Apprentice technician Review

My role is an apprentice technician here at Audi, as well as doing daily cleanups for the workshop, I also learn with a mentor a range of jobs. This can be smaller/basic jobs like doing an oil change, to bigger jobs like removing/working on engines, interior jobs, to working on fully electric cars.

I have learned how to safely work on electric vehicles, how to carry out maintenance on vehicles, properly maintaining the workshop in a safe manner. How to carry out warranty write ups, I’ve also developed more on my customer communications using “Audi cams” which is where we record videos for the customer to be able to them us working on there vehicle as well as showing them work we have done under warranty.

I really enjoy figuring out a problem to a car, for example me and a master technician had a Audi Q2 which would make a whistling noise at certain speeds, and as it turns out, it was a fuel evaporator pipe that caused it, I also enjoy doing an oil inspection as it’s a satisfying job to carry out once you get into a rhythm.

Initially I was going to the NLC which is a VAG specialist college located at Milton keys, I was going up every 6-8 weeks, doing a weeks worth of college/training, but after a few sessions, I was offered the ability to go to paragons instead due to me having a level 2 qualification already in automotive mechanics. Now being at paragons, I have the ability to focus more at work and only drive a little further to college instead. Also being an automotive course rather than VAG, it allows me to gain a wider understanding on a range of vehicles.

Lots, my mangers will often check in on me to make sure I’m all up to date on my write ups and also making sure I’m learning properly with my mentor, if I have any issues, I’m very happy to speak to somebody and have the confidence that something will happen as they want me to be as successful as possible once I’m qualified.

Again lots, during our weeks, we are able to do our writes of our work we’ve done, if we have any questions, he’s able to use auto data to find torque settings to certain steps needed to do a certain job. He also allows us to work in the workshop, a few blocks ago we did our aircon training which is needed in order to complete our level 3 qualification.

I find I’ve been gaining a lot more confidence the further I progress with my course. I also find I can gain more knowledge overall with cars.

We have done a couple of social events in the pass, we’ve had a curry night at one of our local Indian restaurants, when we won the Audi Center of the year award, our managers offered us either a beer/gin tasting experience, do a ninja warrior experience or having a meal at a local restaurant.

Yes

The people you get to work with really makes it feel like a real family. The support you get from everyone is amazing and something I’ve not really experienced in a business previously. The mangers as well are very reasonable and fair in everything, I always feel like I’m treated like a human rather than a worker.

The best advice is to honestly be ourselves, if you don’t know anything or unsure, to safe because people are happy to help you regardless what the issue is.