At the moment I work at a pizza shop just to collect until I can start working a real job. I worked as an Information Services Specialist(helpdesk) before (good money, 50k /year to start) but I found that I didn't like that field at all.

I know I bugged some of you about getting me a job in the automotive world... (DEZ Racing and TBYRNE), but I think I might actually be getting in!

My friend who works at a chevy dealership here on the cape said they were looking for an ASE master tech and someone else, like a lube tech.

So he referred me and I filled out an application (for lube tech). Well the service manager there is trying to open a performance area in the shop. He has a z06 on jackstands halfway through vortech blower install. Said it should be around 600 to the wheels, and he wants a tech who is into the performance and wants to help build it up. (luckily I rolled in w/ my TA )

I told him all I did at my other job (helpdesk) was look up performance stuff for my car, what tools I should get, and how to do things. I told him the tools I have (2 impact guns, Craftsman socket set (100 piece IIRC), tap & die set, hex wrenches, torx bits, impact rachet, impact sockets, swivels, pry bars, etc.)
I told him I didnt have a box cuz I dont have a garage or a paved driveway so I can't wheel it around. I also told the service manager all I really wanted to do was learn everything I could, and I have no problems taking classes and tests or whatever to get certified.

I also told him I was building up my Nissan I had before, helping a friend in Fall River turbocharge his Nissan, and that I can't afford to do that many mods to the TA cuz I can't even afford the car anymore.

So he said he liked me, and would talk to the owner tomorrow, and that he had a bunch more applications as well.

Well the owner called today and said he would like to interview me tomorrow! Im so stoked...

You guys think this is a good sign? Or am I getting too excited?

p.s. sorry if this is a little jumbled, I'll try to fix it in a few.

 

Man....... I went on an interview friday, the guy told me he would have me meet the owner of the company and gave me all kinds of good signs. The head hunter agency was going to call me monday to let me know and I still havent heard from them.

Take everything with a grain of salt, I thought for sure I had the job and now I dont know what the hell's going on. Wait and see.

 

Im just gonna be a bounty hunter if this doesn't go through... so I can take my aggression out on stupid people

 

Wow bro you went from a 50k a year job to maybe a lube tech? Now maybe it's a performance install and if that doesn't work out your going to be a bounty Hunter. Your all over the place. Hope everything works out for you.

 

Good luck but I'll let you know now the dealership sucks. I work for Chrysler now and its just aggrivating figuring out problems. A customer will come in and be like "My car makes a tick noise going backwards up a hill in the rain on wednesday but ONLY at 4 o'clock" and you need to figure it out? WTF is that? <kills self>

 

I would rather switch careers when I'm young rather than when I am older. There are tons of poeple I know that went to school for something they ended up not liking. I wish i didn't go at all, because the degree isn't going to help me at all, so for the most part it was a waste of money.

I didn't know what I wanted to do when I graduated at 17... My parents made me go to college, and there was money in the IT field so I decided to go where the money was. I got a job in the field, it sux, and that's it. Im confident I'm on the right track now.. I just hope I get the job. If not, I will still try to get a job somewhere else.

I actually have long term goals in the automotive industry..and I will eventually graduate from "mechanic." It may be a long time from now, but I will.

I'll post back up again tomorrow, whether I got it or not

 

Kinda funny,I have no idea how I fell into the car bussiness I'm actually a master electrician And yes,I'm at my union job right now

 

I'm in school with automotive as a major, when I get done I will be above a few of the guys that have been at it for 10 years...I had long term goals then I got into a dealer and realized it's not what I want. When you get older it starts to take its toll on you.

 

No **** Don - you are living many backyard gearheads dream! Mine included.
You earned the niche you have with pride and talent mixed with a real care for customers satisfaction. You are not driven to succeed by money. The tuning and modding on these cars just flows from you like a guitar riff from Stevie Ray Vaughn - proud to have you advance on your own merit. Others should take notice.

as for NateLS1: I highly suggest you get back into the IT field while you are current. Use the income to live and constantly search for ways to utilize those skills in an automotive related service.
Example:
Wholesale/retail of cheap cars SUCKS *** but the money can be nice. However, by meeting the people invloved your opportunities multiply over and over. I know a guy that ended up working in the performance development field for a major aftermarket company (Moroso) from a connection he made selling used cars!
I can't say I know of any lube techs getting "discovered" for their talents. You'll wind up stuck in a dirty mid level job unless you keep your options open. And using hat IT education is your advantage!

 

EVERYONE I know that worked a dealership left because it started to suck. It's for guys that like to take orders from a boss, do just what needs to be done for the day and exist. Some guys are excellent mechanics and last forever at dealerships - but I don't think those guys LOVE FAST CARS like we do!
Personally I found doing what you love as a hobby for a living as well very difficult. I wound up in management to pay for my hobby - and can't wait for every second with my cars! Some wrenchers don't even work on their cars due to being burnt on the job wrencing other peoples cars.

 

Why anyone would work for anyone else is simply beyond me.

 

You got it right Chief, it's fun as a hobby but doing it all day blows.

 

my long term goals don't involve me staying at the dearlership

I'm using it as a place to learn the most I can, get any certs that I can and get out. I completely agree with this statement - "Why anyone would work for anyone else is simply beyond me."

Me and my brother in law also have a computer repair business starting to unfold, nothing big. So I'm not completely out of the IT field.

 

Just go to Wyotech or someplace similar for 2 years and learn it all the right way. Hell you can even go to SAM and learn a ton about the machining process or the "NASCAR" specific section of one of the big schools out there.

If I ever hit the lotto and dont have to work for a living, that is what I would, but now at 29 with a house and a comfortable life I cant (More accurately WONT) risk leaving a 70k job to do what I would rather do and risk being broke.

 

Well I think I am in. They just said they have to check my record and make sure I dont have any DUI's or any stupid **** like that, which I don't.

Im addicted to the new Texas Hold Em scratch tickets... I love em but the other guy always gets either a straght or a flush! its bullshit! But if I did win millions I would open up a shop for fun. That would be sweeet.

Anyways, I know some of you don't think I should be doing this but I am. Why wait til I'm older? I try not to waste my life doing **** I don't like doing. I don't worship money so that doesnt matter to me, I just want to be happy and enjoy what I do. If I don't like it I can always do something else. Im pretty sure this is what I will be doing for a very long time though.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really do appreciate them and completely understand where everyone is coming from. I just have to do this, or I will never know if it was meant for me or not.

 

Mon-fri I get to go to work. I get to drive and fix porsches. I work 7am--9/10 pm 5 days a week in the summer. I love my job I like doing what I do and I dont mind being at work in fact I kind of like it. But I have never seen more stupidity then the service writers I have to deal with and the customers that come in I with life pressing issues like their rain sensor isnt sensitive enough and 5 seconds is too long for it to take to go from reverse to drive. I Have never had so many problems getting parts from the parts dept, people think murrays is bad, I use 10 oil filters a day they are all the same why do you have to look up the pn and its location. MY body hurts and aches when I get home. Some days I make insane amounts of $$$$ but in january and febuary Idont think I took home a pay check over 250$. When you make a mistake you buy some parts and you fix it on your time (free) NO retirement, Expesnive benifits I pay 520 a month for medical insurance for just me, one person and im only 22 wtf.
I see lots of guys come and go its a rough game but if its what ya wanna do more power to ya.