How can I gain hands-on experience across multiple areas in aviation maintenance, such as avionics and sheet metal, when workplaces tend to compartmentalize roles?

I currently have a job lined up at a local airport for when I graduate this October with my associate degree and A&P license. While working, I’ll also be continuing toward a bachelor’s degree online. I’ll be entering the field with limited experience—about a year as an assistant mechanic—and I want to explore different specialties and gain as much knowledge as possible before settling into the path that fits me best. The challenge is that my current job is very small, with only a few workers. I’m grateful for the opportunity and enjoy working with my coworkers, but the scope is limited. All of the work is on small fixed-wing aircraft, and they never handle larger repairs or composite type works. I’d like to expand beyond that and gain experience in other areas of aviation maintenance. I understand that it’s difficult to get exposure to everything, especially since many workplaces prioritize efficiency over well-rounded training. Still, I believe that building a broad foundation early on will help me better understand aircraft systems, troubleshoot more effectively, and ultimately choose the specialty that fits me best. Any advice on how to gain that kind of broad experience early in my career would be greatly appreciated!

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