Twenty year-old Shaun studied IMI Vehicle Maintenance and Repair at our Finnart St campus where he discovered his passion for the garage atmosphere and set his sights on a Vehicle Technician role.
After spending as much time as he could within the college classroom learning his trade, Shaun started to apply for apprenticeships to progress after completing his course at West College Scotland. He was delighted to secure a role with Specialist Cars Volkswagen Aberdeen, under the John Clark Motor group.
Speaking about the next step in his career journey Shaun said, “I get to be very hands on and learn whilst on the job. I can see and perform the tasks that I will be doing daily when qualified. Eventually I’ll get the opportunity to go down the Volkswagen National Learning Centre too which is exciting.”
He continued, “I chose college because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with myself after school. I tried Sports at first but didn’t like it - then I got my place at West College Scotland on clearing. The course content and the lecturers really made me want to continue - I also loved the garage atmosphere. This made me aim for a job in the industry.”
Shaun feels his experience at College has prepared him well for the world of work highlighting that his course reflects the Institute of Motor Industry framework, commonly used by many industry employers. He said, “The lecturers were very helpful. They gave me the tools and guidance to help me move forward on my own. The course teaches you a little bit of everything.”
Although he found it challenging securing an apprenticeship at first, Shaun put his success down to perseverance saying, “It wasn’t easy, I applied for a lot and didn’t get a lot. I just kept my head down and understood that something will come up - especially over the pandemic. If it’s what you want to do you have to just keep on going and you will get it!”
To others considering starting their college journey Shaun’s advice is to just go for it! He said, “Ask lots of questions at your interview and definitely go to any open days as you’ll be introduced to lecturers and your working environment. Going to College gave me a better understanding of what I was getting into career wise. The automotive industry is fast paced, so you’ll need to be up for a graft!”
Motor Vehicle Lecturer, Barry Sim said, ““We are proud of how far Shaun has come. When lockdown came into place in March 2019 this had an impact on all students including Shaun, raising concerns on how to complete his course work within the academic year. Shaun showed great determination and bounce-back ability to never give up, achieving his goal in gaining an apprenticeship. Shaun was an excellent student and we wish him all the best in his new job role.”
To follow in Shaun’s footsteps check out our range of Motor Vehicle courses at https://www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk/courses/course-directory/courses/motor-vehicle