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What are your experiences in auto mechanic?
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Alixander Laffredo-Dietrich, CSPO
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Alixander’s Answer
Great question!
I had an odd deal with a local shop to where I'd help around and they'd fix my car for free. So my experience isn't as a career mechanic but as someone who has worked in shops.
The good:
1. If you have a good crew with you, that makes the job a ton of fun. It's hard work which generally allows for tighter bonds with the right people.
2. At the end of the day you know you DID something. I currently work in corporate where I don't know what effect I have on people. An oil change is an oil change. Replacing a transmission is replacing a transmission. If you do your job, you will go home with a sense of accomplishment.
3. IF you get in at a good shop (which is very hard just starting out from my understanding) you can work on some super cool projects. I have a friend who works on making custom body kits for cars. That's awesome.
The not so good:
1. Hours are long and hard and it's hard to keep a garage a comfortable temperature. Granted, this might just be the shop I worked at (I've seen some nice ones out there), but it's food for thought.
2. Most of your work at a standard shop is going to be bread-and-butter work. Oil changes, tire mounting, rotations, maybe an alignment (if you want to get exciting). Not many folks are going to go to a local Goodyear to drop a turbo. (But there are shops out there that do that, they're just fewer in number).
3. The shop manager may pressure you on time. Sometimes there's a stubborn nut that just won't unscrew making a 30 minute job an hour long job. Cars going in and out of bays make money. If you've got a stubborn project, be prepared to have your boss breathing down your neck.
Basically, your career is going to depend on what shop you wind up in. There are a few folks that generally love automotive as a career. There are more that wish they kept it a hobby. But ultimately, that's up to you!
I would seek out a shop and see if they'd let you apprentice there. If you're a student, do it over the summer. Really get a feel for working in the heat in real time to see if you still love it. (Many people do, by the way! This is not to intimidate you. It's a suggestion to help you see if your expectations meet reality).
If you can't find an apprenticeship, be the "car guy" in your group of friends – especially for the oil changes and simple tasks. But try to get consistent work for a bit.
I had an odd deal with a local shop to where I'd help around and they'd fix my car for free. So my experience isn't as a career mechanic but as someone who has worked in shops.
The good:
1. If you have a good crew with you, that makes the job a ton of fun. It's hard work which generally allows for tighter bonds with the right people.
2. At the end of the day you know you DID something. I currently work in corporate where I don't know what effect I have on people. An oil change is an oil change. Replacing a transmission is replacing a transmission. If you do your job, you will go home with a sense of accomplishment.
3. IF you get in at a good shop (which is very hard just starting out from my understanding) you can work on some super cool projects. I have a friend who works on making custom body kits for cars. That's awesome.
The not so good:
1. Hours are long and hard and it's hard to keep a garage a comfortable temperature. Granted, this might just be the shop I worked at (I've seen some nice ones out there), but it's food for thought.
2. Most of your work at a standard shop is going to be bread-and-butter work. Oil changes, tire mounting, rotations, maybe an alignment (if you want to get exciting). Not many folks are going to go to a local Goodyear to drop a turbo. (But there are shops out there that do that, they're just fewer in number).
3. The shop manager may pressure you on time. Sometimes there's a stubborn nut that just won't unscrew making a 30 minute job an hour long job. Cars going in and out of bays make money. If you've got a stubborn project, be prepared to have your boss breathing down your neck.
Basically, your career is going to depend on what shop you wind up in. There are a few folks that generally love automotive as a career. There are more that wish they kept it a hobby. But ultimately, that's up to you!
Alixander recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Debra’s Answer
I have never been one, my husband has for about 25 years now, depending on if you are self employed or employed by a car dealership or a oil technician, the training can be different. If you start say as a oil technician, there are usually no expectations for any sort of certificate at the beginning and usually they provide training as they go along. The pay base is probably lowest here also. If you took certification classes at a trade/tech school and went directly to work for say a car dealership or a truck stop if you are certified for large equipment the pay base would be much higher.