career change

[Dave]

Hello all,
I am preparing to transition from the Marines and am interested in entering the auto/diesel mechanics field. Specifically, I want to work on medium & heavy duty trucks. I am planning to enroll at either UTI or Automotive Training Center for the auto & diesel program. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions as I continue to plan my career change. Thanks for the help.

Topic

[college man]

[quote=”Davediesel” post=123743]Hello all,
I am preparing to transition from the Marines and am interested in entering the auto/diesel mechanics field. Specifically, I want to work on medium & heavy duty trucks. I am planning to enroll at either UTI or Automotive Training Center for the auto & diesel program. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions as I continue to plan my career change. Thanks for the help.[/quote]

Welcome to the forum. 🙂 I’m going to put you in general discussion
for more replies.

[James O’Hara]

Not sure of your knowledge level but, here are some links:

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/15-Technicians-Only/55499-so-you-want-are-going-to-be-a-mechanic-technician

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/15-Technicians-Only/55314-methods-of-increasing-flat-rate-productivity

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/15-Technicians-Only/54826-school-or-no-school

I think that should keep you buried with info for a while :p. My advice for UTI is ignore all the idiots team up with the smart people and ask as many questions as possible. Also study to learn and know how the system works and if you don’t get it keep asking teachers, students, etc till you do.

[Dave]

Thanks college man. I’m looking forward to learning from all the experienced members of this forum. Hopefully, I’ll be able to contribute as well.

[Dave]

MDK22,
Thanks for the information links and the UTI advice. I saw your credentials at the bottom of your reply and those are the skill sets/career path I’m interested in as well.
Do you think UTI prepared you well for your first job? Have you heard of Automotive Training Center in PA? Thanks.

[James O’Hara]

It helped a lot but, you have to pay attention and tune out the other guys when they are partying you need to be studying type deal. There is one in pa in Exton, PA that is the one I attended. It is a very very good school if you apply yourself. You get out of it what you put into it. I worked hard and I do mean hard to make sure that I did not just memorize the information but, understood it and could apply it. If I didn’t I asked till I did. There are a lot of distractions by idiots and it can be really easy to fall asleep in class. I had that issue due to getting a max of 4hrs of sleep, working 40+ hrs a week, taking care of a friend of mine and her 1-2yr old.

I cannot stress enough about applying yourself it makes all the difference. If your goal is ITEP or another Diesel program or any manufacturer training you need to beat the top people in every class. The teachers are really good at explaining things so make sure you ask if you don’t understand and explain why you don’t understand. I only had one teacher that just would repeat the same thing without explaining and then I just asked other people.

Take advantage of the discounts on tools, certifications, and CDL training. I spent close to 7k over the year and a half I was there. You normally get 50% off tools for all the major brands if you are a student. I would recommend getting tools and not a box with the gift card you get if you graduate. Iff you go for 608 Read the entire book twice before you get to the class. BTW almost all the certifications are held on the weekends. The only thing I regret is not doing my ASE’s at the same time I was in school right after I did that class. Though I had no time. I was doing homework during breaks and before and after class. I would go to where there are no people or only the smart people and do my work there it is what I did and it helped a lot. CDL training normally takes 5-6wks so you will miss 2 classes worth of time. Though you can normally take that much time off if you have a good reason.

[Dave]

[quote=”MDK22″ post=123884]It helped a lot but, you have to pay attention and tune out the other guys when they are partying you need to be studying type deal. There is one in pa in Exton, PA that is the one I attended. It is a very very good school if you apply yourself. You get out of it what you put into it. I worked hard and I do mean hard to make sure that I did not just memorize the information but, understood it and could apply it. If I didn’t I asked till I did. There are a lot of distractions by idiots and it can be really easy to fall asleep in class. I had that issue due to getting a max of 4hrs of sleep, working 40+ hrs a week, taking care of a friend of mine and her 1-2yr old.

I cannot stress enough about applying yourself it makes all the difference. If your goal is ITEP or another Diesel program or any manufacturer training you need to beat the top people in every class. The teachers are really good at explaining things so make sure you ask if you don’t understand and explain why you don’t understand. I only had one teacher that just would repeat the same thing without explaining and then I just asked other people.

Take advantage of the discounts on tools, certifications, and CDL training. I spent close to 7k over the year and a half I was there. You normally get 50% off tools for all the major brands if you are a student. I would recommend getting tools and not a box with the gift card you get if you graduate. Iff you go for 608 Read the entire book twice before you get to the class. BTW almost all the certifications are held on the weekends. The only thing I regret is not doing my ASE’s at the same time I was in school right after I did that class. Though I had no time. I was doing homework during breaks and before and after class. I would go to where there are no people or only the smart people and do my work there it is what I did and it helped a lot. CDL training normally takes 5-6wks so you will miss 2 classes worth of time. Though you can normally take that much time off if you have a good reason.[/quote]

MDK22,
Thanks for the great feedback and advice! Where/when did you complete your CDL training? Was it right before you graduated? I could probably get my CDL while I’m still on active duty but I’m concerned it might be too early? If I went to UTI with my CDL, it would be 19 months before I used it….would employers have an issue with that? Thanks.

[Author]

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