Ironracer
Gearhead
LIKEWISE, SIR!
Auto Repair Careers
- Thread starter '68cuda416
- Start date
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abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
Get a boiler license. Plenty of jobs out there,. By law (in Jersey at least) if there is someone in a building the boiler needs to be manned. May have to work shift work but that's cake. You sure as hell arent over worked that's for sure.
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
I sold a Forklift to a guy that owns a Maaco. We talked business for a bit. He said his painter could average 2000-2500 most weeks. He also said the guy was exceptional at his job. It's an example of someone who has figured it out for themselves....
JW
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
Oh I have some stories of recent times about age and skillset.... I am in the midst of chasing what I hope is a smart career move.... Employers are a fickle bunch and don't believe all the hype about employers are desperate. They are only desperate in the sector of low paying, low skilled jobs. The rest are typically looking for the "Pink Unicorn." But yes, at 51 learning all over again is a different mindset and be ready to get uncomfortable lol.....
JW
Ironracer
Gearhead
Eh, I've got over 10g in tools for what I do, just a cutthroat game. Some people don't want quality, and new construction is out for me, has been for years. I hope you well on your New Path!
It's one thing to be in the aftermarket as a mechanic or body man. It'a another altogether to be in a dealership. Dealers have gotten so bad, there's no way in hell I'd ever recommend anyone become a dealer mechanic.
Now it's gotten to the point that even on customer pay jobs, the manufacturer gets involved via computer. Basically the mechanic caint think for himself anymore and has to jump through hoops set up by someone who probably has less than half his experience. It was beginning when I left the last dealership job I had. When it started getting to the point warranty reps started telling us how to fix cars, was really the beginning of the end. Too many cooks in the kitchen and half of um don't know their *** from a hole in the ground.
Now it's gotten to the point that even on customer pay jobs, the manufacturer gets involved via computer. Basically the mechanic caint think for himself anymore and has to jump through hoops set up by someone who probably has less than half his experience. It was beginning when I left the last dealership job I had. When it started getting to the point warranty reps started telling us how to fix cars, was really the beginning of the end. Too many cooks in the kitchen and half of um don't know their *** from a hole in the ground.
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
I hear ya. Somewhere in this thread there is mention of sitting on your *** and making a really good living. There is truth to that. But I agree there is a major disconnect with society in general about Skilled trades. It's talked about more now than ever however the Shark has not been jumped yet. Unfortunately in skilled trades to really make money you have to differentiate yourself from the crowd or run a company in which neither are a guarantee for success IMO.
JW
Ironracer
Gearhead
I'm a very small, kinda family biz (my Bro.works.w/ me,.and the GF is a 3rd Gen ( lol) Painter. We Don't advertise, probably need too, we get by, but that's about it. I have 33 years in myself. We do damn good work, including speciality and custom stuff..
Self employed mechanic. 57 years old and wonder why i hurt so much. Ton of money invested in tools, and have to deal with people every day. People,as in people i dont know. Which has dramatically changed in the last 2 years.
i have my long time customers, and really i dont need the business from strangers.
Many shops need techs, not apprentices. Its hard for lots of shops to keep up.
Specializing is one way to make the money, but requires training and specialized tools.
Way back i was offered work on aircraft,but i knew i didnt have the mindset.
To suggest that the youngins not persue jobs in the automotive sector is wrong. We will always need them.
And garbage men.
i have my long time customers, and really i dont need the business from strangers.
Many shops need techs, not apprentices. Its hard for lots of shops to keep up.
Specializing is one way to make the money, but requires training and specialized tools.
Way back i was offered work on aircraft,but i knew i didnt have the mindset.
To suggest that the youngins not persue jobs in the automotive sector is wrong. We will always need them.
And garbage men.
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
What I was really getting at is for anybody interested in this field to ultimately become self employed, over time buy your own specialty equipment and start offering the type of services that are typically only available from the dealers.
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
Having started off in general auto repair many years ago and then becoming self employed and now exclusively only provide services for body shops I can tell you that the labor rates are lower for a collision repair facility but the times are much better as most seasoned and experienced body techs and painters can do a 2 for 1 quite easily and often even more if the work is there and there are minimal bumps in the road......THAT KIND OF RATIO ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS ON THE REGULAR FOR ANY GENERAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND OR TECHS.
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
Well then a shop will eat itself. Literally. Everybody wants to find the Pink Unicorn. And more than less employers will walk away from an Apprentice thinking their answer is getting ready to call.
I have been on all sides of that conversation. It's literally picking your lane and holding to it hoping things work out.
JW
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
Of course we will always need auto repair shops BUT what I was getting at is to educate someone as to what direction to go if they ultimately want to make some fairly serious money.......and you will never do it being a general auto repair tech now a days as the spectrum of what a person has to know is too broad.
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
I personally am not a fan of apprentices as most of the time it doesn't work out in the favor of the shop....it's unfortunate but that's the reality.
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
SPECIALIZED!
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
And going with that mindset how do you think a company will continue? Aging workforce, a shift in society, and a empty hole that is just starting to really grow because kids are now taught to sit behind a desk. It has to start somewhere. Just like you or I we didn't know what we didn't know. Somehow you had to learn.....
JW
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
I think that was what I have been getting at all along.
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
I said it was an unfortunate situation but after looking at it for many years I would just look to hire someone that someone else has helped learn the trade and would be considered fairly experienced so that when he came to work for me he could hit the ground running and we both could hopefully make money.
I told my son in law this very thing and I echoed the list of complaints seen here as his future. Being a mechanic myself, some car, some heavy industry. So, I told him to become a boss. Not to loose touch with the wrenches or the technology being introduced. As he should always be ready to take over or show the way to his coworkers, but be a boss and be for the men under him. Joke around and have fun, never belittle!
And so he did this. His guys follow him. If he left the shop and started his own shop, he would take all the mechanics with him in a second flat. They all speak very highly of him.
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
some specialties are :
machine shop
transmission
front end work
Convertible top /upholstery
paint and body
electrical/electronics
machine shop
transmission
front end work
Convertible top /upholstery
paint and body
electrical/electronics
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
I can only speak of machine shops from what the shops I use tell me but they say it's not a hugely profitable business and for the time I imagine they have to invest to do R&D on the projects plus unpaid time sourcing parts I would believe them, front end work I have always heard and can see how it's quite profitable but then again ask that same guy 30 years later as he is more than likely a cripple if it was all worth it....
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
As far as being cripple I understand, but what job doesn't take its toll, even a desk job will kill you from being sedentary, sitting, using a keyboard etc. And, no its never worth it. I maintain my cars, and work on my Mopar, but when friends aske me to look at theirs, Its just a blank stare or "I'm retired" I put in my 20. Another thing, if you aren't out of it by the age of 40,you are pretty much sticking it out till the end. Machine shop, in a big city ? maybe. I would think you'd specialize there also, maybe race engines. OR engine remanufacturing. Still probably isnt a get rich thing, you just make a living. Folks these days dont fix anything its all disposable throw away .
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SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
Yep. Ain't nobody getting out alive lol..... Risk and reward. We can even go a step beyond a physical beating a Blue collar man takes and talk about the number of Alcoholics I have met in my lifetime who are business owners. Literally so mentally stressed out being the big man that the only way to cope is with a Bottle... Let that sink in....
JW
The biggest issues are most young people are not interested. Second is no one is willing and patience of new people learning. Third as there are a lot of 30-40 year olds looking for a job but they have families now and can,t possibly work for low $$$. If you want a good man for life it’s going to cost you in the beginning. Hourly rate are going up Mc Donald’s starting at 15.00, Amazon 22.00, shops at 19.00. Get a 40’s year old guy and be very patient start him off at 20.00 (remember he has a family) have decent medical insurance pay for some classes give regular raises and you’ll get a loyal 20/30 year employee.
'68cuda416
Well-Known Member
You will lose money as a business owner at that kind of wage plus providing medical benefits.......it's just the harsh reality.
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