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Hello all,
My name is Mike I am 28 years old, I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school and spent 5 and a half years in until i was medically separated. I have spent the last few years working some odd jobs in the automotive industry trying to figure out exactly what i wanted to do. The thing I kept coming back to was automotive technician. I did did auto tech in high school for 3 years and loved it everyday, also i did really well. I have signed up for an auto tech program at my local tech school which from everything i hear is a great program. The only thing is after going to orientation i realized i am 7-10 years older than most everyone else in my class. So am i too old? Is an employer going to look at me coming in at almost 30 and turn me away because the typical 20 year old graduate coming in probably has a few more good years in them than me? Just curious in your opinion. Thanks for your time.
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as long a phyicly you can do it … then ya you can do it… the biggest thing is when your in like your 50’s and 60’s you will run into trouble… for example checking the cab fuse box and like replacing the heater core…. and also stuff like working the lift,,, you have to get on the ground and twist to certen angles to do it… so when you get older its not as easy for you to work as you where younger…. sorry yo say thats why you dont really and rarlly see any 50’s year olds still working in shops….
who knows in 30 years you might find yourself working in electric generators in alaska.. in the middle of nowhere trying to get some towns power back on… so if you has a passion for it do it….
why I brought that us is that is sometimes tyoes of thing you see pple getting into when they get older.. because its not as phyical demanding with twist and stuff unlike working in cars many under the dash… but who know where you will be in 30 yeqarsI would still go for it… its a big indristy and changes alot you might even find yourself working on farm equitment and that was not what you thought you might be doing
I re entered the automotive world in my mid 40’s. You’re only too old if you think you are. If you are physically able to do the work go for it.
You are very young. Much too young to ask “Am I too old?”. Good luck and don’t hold back and enjoy..
I´m 52 and I just signed up for a 2 year education that builds on my ed as a mechanic. Back when I worked with cars on a daily basis, they had carbs and contact sets in the distributor. I know I´m a tad behind on the auxillury systems for engine managements etc, but the mechanics hasn´t changed much, if at all.
I´ve spent the last 20 years or so in IT, so the computer part of it doesn´t scare me. It mostly comes down to understanding the various systems and how to troubleshoot them.Am I too old to get a new ed? Hell no. As long as you WANT to learn and is willing to put in the effort, you can. Go for it ! Your benefit is, that compared to the kids you have some experience in other fields and more experience with people. You also know who is boss and how to take orders. They may not…
An old guy once told me: “Just because you’re too old to cut the mustard, it doesn’t mean you can’t lick the jar.”
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that from the Dalai Lama.
Semper Fi. Not even close to being too young. You’ll have the maturity to be able to excel past the younger guys.
Before I would sign through an automotive program, I’d look into other lines of mechanical work, such as aerospace. Jet techs make good money. I’ve done research on this, and while their $/hr rate is similar, they tend to make more because they aren’t on flat rate and have constant, steady, almost unlimited work. Being a veteran gives you a leg up on getting a job with a lot of the military subcontractors.
You’re older than the others in your class, but the flip side of that is ‘life experience’ and a proven record of showing up on time to put in your days work.
When I did my apprenticeship, there were 2 older guys in the class. One was in his 30’s and the other about your age. In that class, we all had ‘jobs’ already working most of the week and a day per week at school, but they didn’t seem to have any problems keeping up at work and they never missed a day of school either. A few of the younger guys did miss days at school which was more trouble than it was worth as you had to make it up on your own time.
Don’t worry about it. Not even a little bit. You’ve been told that several times right here already and it’s all true.
If you can manage it, complete the program at the tech school and go from there. Never hurts to have a piece of paper that can open a door and never actually use it.
Stu.
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