Automotive Careers - 16 years old and cant do shit

All right basically I’m 16 can do a lot Weld, Build engines, Paint/Airbursh basically everything I taught my self and through my high school automotive program. And have grew up on ls1's so I would figure I would turn to you guys to see what I could do for a job or just something at my age that can benefit my career. Still got a lot I can learn and out of all fields my favorite is performance. So I live in Dayton Ohio and I’m open to any suggestions Thanks Bryan

got to pepboys or soemthing?

Local collision repair shop?

at 16 you don't have many option, maybe a local lube shop or see if you can get some counter experience at a local parts place, stay away from auto zone/cragen/pepboys see if you can get in with a Place like Napa or parts Plus

discount tire company

I liked delivering parts for my local parts store in HS... then I started at SEARS, and 4 months later, was the warehouse manager... left at 18 for the military... about to get out 6 yrs later (Dec 8th :nod: ), go back home, and work for a refining company...

go to school, learn to spell?

im not doubting you know alot about these things, but chances are, you don't know as much as you think. not trying to be a dick, just saying. you're probably not going to find an automotive job at your age, so just get whatever job you can, save your money, and stay in school

Ya sorry I was In school when I wrote this, And on the run so didnt have a lot of time but fixed now. Thanks

If you're good with math, see if you can work your way into an apprenticeship with a motor builder. You'll learn everything there is to know it.

Once you start doing motors you can start making a name for yourself and work your way up from there.

If I weren't dead set on getting into engineering and business, I'd get into fabrication. There's great money in that and it will always be in demand. Plus you can build whatever the hell you want.

Umm heres what i'm doin.


. get my z payed off 2k more to go ( working at rite aid making crap for money lol)
. turn 17 and get a job at the local junkyard taking cars apart
. haven't figured that one out yet but prolly turn 18 and go to uti or wyo or something


But anyways there isn't alot to do down here where I live at 16 cept for grocery stores and fast food but when seventeen hits boom i'm off to some little junkyard that needs help. lol hope you find something to do in this sitchy ation.

hey, when I was 14, I could do alot. but I did get a ton of experience at a local repair shop. did everthing a little oil changing but mostly big projects. learned more than i could have thought in 3 years.

The day i turned 16 I got a job at a nice salvage yard and later moved to their parts department and engine department. Right before i joined the Air Force, at age 18, I was the parts manager and was michigan state certified in engine repair.

Thanks for all the Advice Lots of inspiration Given!

I am very lucky, my uncle owns a full service automotive repair shop that I can work in.

i was in the same boat as you at 16. I worked at the local goodyear when i turned 17 and changed oil and did tires all day. Then i went to uti and thought i was gonna have the coolest job ever and wanted to work at a performance shop. then it got hard to find a job at a performance shop. so now i'm 25 and i'm a master tech at the local audi dealer, i'm not saying i got it bad or anything but the pay isn't what they make it out to be for all the crap you have to deal with and flat rate can suck. but if you want to do performance i suggest wyo because it looks like they have a much better program for performance. good luck to you whatever you do.

I resent that Kragen hating-comment.

You'd be surprised how many old-school guys I had come in every day and quiz me on the most random shit.



It really depends on the area you live in........

hey kid, i'm 19 and about to graduate college. U may have heard of WyoTech, it's an automotive school, there are a few campuses around the country. If you want to spend a shitload of money than go to school like i did. i thought i knew alot when iu started, but it seems like i was retarded then when i look back. Just don't go for too long.

Ive been here 15 months and im about to kill myself.
mon-fri 7AM-4PM, sucks nuts but it's like a real job.
I started at a body shop when i was 13-16, sears 15-18, tour bus company 17-18, its easy to find a job, u just gotta want it