porsche mechanic school

[Droops83]

+1 on the independent route.

I was in the same boat 7-8 years ago, and I was lucky enough to find a local independent shop to take me in and train me, even though they were not necessarily hiring at the time. Enthusiasm and a willingness to start at the bottom and work your way up are key. I started out sweeping the floors, running errands, driving customers, and whatever else needed to be done. I have learned from some of the best in the business, and I still learn something every day. We get to work on every Porsche made, from 356s to the latest Cayennes and Panemeras and GT3s, and everything in between.

Check with your local community colleges. Some offer excellent automotive technology programs, like Santa Barbara City College does here. I received excellent training for a fraction of the cost of UTI, and the local colleges are well connected with the local dealerships and shops who are looking for apprentices.

My best advice would be to learn the basics on old cars, learn how an engine and an electrical circuit actually work and go from there. Today's cars are very complicated electronically, and you need to be extremely proficient in the ins and outs of electrical systems. However, I feel that many of today's younger dealership techs do not know how to diagnose anything without a scan tool and a guided trouble tree. One of the most important skills that you will need to have is the ability to think critically and logically, sometimes outside the box if need be. Learn exactly how the systems in the car work! You would be surprised at the number of experienced techs that lack basic fundamental understanding of how things work . . . .

Anyway, good luck, and have fun. Cars will be around for years to come, and people who know how to fix them will be in demand. It is also a job that cannot be outsourced.

[theiceman]

They are not even called mechanics any more. They are technicians now. Mentoring might be nice but you are going no where without documentstion these days. I would suggest combining a technical degree/ diploma of your choice while spending your weekends/ nights appreniicing or volunteering at a local shop as droops did.

It's not gonna be easy but you have to pay your dues as mentioned and be prepareed to work hard.
if you have a mechanically aptitude to start off with it will be easier.

[whalebird]

I got a few lucky breaks. I had been wrenching on air cooled VWs including my own Ghia. I built the engine and drag raced it all thru my mid-teens with the help of a good friend and his father. In retro, his father took time on every friday and Saturday night to keep me and his son busy on our cars, which in turn kept us out of trouble. I learned how to build a motor and trans from this guy. I sold the Ghia and picked up and E21 BMW which I lowered/sway bars/exhaust etc but was getting parts for this car from Autometrics. One day I pulled up to Autometric for some parts and Gordon asked me if I would like to help out. He liked what I had done to my BMW and needed some part time help. I accepted and the rest of the story is great (one of my first projects at AM was helping a full restoration of an ex-Peter Gregg 73 RS(sportomatic). A couple of decades later it has been my carrer. I owe deep gratitude to Gordon at Autometrics for giving me a shot, but also Mr. Bartleson for keeping us kids busy, otherwise my life would have been a whole lot different and I would not be here posting in this forum.
Most certainly pick a GOOD shop(one that is established, clean, big enough to carry payroll so to be able to fit you in) and walk up and ask for work. IF you have aptitude great; but enthusiasm, attitude, and work ethic will trump ability everytime. You don't have to have experiance.