to go to automotive school or not

A guy i know graduated from UTI, he worked as a porter for a Mercedes dealership for 7 years, then finally got a job as a mechanic at a Mercedes dealer in Florida so had to relocate. Again, it took him 7 years.
 
cherokeedawg240 said:
Sorry Ive not posted in a long time been busy. I need some advice. I'm addicted to cars and trucks and have been since I was little. Thought about having a career in it but backed out. And now I am regretting it.

Ive been nervous to go to automotive school for a couple of reasons. One I was told that working on cars I couldn't make much money and couldn't find a stable job.. Well Now I work at a grocery store and dont make much money at all and hate my job.

The other reason I have been scared to go back to automotive school is I worked at a Goodyear express shop for a few weeks and it was a total disaster. I was hired to change oil and tires. I had no training and because of that I was learning and messed up a tire putting it on a rim. And I had never drove a big pick up and no one guided me and and i hit the mirror off. And after that the the boss fired me and said I didnt belong near a car.

And that devastated me. Because I love cars. Ive spend hrs at a time looking at my car and planing things I could do to it to make it faster. But after the goodyear job Ive been scared to even try.

So my questions are. Can you find a stable job working on cars? Can you make decent money (and I dont mean get rich I mean like 35-45 grand a year)? Also do I let that Goodyear job keep me away? or was that just a bad experience and I just need to go to school and for get what happened there.

Ive thought about detailing and or selling and putting on accessories. And also automotive journalism. Thats where my passion is. paint detailing and accessories ect

thoughts?
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Lots of good info from experienced people here.

Sounds like no one was permanently disfigured during your brief stay at Goodyear. Better to give it a try and find out you are not suited/or dislike it than to lay on your deathbed one day and say, "I wish I woulda'/coulda'/shoulda'.

Good luck with whatever you try.
 
"Going back to school" is an excellent way to approach shedding your unwanted, current job.
Selecting what school/which curriculum, that you're best-suited for, is the challenge.

Sounds like you're pretty good with your hands.
Ever consider being a physical therapist/physical-therapy-assistant?

Those trained in medical-careers are in high demand right now...
with those careers offering, seemingly, less chance of becoming a displaced worker anew.

Who knows...
To assist a person in certain fields-of-study...
there may even be "entitlement programs" from which to draw resources.


:)

Bob
 
you can make great money at repairing cars when it is your own company i have been doing this for over 30 years get good help and this can be win for you and help
 
cherokeedawg240 said:
Even the grocery store I work at has those politics. I'm 27. The business plan I have is not the normal route which scares me. Ive thought about doing a combo automotive journalism business writing automotive articles and such for magazines and news papers. and with that also doing a mobile car detailing business. And Ive thought about a automotive accessory business. I hope that all doesnt sound crazy
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I don't really know your work experience, you've only listed 2 jobs. But I guess depending what part of Georgia there's not too much employment?

Well anyway, it doesn't seem like you have any concrete plans, so I would suggest going to school for something that pays decent and good employment record, maybe a tech school? A member mentioned medical, which is always a good way to stay employed.

I'm just being honest with you, because at 27, you gotta ask yourself, what have I accomplished? And what do I want to accomplish? (REALISTICALLY)

I think you should push back your personal ambitions until you have more of a foundation and then pursue them.
 
After working for GM dealerships for over 20 years, I would recommend NOT working on cars. At the high point, I made a lot of money doing flat rate work. Well, those days are gone. The business is so competitive and being the newb in a shop is tough. Favoritism is just one of the things that you will have to deal with.

You never know what your paycheck will be from week to week. Lately, I have seen many of my previous co -workers get out. Their annual salary keeps dropping every year and the vehicles are getting better every year. Less maintenance, less breakdown and in this economy, most people do not fix much unless they have the money to spend or something is broken and NEEDS to be replaced.

Having been a mentor for many "kids" over the years, I would tell them to find another occupation. Working on cars makes you old before your time, bones and muscles hurt all the time, and gets harder everyday.

If you are going back to school, spend the money on a better occupation. I got my BS in Computer Science and had to start at the bottom again, but I am making my way back up and after 2 1/2 to 3 years, I am actually making more money than when I left being a technician.

Also, it has gotten to the point in my life where I truly hate doing any heavy mechanical work on our vehicles. I will do the little things (i.e. oil change, tune, etc.), but any of the other stuff, I procrastinate until it has to be done. I do, and have always enjoyed detailing our vehicles, but I never did it for a job.

I look at being an automotive technician as a job. The only place you can go would be a service manager. There is very little other opportunities, within a dealership anyway, where you will be able to advance your career. I now have a career in computers and have an open ceiling for advancement.

If that is what you love to do and want to be an auto technician, go for it. I have always said that I would not hold anyone back from their dream. It is up to you, but don't just look at the near future, look at the distant future. Things like benefits, retirement, etc. The benefits in the auto industry plain suck!!!

I apologize for the length, but if there is anything that I can do to help, please let me know. Good luck on your decision.
 
Become a Detailer! Make your own hours, choose how much you make and enjoy your life. That's what I do. If you want something bad enough you will FIND a way to get it. School in my opinion, is not going to change your self motivation. You work in a grocery store, have you been promoted? Ever received a raise? Take pride in what're you do in life and all the benefits will follow. Just some friendly advice.
 
Love's Auto said:
Become a Detailer! Make your own hours, choose how much you make and enjoy your life. That's what I do. If you want something bad enough you will FIND a way to get it. School in my opinion, is not going to change your self motivation. You work in a grocery store, have you been promoted? Ever received a raise? Take pride in what're you do in life and all the benefits will follow. Just some friendly advice.
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actually I have had a promotion and 4 raises and Ive only been there 1 1/2 years. But I see what your saying. Imaging what I can do with something I am motivated with
 
I'm a firm believer in "the more education the better". If you decide down the road you don't want to be a mechanic anymore and want to pursue another career, you will still have the knowledge and know how to repair your own cars. That in itself will save you money over the years.
 
Like others have said, there are alot of people on here with experience and great advise, I hope you take heed of what is written here. :xyxthumbs:

I went to automotive school, graduated with 2 degrees, auto tech and auto engine machinist. I enjoyed working on cars, I got a job working for a major company, worked my way up through the ranks into management. I made decent money, I had my toys.
I "worked" in the auto industry for 12 years, now I am doing something completely different. I got out of the auto industry because it took a major toll on my body, working in extreme temperatures, awkward uncomfortable positions....will I do it again, yes! I enjoyed my time in the auto industry, with my certifications, schooling and experience I know I can always fall back to the auto industry if I need to. But for now I will enjoy doing what I'm doing! :dblthumb2:

Wish you the best in your future endeavors, keep us posted as to what route you eventually take.
 
Go with your heart. Whatever you feel passionate about is always good. Nothing worse then waking up each day dreading having to go to work. Also, you have received raises and been promoted you are a excellent worker or none of this would have happened. Keep up the good work!
 
Well my heart is in making cars look good. So I am going to stick with detailing. Question would adding headlight restore and windshield repair to the detailing business be a good or bad idea?
 
Wow guys, reading about all the dealership shop work sure brought back memories for me. :eek: I of course never worked FOR a dealership, but owning a towing business for 18 years I sure went in a ton of them, worked for a ton of them and knew a lot of great hard working guys in them as well.

Tool boxes having wheels is one that stuck with me. One of my shops was Carriage House MB, with a buddy doing ACC and RBM. So yeah, I was in all three of them weekly. Talk about rolling tool boxes! I became known around Atlanta as THE "go to guy" for the most massive toolboxes pretty much in the dealership shop industry. Not to put down the Ford, Mitsubishi, Carmax and GM guys, but the MB guys are freaking SERIOUS about their toolboxes! That and they'd move from one shop to another at the drop of a hat.

OTOH, for a well qualified Tech, the shops were fighting to steal them from one another. Then throw the independent shops into the mix and it all goes sideways.

I moved so many boxes that I put together a complete tool box on my truck full of straps of all sizes, mats, you name it. Whilst other guys you'd see put hooks on the caster wheels and winch a 5 ton tool box up on the bed, I'd put 2 full 4" straps around them and pull them the right way. Because of that, the MB guys refused to let anyone even touch their boxes but me. Also because of that, and the huge amount of time involved I developed a minimum $125 tow charge (back in the 90's). Didn't want to pay me....? Go to the guys that'd rip your casters off! Even ACC and RBM guys would call rather than have their own dealership towing account do it. :)

But yeah... the politics of the "dispatcher" was and probably still is something that can leave you disgusted with your entire day, or MONTH! :rolleyes: Even I, as the guy that already had a contract with a shop had to deal with "the dispatcher politics" from time to time. Not to mention they expect you to tow comebacks for free. OMG!!! :(
 
cardaddy said:
Wow guys, reading about all the dealership shop work sure brought back memories for me. :eek: I of course never worked FOR a dealership, but owning a towing business for 18 years I sure went in a ton of them, worked for a ton of them and knew a lot of great hard working guys in them as well.

Tool boxes having wheels is one that stuck with me. One of my shops was Carriage House MB, with a buddy doing ACC and RBM. So yeah, I was in all three of them weekly. Talk about rolling tool boxes! I became known around Atlanta as THE "go to guy" for the most massive toolboxes pretty much in the dealership shop industry. Not to put down the Ford, Mitsubishi, Carmax and GM guys, but the MB guys are freaking SERIOUS about their toolboxes! That and they'd move from one shop to another at the drop of a hat.

OTOH, for a well qualified Tech, the shops were fighting to steal them from one another. Then throw the independent shops into the mix and it all goes sideways.

I moved so many boxes that I put together a complete tool box on my truck full of straps of all sizes, mats, you name it. Whilst other guys you'd see put hooks on the caster wheels and winch a 5 ton tool box up on the bed, I'd put 2 full 4" straps around them and pull them the right way. Because of that, the MB guys refused to let anyone even touch their boxes but me. Also because of that, and the huge amount of time involved I developed a minimum $125 tow charge (back in the 90's). Didn't want to pay me....? Go to the guys that'd rip your casters off! Even ACC and RBM guys would call rather than have their own dealership towing account do it. :)

But yeah... the politics of the "dispatcher" was and probably still is something that can leave you disgusted with your entire day, or MONTH! :rolleyes: Even I, as the guy that already had a contract with a shop had to deal with "the dispatcher politics" from time to time. Not to mention they expect you to tow comebacks for free. OMG!!! :(
Click to expand...

We used to call the "dispatcher" the "dickspackler"
 
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