I am thinking about a career change...

Seems like these threads come up pretty often on automotive forums. Figure I'll weigh in as well, hope it's relevant.

Decided to change my career at 37 years old, I'm now 42. I was in the printing industry for 15 years as a graphics guy. Got pretty good at it but found I was beating my head against my desk and dreading going to work. No real money to be made, I was plateaued for a long time. I'd ask myself "self, what would I rather be doing with my time instead of beating my head against my desk?" Answer was always working on cars since that was my passion and all-consuming hobby.

Wife encouraged me to go seek out my dream of being a tech. Went to school to learn whatever I could. They sold you on the idea you would be placed in a job if you did well. Ended up being one of the top 3 students in my graduating class (I was older than most of the slacker bums in that place) and did everything right. Never got placed though which was infuriating.

My first kid was born right after I graduated with a congenital heart defect. I was jobless at that point so I ended up staying home with him for almost two years while my wife worked. During that time, we moved out to the burbs and I finally got a job at a dealership in late '09 when he was OK to go to daycare. Got hired as a helper to one of the top techs in the shop. Learned a lot over the year I was there but ended up getting fired a week before Christmas of '10. (Not important why, not my fault).

Landed at another dealer as a B tech with a raise in pay but struggled to make hours. This place was a 'team' environment where the work was supposed to be spread around so everyone could make time. Doesn't work that way when the writer and lead tech are brothers. Lasted less than a year there and got hired back at my old shop as a line tech.

I went back because I liked the guys and it was near my house but I never liked the manager at all. He did fire me after all but the owner hired me back over his head. Did fair for a bit but never really made hours. Hard to do when you don't get gravy handed to you and you're putting in window regulators under warranty and diagnosing mystery noises on cars with 7,000 miles on them. Yeah, there's a hierarchy in every place but I never got a damned thing. Got tiresome very quick. Not to mention demoralizing.

Decided to go back to being a helper so I could work with the guy who does all the powertrain/Cummins/Sprinter stuff. I was really most interested in that type of work anyway, I figured if I am not making hours, I might as well do what I like. We do very little in the way of body electrical or suspension/brakes/service, it's all heavy mechanical. I can get engines and transmissions in and out with ease now. We actually rebuild engines, cylinder heads, transmissions, transfer cases. I even lap valves on a regular basis. But I don't work on flat rate so I get treated like garbage.

At this point, I don't see much future in it. I'm OK at what I do but I'm not sure I have enough experience or expertise to do powertrain and make time at it. I detest doing warranty work, it just sucks the life out of you. I also don't want to be in my 50's with my balls in my sock doing brake jobs and timing belts or humping units out of diesel trucks.

I went to school to get a good background but my intention was never to work at a dealer. I really wanted to get in to the restoration business but it's a rare opportunity and not likely for me at the moment. On the bright side, I am able to deal with the old car stuff pretty easily now which is rewarding. I'm not intimidated by anything mechanical anymore so I guess I accomplished my initial goals in that regard. I do work on my duster whenever time allows which isn't very often.

Probably going to make another change very soon and get out of the car business altogether. I have a plan to go work with my dad to eventually take over his business. Not going to say what it is but let's just say it should be able to provide a better way of life for me and my family. I would like to stay in the car business but time is short when you're in your 40's. Realistically, I don't see it becoming financially viable for me any time soon. Sometimes life makes the choices for you, this one is kind of hard to ignore. I've put in my time but there does appear to be much on the other side.

It is tough to make any real money as a tech unless you have a lot of experience in the same place and you've mastered the political game with the guy dispatching the work. That ain't me, probably never will be. Thankfully my wife does OK, no way would I be able to provide for a family of four on Long Island with what I make. Our kids have to kind of suffer because of that too, we have a 4 month old in daycare which just kills me every time I drop him off for 9 hours a day. I am home right now because he got sick and he can't be with the other kids. My boss hassled me with all sorts of obtuse questions before I left too. Like I need an idiot like him busting my balls when my kid is sick.

If you make a good living, consider that before you decide on a career change. I changed my career before my kids and house but I can't say I would have done it again, has not been easy. I don't know much else at this point besides wrenching so I am thankful for the opportunity I have to be able work with my dad. If I didn't have that, I'd be screwed. Or at least looking for another place to work.

It's tough to be a grown man with a family and a house to be starting at the bottom. Not sure if that's you but if you're considering a move and you are single, that's the best time to do it. Wife/kids/house change everything.