So, I live near Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I have been thinking of getting a job as an auto mechanic and I saw that my local college has an Automotive Technician program available with a co-op option.
It is also important to note that Canada is now in a bad recession (and not really because of Trump’s tariffs, but rather the very high taxes, regulations, and lots of wasteful government spending). However, I did hear that the automotive mechanic trade is pretty recession-proof (because people will still need their cars fixed even in a recession and will be less likely to buy a new car).
I just thought that taking the Automotive Technician would really improve my chances of getting into the trade because I just don’t have any previous work experience. I also live in an area where the unemployment rate is amongst the highest in my province.
I went to a trade school to be an automotive tech, and they had a job fair near the end of the program where all of the local dealerships came out to give out information and set up interviews.
I came out of the program with an entry level hourly position as a technician at the BMW dealership and worked with a master tech until I was ready to start flagging hours.
Speaking as someone from the USA, so there’s probably a bit of a cultural difference, but I’d say it’s the most likely way to secure a decent job in the industry. Otherwise, you could likely get a job busting down tires and doing oil changes at a local shop. You’ll be getting experience that way, but what you learn will be very dependent on the individual shop. It’s a much cheaper alternative, though (at least in the US).