technician job experiences
There is a technician shortage in our area -literally -the dealers,tire chains,used car shops -they all have help wanted signs. I have never seen it like this , so after 40 years of the same place , decided to fill out some applications. They all claim "better" so I was wondering.....that's all. A person spends his life taking care of priorities like feeding the family , and keeping a roof over their head and once that is accomplished and the child is grown up and moved away you say to yourself "should I be still driving this 90 Ram to work everyday or do I owe it to myself to try and see how the other half lives". I have 10 good working years left , God willing........
What I did when we moved to AZ was went around to all the local places talked to the owners and checked out the shops, equipment, general temperament on peoples faces along with how busy they were and how they handled it and picked the place with the best of everything.
Then bugged the hell out of them even though they told me they didn't need help, until they hired me. (at a higher rate that I made in CA) which was near unheard of in this area.
You have the advantage of them needing help.
Go around and check them out and tell them that you are just looking at the moment because you don't want to get stuck in a low paying slave position.
If they make you an offer right then tell them that you are just looking around right now and not quite ready to move yet.
Keep conversation quick and light, as in don't get into any conversations about how good they are or what the pay is or anything if you can help it.
They need to realize that you realize you have tons of choices.
There is also nothing wrong with standing back a ways and just watching the flow of the place for a little while, as this can give you some great insight as to how the place runs and what the general attitude is.
"The job might be gone" is what I heard a lot and your response should be "That's ok, I'm not ready to move yet, but thank you".
Go back again in a few days and ask a few questions like what the vacation time and money is like. (like you are giving them a second consideration.)
Believe me, they will appreciate you taking the time to make sure where you want to be, even though they probably won't mention it.
The idea is to get them to offer what you want, and not have to ask them for it.
When someone told me what they paid, I would respond with something like "Well, that might be ok to start with. (no matter how much it was)
Just so you know I have some experience with this, I have worked as Service Manager/fill in tech for Goodyear in Santa Barbara, Midas, Aamco as Forman/trans builder of automatics and manuals both, ATRA and ASE certified bumper to bumper in rear wheel, front wheel and 4x4.
Been out there quite a bit. :D
Retired from that and have owned/operated a computer service business for the last 20 years doing onsite setup, service and training.
I also get to deduct my Mopar as a work vehicle and drive it every day.
The main point here is,
make your life what you want it to be.
