Do you want to have a career in the car industry

Hey, I have a really strong passion for cars and I am trying to find a great career where I can work with cars and make a decent living, while owning and restoring classics on the side. Or, perhaps restoring classics as a career? I work as a detailer for a dealership right now, on a flat right. Do any of you have advice into which way I should be looking? I've already asked one of the editors from HotRod magazine about working with them, since it would be a great experience working with a top automotive magazine.

Again, any advice would be great.

Thank you.
 
I started out in the auto biz at the age of 15 working at a full service service station. It didn't take long to learn that I didn't want to turn wrenches and have filthy hands the rest of my life. But that gas station and different tire stores got me through college. I am now spent 20+ years in the telecommunications industry. In the last year after getting my Mustang ( a reward to myself for living through my liver transplant) and joinging AG I finally know how to care for my cars, and truck. Saturday for example: after having dents removed from the hood of my truck, they left it all swirled up. I worked for about three hours on the hood alone, but all the swirls are gone and its shiny again.
Thanks guys!
 
I want to learn all there is to know about this detailing business.. I watch the video's and do what is shown, I am a hands on student, a fast learner.. Where can I find someone to hold my hand and lead me down the right path?
The other detailers around here are just car washers, I take pride in my work and want the customer to return and send their friends and family to me.. I like that jaw dropping effect!!!

TEACH ME!!!
 
cajundetail said:
I want to learn all there is to know about this detailing business.. I watch the video's and do what is shown, I am a hands on student, a fast learner.. Where can I find someone to hold my hand and lead me down the right path?
The other detailers around here are just car washers, I take pride in my work and want the customer to return and send their friends and family to me.. I like that jaw dropping effect!!!

TEACH ME!!!
Click to expand...


After years in this industry, besides having a passion for what you do and finding a niche to carve out, the other most important thing you can do is always conduct yourself in a professional manner both online and offline...


Something I don't always see...


:dunno:
 
Also just to note...

In any segment of this industry it's ALWAYS going to help you to learn how to write and work with pictures.

If you don't now how to write and format text to make it easy for people to read then practice.

If you don't know how to crop out the fluff, resize a picture to 800 pixels wide and "insert" it into a thread instead of merely attaching it, then teach yourself, it's not that hard.


Photography and Working with Pictures on the Internet

NEW - How to create dedicated albums in your photo gallery...

If you're going to be a "Forum Person" on ANY forum, help yourself by learning how to work with picture on the Internet

How to resize your photos before uploading to a photo gallery - Using Easy Thumbnails

Handiest little picture viewer tool I've been using for years now...

How to upload a photo into your Autogeek Photo Gallery

How to insert an image from your photo gallery into your message

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera

How-to work with pictures on discussion forums

How to crop out the fluff and resize your pictures! - Using FREE online software!

Photobucket and Missing Pictures



The below pictures are all cropped and resized to 800 pixels wide and they tell a story...


Here's some sun-shots of the true condition of the paint I took before Earl left...
56StarCheif014.jpg



Ouch! Kind of hurts your eyes, especially knowing the car these swirls are in...
56StarCheif015.jpg



56StarCheif016.jpg


56StarCheif017.jpg


56StarCheif017c.jpg




In order to be a leader in some facet of this industry it will be faster and easier to rise to the top if you can share what you know with others and that means,

  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Pictures
  • Videos
  • Teaching
And doing all of the above in a way that's nice, not demeaning to others.

:)
 
429CJ said:
Hey, I have a really strong passion for cars and I am trying to find a great career where I can work with cars and make a decent living, while owning and restoring classics on the side.

Or, perhaps restoring classics as a career?

I work as a detailer for a dealership right now, on a flat right. Do any of you have advice into which way I should be looking?

I've already asked one of the editors from HotRod magazine about working with them, since it would be a great experience working with a top automotive magazine.

Again, any advice would be great.

Thank you.
Click to expand...



Advice? Hmm.... you have this one, single post. So could be forums aren't your thing. No problem but they are very powerful and there's a way to use them to your advantage no matter what you do for a living.

If you're going to detail cars for money throughout your life then do four things,


1. Post under your real name or your business name, not a forum nickname. It doesn't do anything for you.

2. Learn how to work with pictures on forum. Avoid Photobucket and its ilk and teach yourself how to "insert" picture, not attach.

3. Find your passion, whatever it is and then stick with it.

4. Always take the high road, don't let the riff-raff drag you down to their level.
​


VP Mark said:
Great post, very motivational.
Click to expand...


Thanks Mark....

Had someone ask me at last Thursday's project how to take detailing to a higher level? I told them I had a thread about this and just this morning, found it by accident looking for my buddy Mark Privatsky via Google images.

Just now read your post, so thank you.



:dblthumb2:
 
Great post and tons of awesome info! Im the MAN

Even after owning my own mobile detailing business for eight years now, it's always nice and encouraging to read a thread like this, it just gets you excited to get out there at get after it again tomorrow. :buffing:
 
jarred767 said:
Great post and tons of awesome info! Im the MAN
Click to expand...

It's a very different type of article but one I thought people would like to read.


jarred767 said:
Even after owning my own mobile detailing business for eight years now, it's always nice and encouraging to read a thread like this, it just gets you excited to get out there at get after it again tomorrow.
Click to expand...


I feel the same way.


I created this thread yesterday,

SEMA Pictures - Velocity Live! - Hosted by Chris Jacobs!


2015_Velocity_Live_001.jpg





In post #9


mc2hill asks a question and it jogged my memory about this article I wrote back in 2010 and how the first goal I listed in the first post of this thread is the same answer both Mike Brewer and Chip Foose gave at the Velocity Live show at SEMA this year.


:)
 
bret said:
What ever you do, don't start your venture competing with every guy in your area that has a wash bucket and bottle of wax. Stick to your guns and position yourself in the higher end of your market area. As mike has said you are branding yourself and if you start competing at the low end it will be more difficult to re-brand your product later. As we say in my other profession, once you start to discount to deeply or often it will become your actual price as far as the public is concerned.
Click to expand...

This is perfect I'm trying to get my own thing going. I also work for a mobile detail company. But I don't like the mobile side. I want to do exactly what my boss doesn't do: high-end corrections and coatings.
If someone does that like my price I send them to someone who's cheaper and work is good, but not the same results. I'm trying to catch the car enthusiasts and those who know a quality detail and respect the 12+hrs spend doing good it, people who will maintain your efforts.
 
rakkvet said:
Can you make a good living doing it? I was thinking of trying to learn bodywork and paint. Right now, alll I know how to do is detail, which I'm very good at.

Like I said before. I'm just trying to figure things out.

Tim
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no not to be negative,just telling you in the real world 23 years experience what's a good living in terms of annual income it's hard to raise a family on 40k even if the wifey brings in 40 k ,there are guys making 80k a year,such as myself in south fla ,I've gone thru 6 brand new fords since 2004,all the chemicals deductions and no health benefits and workin like crazy it cost me 950 a month just in Cigna for three people.now if I had a trade from the start I could probably make more money benefits paid no crazy deductions home on the weekends paid vacation,matching 401k etc and if I played my cards right I probably could be able to retire at 58 and at 58 you can still do autobody there is no longtime future in detailing.I was gonna do auto transporting last year working for my self,was ready to do a deal on a 14 dodge 5500 when I found out that my wife has stage 4 colon cancer and I have a nine year old daughter to raise,so when it rains for 2 weeks straight guess what no income.go to school and get a valuable trade that will enable you to have job security for many many years to come,and if you are in a union position you have it made benefits for life.forget detailing and get a trade,depending on how old you are do detailing in the day and get a degree in something at night.
U
 
rustytruck said:
I would not want a carrer as a detailer. People don't need shiny new looking cars. They want that,it makes them feel good. But when times get tuff people spend their money on needs. I have a good job and so dose my wife so our lifestyle is supported By that income. That being said I am trying to build a side business that my son and I can do together when he gets a little older. Also 19 years from now I can walk away form my job and get a nice government pension for the rest of my life. I'll only be 57 yrs old that's when I'll want my detail business to be firmly established so I have something to do. I think if I had to detail cars full time for the. Next 20 plus years to support my family I would never make it. It's tuff work.
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Exactly go to school and get a education or a valuable trade in anything the population demands,ac tech or plumber etc.
 
cajundetail said:
I want to learn all there is to know about this detailing business.. I watch the video's and do what is shown, I am a hands on student, a fast learner.. Where can I find someone to hold my hand and lead me down the right path?
The other detailers around here are just car washers, I take pride in my work and want the customer to return and send their friends and family to me.. I like that jaw dropping effect!!!
TEACH ME!!!
Click to expand...
A lot of poo poo happens in the detailing industry,not enough cash or benefits,weather permitting cancellations high rent today's lot of pressure,I encourage you to learn more about detailing but not as a career standpoint you can always make extra cash on the side and have all the skill set of doing it correctly which will separate you from the hacks.go to school and get a education at least you will have something to fall back on if you decide to take on detailing full time.
 
RFrommann said:
This is perfect I'm trying to get my own thing going. I also work for a mobile detail company. But I don't like the mobile side. I want to do exactly what my boss doesn't do: high-end corrections and coatings.
If someone does that like my price I send them to someone who's cheaper and work is good, but not the same results. I'm trying to catch the car enthusiasts and those who know a quality detail and respect the 12+hrs spend doing good it, people who will maintain your efforts.
Click to expand...

If you can weather the storm on that,it will be hard to convince 80 percent of people to spend 1000 dollars or more every week to clean there car ,and clean is what there programmed to think but not at 1000 dollars bills don't stop coming in.
 
That correction and coating segment is a small niche of people,there out there and willing to spend you just have to find them.which will take time.
 
RFrommann said:
This is perfect I'm trying to get my own thing going. I also work for a mobile detail company. But I don't like the mobile side. I want to do exactly what my boss doesn't do: high-end corrections and coatings.
If someone does that like my price I send them to someone who's cheaper and work is good, but not the same results. I'm trying to catch the car enthusiasts and those who know a quality detail and respect the 12+hrs spend doing good it, people who will maintain your efforts.
Click to expand...


Just to note...

Jeff aka GSKR is a local detailer and a friend of mine and he shares some sound advice.

Still... the title of this article I wrote is,

Do you want to have a career in the car industry.

It's not

Do you want to be a detailer?



My point was if you're passionate about CAR (or trucks, or bikes, or planes or fill in the blank), then set a coarse for action and stick to it.

The definition of success is different for everyone. OF course financial success is a goal or should be but I've had jobs that paid good money but I hated them and I can tell you first hand true success is having a job or a career you love. The kind of work that you would do it even if you were not paid. The kind of job that when the alarm clock goes off in the morning you don't dread getting out of be you JUMP out of bed.

So you can be a successful detailer or go for some other aspect of the car industry, find out what it is you like to do and chase it with all your heart.

Me? I like making cars shiny and showing other people how to make cars shiny. I started out in a small town in Oregon, actually grew up in 3 small towns in Oregon and along the way I lost my right leg. But I kept on keeping on chasing after my passion and so far it's worked out pretty good.

If I can do it. You can do it.


:)
 
It's probably been stated earlier since I didn't read all the post but here's my advice. I'll begin here. There are 2 important dates in every person's life.

The day they are born and the day they discover why they are born.

The last is important and precious because so many outside this country and some within it never have the opportunity to discover and fulfill why they were born.

Mike Phillip's last post says it all for him. So, follow your passions and what's inside you and two things can happen.


One, you love what you do.

Second, you love what you do and make a living at it.


Most folks (not all) who do things they enjoy do well at it. To take it to the next level might involve getting a mentor, getting business assistance, getting marketing assistant, etc.

Who knows, the next line of products might have your name on it.


:xyxthumbs:
 
Sharply Dressed said:
So, follow your passions and what's inside you and two things can happen.

One, you love what you do.

Second, you love what you do and make a living at it.


Most folks (not all) who do things they enjoy do well at it.
Click to expand...

All of the above is true but nothing happens with out determination, perspiration and tenacity. In my opinion it also helps to have faith in the Creator and his Son.


:)
 
Received the below question and comment on our Competition Ready Facebook page,


Sara said:
Got any tips for one trying to one day get into the big leagues?


Love your show by the way great job with the Rolls Royce I never would have thought of that for the ivory etc
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Well Sara,

I sent you the link to this article I wrote back in 2010 and I think what I wrote back then is still accurate today.


:)
 
Ive always been passionate about cars. But ive gotten a lot of advice that sounds like "gskr" gave. So ive done other things i like.

I liked web development but worry about outsourcing. I like archery and cycling but not sure you can make money with those. And I like writing but also same advice that its not good to pursue.

So I've been stuck in retail and did short time in pest control (where i was laid off) and now I'm 30 and wondering what if I had taken one of my passions and ran with it.
 
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