AUTO ELECTRICIAN
Meet Nathan….
After year 12 I started working at a metal workshop making bullbars and tow bars for cars because I needed something to do. I woke up one day and thought I have got to do something. I opened up the paper and got a job in auto-electrics in the eastern suburbs. Within a couple of days I realised that was the job for me.
I deal with anything electrical on a car. At the workshop there was a lot of customer relations in my job. I was working with six blokes and I had taken on a semi-managerial role. I got to play with a lot of new diagnostic equipment to find out what was wrong with the cars.
As an auto-electrician you deal with the engine operating systems of new vehicles, also anti-lock brake systems, air bags, traction control systems, electronic gear boxes and normal electrical systems like batteries, alternators, starter motors and wiring.
Jaguar in the UK offered me a job as an electrical engineer, designing and developing these cars in the auto-electrical field and chassis electronics. I’m absolutely thrilled. Jaguar is going to put me through an electrical engineering degree too so ultimately I will become a car designer. My ultimate goal would be to join a Formula One team.
Education
I attended TAFE after finishing Year 12 when I finally woke up to myself. I’ve completed the following certificates:
Certificate III in Automotive Electrical (Trade)
Certificate IV in Automotive Service & Repair (Power Unit Systems)
Certificate IV in Automotive Service & Repair (Diesel Engine Fuel Systems).
As part of winning the gold medal at the National Work Skills Challenge in Adelaide, I won a trip to England in February 2002, which included completing a Royal Navy Team Leadership course and working for the Jaguar Motor Company at their factory for three weeks. It was fantastic. Eleven of us from Australia who won gold in our respective trades went together.
At the leadership course we did team building and leadership exercises which included sailing, hiking in the mountains and indoor rock climbing when it was wet and horrible. We finished up staying on a battleship and taking part in a sinking ship simulator. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. The adrenalin was really rushing as we worked in water that was five degrees Celsius. I learned a lot from my time with Jaguar. I saw cutting-edge technology including prototypes that won’t be released for another six years. I got quite involved in lots of different areas from auto electrical work to computer-aided drawing.
NATHAN’S SUCCESS TIPS
• Love what you do
• Study hard
• Take every opportunity and run with it
INTERESTED?
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More Info:
TAFE NSW: 131 601 / CIT: (02) 6207 3188 CIT: http://www.cit.act.edu.au/home / TAFE: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/ Website: http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/
Web Link:
http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/occupation/view/321111A