all professional installers

hi, im just posting to ask some advice really, i am extremely interested in car audio electronics and really want to become an apprentice/trainee for an installer company, i am going to write some letters to companys in the area asking them about positions.

i guess what i want to know is, what do they look for? i will need to be trained, i have no real experience apart from working with my own car (nothing special) will i need qualifications to get into this business? or can they be earned by training? i really dont want to go back to college and would rather learn on the job but if thats what it takes then so be it. I am currently 19 and live near london UK. I would love to do bespoke boot builds and custom installs professionally, and really have a thing for sq.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

thanks

Adam

thanks guys, means alot to speak to professionals, and by no means would i think im the bees knees in this business, i have an amazing amount of respect for people with this kind of knowledge simply for the fact that i would love to be in their shoes. Tomorro i think i will write out some letters to the shops but also go in and really speak to them about what i would like to do. Theres a great custom car place round my way called Autosparx that specialize in everything custom and i would love to get into the audio/multimedia section of the business.

xtremej if you where to hire someone (and train them) what would you expect them to know to start out with?

thanks again guys

Adam

If you want to learn about audio I recommend doing a lot of searching on this forum, reading the technical sections to the left, and also read all the information over at www.bcae1.com.  Although knowing all that information won't make you a good installer (experience is very important), it will definitely help.

I also recommend having a resume that stands out.  I think I put together a killer resume, and maybe some of the things I did could help you.  I have a decent sized resume because of the experience I have in the field.  It is best to keep the information included relevant to the job you are applying for, but if you don't have enough experience to fill a resume, then just put everything you can.  I went down to Staples and purchased some nice black folders with clear fronts so my cover letter can show through.  I then found a picture I took when I worked at Adire of a bunch of speaker parts and played with the image in Photoshop until it was washed out.  This I used it for my cover letter along with my name, address and phone number in bold dark blue letters over the top.  This shows through the folders cover to offer a very nice presentation.  At staples I also purchased some really nice translucent colored CD holders.  I burned a CD with images of some custom fabrication projects I've worked on and included the CD with my resume.  I think with the presentation and included CD it gave my resume an advantage over the standard stapled white sheets most shops are used to.  Sure it costs a little bit more, but it pays off in the long run. 

Basic knowledge, that way I can teach them what I feel is the proper way. We have a lot of guys fresh out of highschool that come in and think they know everything. These are the same guys that think audiobahn makes and awesome product. Don't get me wrong I don't subscribe to the theory that because i don't sell it, it sucks either. This is what I am currently looking for. I know other shop owners are looking for lots of expereince. Understand though I came from a coporate job where 90% of the people we interviewed for jobs lied their ass off on their resume and as soon as I would start to confirm things I would discover this. Some may have been great employees, but no-one wants a liar, my point is if you do a resume keep it accurate, but as stated by others, state you objectives and goals. Also understand I am a pr$ck to work for so when I get done with an interview I always ask do you still want a job? I expect anybody that works for me, to have the same desires in mind and if they don't they are not worth trying to change. The are others out their with a hell of a lot more experience in this field than me and some have already chimed in so don't bank on just my ideas or what I am looking for, take all info in general. Hope I helped, keep in mind I just got in and only a half a cup of java has been consumed.........