Um...Hello?

[shajennat]

Hi Leigh
I too wanted to become a bike mechanic and thought my luck was in when I just happened to ask if there was any vacancies at my local Halfords and I was asked to fill in an application form. I went for an interview (which was conducted my some spotty nineteen year old who thought it was highly hillarious to be interviewing a forty two year old bloke. The interview went well (ish) and i was all but offered the job. Up untill i found out that the next person to be interviewed was a bloke who had until recently run his own bikeshop. Needless to say i wasnt succesful
Hope it goes better for you!!!!!
Shaun

 

[Leigh73]

I too applied for a job at halfords but didn't even get a reply. Having since spoken to some of the guys that work at their 'bikehut' dept. I can see that even with my limited knowledge I was waaaay over qualified to work there. For starters I have more than one functioning braincell, another is that I'm polite. I know this isn't true of all halfords staff, my old local store in London was fine, great, helpful guys, but this particular branch... sheesh!!

 

[jonny jeez]

Welcome leigh.

My advice, if its too hard to find work, then start on your own. If you have a garage at home, then you have all you need.

Advertise your services with leaflets in your road and local roads (local enough for people to drop their bike to you) leaflet cost like £20 for hundreds and maybe place an ad in the local.

But first...of course, borrow enough cash to get yourself trained properly, if you are committed then this is a worthwhile investment and one that you are asking a potential employer to make in you. If you are serious enough to invest their money then why not invest your own.

 

[Leigh73]

Nice one Jonny, it's something I'm starting to think is more and more credible right now and is something else to seriously look into. I appreciate the encouragement. Living in a commuter belt village with so many bike owners I know I could get the business!

 

[Dayvo]

Living in a commuter belt village with so many bike owners I know I could get the business!

Indeed, and with the kids cycling to Chelmsford or Brentwood (if they're not all th the Anglo European) to get to school! Drop some leaflets at those schools, or talk to the head, to see if there are any pupils who want to have repairs done.

 

[shajennat]

Does anyone know what courses there are out there and rough costings of them

 

[Leigh73]

http://www.cytech.uk.com/uploaded_files/tce-docs/Cytech Pricelist May 2012 - Public - ATG.pdf
This seems to be the industry standard for "proper" qualifications - pretty damn pricey...hence the reason I'm looking for alternatives to do it on the cheap!

 

[barrymanifold]

Very expensive my 5 year domestic gas training and exams cost nowhere near that rip off . Its a bike its not rocket science. Get a couple of bikes of the local tip strip them down and rebuild them. Hands on is more important than cirtificates that know one will ask to see anyway.

 

[Leigh73]

hear hear!

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

I too applied for a job at halfords but didn't even get a reply. Having since spoken to some of the guys that work at their 'bikehut' dept. I can see that even with my limited knowledge I was waaaay over qualified to work there. For starters I have more than one functioning braincell, another is that I'm polite. I know this isn't true of all halfords staff, my old local store in London was fine, great, helpful guys, but this particular branch... sheesh!!

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

Hi Leigh
I too wanted to become a bike mechanic and thought my luck was in when I just happened to ask if there was any vacancies at my local Halfords and I was asked to fill in an application form. I went for an interview (which was conducted my some spotty nineteen year old who thought it was highly hillarious to be interviewing a forty two year old bloke. The interview went well (ish) and i was all but offered the job. Up untill i found out that the next person to be interviewed was a bloke who had until recently run his own bikeshop. Needless to say i wasnt succesful
Hope it goes better for you!!!!!
Shaun

Hilarious little story. Lol

 

[Reece]

Welcome Leigh!