A Day in the Life

AARON REID

Apprenticeships

I left school after my A-levels not knowing what I wanted to do, I just knew that I had an interest in engineering, solving problems and fixing things. I decided to hold out on university for a year and do an HNC in electrical and electronic engineering in Belfast met.

One of my modules in this course was mechatronics and I loved it, I decided to apply for this course in Jordanstown the next year. I had done two years of mechatronic engineering in Jordanstown as well as working as a concreter at the weekends. I really did not enjoy the university lifestyle and I just wanted to get into the working world. I left university and applied to the translink apprenticeship scheme. I am now in my second year of the apprenticeship.

Tell Us More

Is this what you always wanted to do?

No, this is not what I always wanted to do but I always had an interest in cars and engines growing up. I had just never considered it as a full-time career. Looking back now it would have made sense for me to make this move years ago and I wish I had.

Were there any particular qualifications or experience needed?

Besides some good GCSE’S and A-levels there were no qualifications needed, however I believe that my HNC in electrical and electronic engineering really helped me get into the apprenticeship.

Are there alternative routes to the job?

There are some other routes into the job; you could first get a degree and then do an apprenticeship. You could also do an apprenticeship with another company and then apply for a full-time position once out of your time.

What does a typical day entail?

I get to work at 7am and clock in and after that every day is different as I work in a running repair shed. We carry out safety checks on buses every day and we also must deal with any problems that come in off the road. Sometimes we also must go out to breakdowns as well.

What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

The best and most challenging aspect of the job is the same thing, the fact that every single day you are learning new things. New problems you have never seen before, the buses are always being upgraded.

Why is what you do important?

Public transport is a crucial part of any country’s infrastructure, it is important for helping the environment, getting people to work, and making parts of the country more accessible. Keeping the buses on the road in good condition is vital for public transport’s reputation.

What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?

The most important piece of advice I would give someone looking to follow a similar career path is to be interested and not waste any time applying.

What is the one piece of advice you would give yourself on your first day?

Be curious every single day, there is so much to learn, and it is important to always stay curious and be hands on