Finding an Auto Repair Job

[EricTheCarGuy]

Last time I talked about going to school, but this time we talk about finding a job. I did some research on this one and was not too surprised at what I found out. What are your thoughts?

Topic

[Andy]

I would warn anyone against working on cars for a living unless it is there last resort. I went to a votech school that was affiliated with GM. I spent 18 years working in GM dealers and have been one of the top techs in them for the majority of that time. If you figure in the cost of inflation I was not making any more money when I left than when I started 18 years ago. I am now working as a maintenance tech at a manufacturing facility. I was hired with no knowledge of there equipment, with much better benefits and working environment for more money than a place where I was one of the top guys and had experience. I looked around at other dealers and they are all paying around the same. When I started in the dealership the average labor rate was around $45/hr, now the average around here is just under $100/hr. Labor rates have gone up over 100% and technician pay has only gone up around 10% in 18 years, am I the only one that has an issue with this? Add that with the fact that GM has been cutting labor times left and right over the past few years, it just about makes it impossible to earn a decent living working at a dealership. My experience has only been with GM but I suspect others cant be far from this. And tools, at my new job I was issued a tool box with all the required tools and if i need anything else I just have to ask and they will get it for me. It is so nice not to have to provide tools so I can make someone else money! Maybe I am just sour but this is the feelings of all of my co workers at my previous employer.

[Mike Miller]

I started at a large GM dealer ship and it was great for keeping my training & knowledge of GM up to date if we needed class time we got it for the most part . I got the job with an 2 year tech degree and 3 ASE certification test passed at the time. I dont think I could have started in the shop walking into the interview without at least one of those. Over time I moved onto other dealerships and a independent . The independent was great to work for but I was no longer getting the extra training I was getting at the dealer . Unfortunately the franchise I worked for was horribly managed and would hire a trained ape as long as it owned its own tools so I can’t offer an opinion on that other than if you find that you have taken a job at a shop and it turns out to be a parts swap scam get the hell out fast!
All of my interviews required that I have either a tech degree of some sort and or ASE certifications except for that franchise shop I worked for . I should have known better but I needed I job so I guess I’m saying if good employment requires an education don’t sell yourself short by working for a shop that wouldn’t require some effort on your part to have gotten some education or at least started trying for your ASE’s. BTW I left that franchise as soon as I figured out what was going on if any one was wondering.

[EricTheCarGuy]

It’s true that not all auto repair jobs are good jobs. You have good places and bad. I feel with a good education and perhaps some certifications you can open more doors to shops that are decent and have good pay. Without a good education or certifications, your options become limited. Everyone can get lucky though. Finding the right shop is key however, and that is much easier said than done.

[Author]

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