Education help

[Jamesd]

Hi

I require some advice.

I am currently studying a foundation degree in Motorsport. I am struggling with the work on the course. I have spent three years at college studying Motorsport and I am starting to get board of the assignments and the constant theory work.

My aim is to be a mechanic not an engineer as I prefer to be working on the cars. I have had a couple of seasons working at race weekends and that is where my real passion is.

Do I need a foundation degree or can I leave and get a job as a number 2 mechanic and work my way up that way.

Thanks

[RPD Motorsport]

TBH honnest a foundation degree is for getting onto an undergrad engineering degree - to be an engineer if you didnt have the correct A-Levels. It will provide you with little for being a mechanic, although it is always good to have an underling understanding of the physics at work.

When we employ mechanics quite frankly we dont care if you had a foundation degree - its not enough knolage to do an engineers job, and anything you needed to know to do your job well we would teach you.

Experiance is key. It is normal for mechanics to do a mechanics collage course or come from the road car sector and then build up in a team 2 years as a number 2 mechanic should sit you in good ground to look at being a nbr 1 if you are good and are in a team who educate and support their staff well.

[Jamesd]

Originally Posted by RPD Motorsport

TBH honnest a foundation degree is for getting onto an undergrad engineering degree - to be an engineer if you didnt have the correct A-Levels. It will provide you with little for being a mechanic, although it is always good to have an underling understanding of the physics at work.

When we employ mechanics quite frankly we dont care if you had a foundation degree - its not enough knolage to do an engineers job, and anything you needed to know to do your job well we would teach you.

Experiance is key. It is normal for mechanics to do a mechanics collage course or come from the road car sector and then build up in a team 2 years as a number 2 mechanic should sit you in good ground to look at being a nbr 1 if you are good and are in a team who educate and support their staff well.

Ok thanks. In your opinion am I better to quit university then i can concentrate on getting a job in a race team. I am just about passing this year but the problem will be when I get too year two when it gets harder and maths is one of my weakest subjects.

James

[Jamesd]

I have decided to quit University.

Does anybody know of any jobs around to try or if any teams are hiring

[bella]

sadly if it was that easy to find work then there'd be no-one on the dole!

try going down to your local circuit on a test day and going to speak to them directly? don't think it's going to be any easier than slogging away at university doing something very difficult, unfortunately it's a lot harder :/

[Jamesd]

Originally Posted by bella

sadly if it was that easy to find work then there'd be no-one on the dole!

try going down to your local circuit on a test day and going to speak to them directly? don't think it's going to be any easier than slogging away at university doing something very difficult, unfortunately it's a lot harder :/

Thanks. I all ready have a few leads on Number 2 mechanic jobs, will find out about one of them on Monday.

[bella]

that's great news! it's always best to speak to people in person as much as possible - it's easier to show your motivation and determination that way rather than on paper. and the fact you've made the effort to go out and look for work rather than sitting at home emailing people is a positive thing too.

good luck, i hope it works out for you

[Jamesd]

Anybody got any more advice?

[morninggents]

As I have just posted on Sam93's similar thread finishing your course, however boring, and getting a qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you have the ability to learn. You are then in a far better situation to get the job you want.

I think the decision to quit university is a mistake you may regret later in life. I understand the financial pressure on uni students today but I would consider the financial struggle worthwhile if the end result is a good degree.

[Jamesd]

Originally Posted by morninggents

As I have just posted on Sam93's similar thread finishing your course, however boring, and getting a qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you have the ability to learn. You are then in a far better situation to get the job you want.

I think the decision to quit university is a mistake you may regret later in life. I understand the financial pressure on uni students today but I would consider the financial struggle worthwhile if the end result is a good degree.

Thanks. I think I have made the right decision to quit. I just need my chance to prove myself and not give up.

[Ledon Racing]

If you were at uni you obviously had to fund yourself whilst there, however you are now in a classic catch 22 type situation where by to get a paying job you're going to need experience, however with out being rude you appear to have no experience.

The harsh fact is that the world is full of students fresh out of uni, with a degree under there belts, thinking that because they've built a formula student car thats just about managed to struggle through a 30 minute 'endurance' run that they now know how to to build and run a racecar, when in reality i wouldn't trust them to change a wheel on a taxi!

IMO you should spend the next 1-2 years of your life as if you were still at uni (ie no / very little money) and just try and get as much practical hands on experience as you can possibly get in all areas of motorsport, in the current climate this will almost certainly mean working for free / expenses, but sometimes you need to take a step back and take a more long term veiw......

HTH

[Jamesd]

Originally Posted by Ledon Racing

If you were at uni you obviously had to fund yourself whilst there, however you are now in a classic catch 22 type situation where by to get a paying job you're going to need experience, however with out being rude you appear to have no experience.

The harsh fact is that the world is full of students fresh out of uni, with a degree under there belts, thinking that because they've built a formula student car thats just about managed to struggle through a 30 minute 'endurance' run that they now know how to to build and run a racecar, when in reality i wouldn't trust them to change a wheel on a taxi!

IMO you should spend the next 1-2 years of your life as if you were still at uni (ie no / very little money) and just try and get as much practical hands on experience as you can possibly get in all areas of motorsport, in the current climate this will almost certainly mean working for free / expenses, but sometimes you need to take a step back and take a more long term veiw......

HTH

Not sure where you got the info that I have no experience. I have been working on race cars for 4 seasons since I started at college doing motorsport. Started sweeping up and I am almost up to the level of running a car. I started from the bottom and worked my way up. I have applied for number 2 mechanic roles but don;t have enough experience but nobody is employing junior mechanics so I can work my way. I have experience but not enough.