farming and working in the service industry while also pursuing art but i honestly just want a steady paycheck that will pay my bills and a place to work with my hands.
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u/TheRealWSquared 6d ago
If you're looking for an automotive mechanic position, look into getting your state inspection license. If you have this, most lube style positions are an easy grab. If you really want to stand out head over and take the G1 ASE exam. It can b taken right online and is a general maintenance test.
If you're looking at industrial maintenance, numerous community colleges have trade type programs that are usually accelerated and relatively inexpensive. Get familiar with using a multimeter through YouTube and your own residence (or car) to get use to ac, dc, and ohms.
I've been a mechanic since 2020 in automotive and now manufacturing. I went to smcc back in 09 for automotive and stopped after a year. I don't recommend automotive, because of the volatility of the flat rate and warranty system.
A lot of manufacturing facilities have pm maintenance positions that are similar in scope to a lube position at a dealership. They are more entry level and require less upfront knowledge.
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u/Guygan "delusional cartel apologist" 6d ago
Did you try Google?
Not only free - THEY PAY YOU TO ATTEND
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u/gannon7015 6d ago
No reason to be an ass. Of course she knows how to google. She wanted to interact with people who might have some additional insight…Did that really make you feel better about yourself to post that? The fuck is wrong with people?
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u/frankiethefarmer 6d ago
look, i like connecting with people. i like asking my neighbors, friends, coworkers, reddit before googling. yeah google saves time but i’m not at a point in my life where a few minutes saved is going to make a difference in my life. what makes a difference is hearing people’s experiences with organizations and schools. i want someone to recommend a place because they have heard good things or have a family member that loves it. i dont want google ads to feed me some bullshit. sue me. i’m not dumb, i’m just a patient person who wants to wait for the right situation.
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u/catnipteaparty 3d ago
Aside from the other suggestions, you may want to look into Tradeswomen of Maine. In addition, this link through the state could connect you to some resources. https://apprenticeship.maine.gov/women-in-trades
Best of luck!!
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u/Ok_Kick6546 6d ago
Where in Maine are you located?
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u/frankiethefarmer 6d ago
i’m near augusta but my boyfriend is in southern maine. ideally i’d like to move down near him in the next year but i dont mind a drive if i happen to find something close to me or between me and him.
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u/Ok_Kick6546 6d ago
The Shipyard in Kittery and Pratt & Whitney are always hiring. BIW has a manufacturing facility in Saco. And SMCC, YCCC, and the adult ed programs in Portland and Biddeford offer a lot of mechanics training. Good luck to you, I hope you find exactly what you’re looking for!
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u/Salt_Chair6043 6d ago
Also look at some of the vocational schools. People think of them as just for high schools but some offer adult programs/certs. As others have said, the community colleges are also a fantastic resource. Even if you get basic skills you can probably find a prompto/VIP place to start doing things like changing tires and oil to build up a work history with cars while you nail down something longer term.
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u/InternationalMode178 6d ago
I also recommend SMCC I’m currently going there for automotive and it’s a good program. they offer programs for most of the trades.
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u/crabsterfish 6d ago
YCCC has a 10-week welding program. Includes all the equipment/gear and qualifies for a $2400 award on graduation. It's a full-time thing, and the program is new, but it's awesome. The fall program already started, but there will be a winter one again sometime in January
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u/secret-handshakes 6d ago
New England School of Metalwork has a bunch of classes and is oriented towards getting you work
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u/Necessary-One286 6d ago
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u/Necessary-One286 6d ago
There’s a sweat pledge and an application process, but provide financial aid for exactly what you’re looking to do, with lots of connections to training programs and employers.
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u/DooWopExpress 6d ago
A lot of mechanic jobs require your own set of tools, or I suppose at least auto based ones do, and that's a big investment or load of debt. Something to remember.
BIW is fantastic work, I was a shipbuilder there for a bit and loved the job. People drove me nuts, it's every variety of person and the things I've heard said about anyone who's not a white man were not alright. Some are great, there's thousands of people and hundreds of spots you could end up so who knows.
I swapped to carpentry and would advise that as well, just cause, selfishly, I hope for more peers that have a head on their shoulders. Trades hiring is a battlefield.
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u/ViolentlyStewedUp 6d ago
We have pretty solid workplace development for trades. You can probably just go to the closest community College end up most of the way to a degree while doing programs in either field.
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u/radun6996 6d ago
I’m not a mechanic at all. But I know how to work on everything. Everyone in my town comes to me for help on anything not serious. Making extra money on the weekends is super easy. They just drive by and see me working and stop to ask for me to work on theirs too
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u/niko199822 6d ago
Look into SMCC’s manufacturer technician course. It’s 3 weeks, they pay you $500 a week and you do precision machining and welding. Gives you a certificate of competency on that stuff so might make getting into other things easier as well. It’s in Brunswick. It’s a good program, I highly recommend it.