I Need Advice

[Louis]

I know that this is a little long, but please bear with me. Being that this is what I intend to do as a career path I just want to know if this is right for me. I have always been interested in repairing or working on cars because of my family. I recently enrolled for my local community college’s Automotive Tech class for the spring of 2013. I was also told that this is a dead end career, meaning that the majority of credits earned are not transferable toward another path if I wanted to opt out. I just have a few questions that I’ve learned from forums and advice from peers.

Pay & Education: Is going to community college for Automotive Tech worth it?
1. I say this because I’ve read on many places listing that even with an AAS degree in automotive tech, you’ll still be lubing up and doing entry level work.
2. If I decided after I graduate to go into an apprenticeship program for say “Ford” that most places want to tech their tech their own way anyway, reguardless of any former training that they received.
3. Now aside from that, I know that having a degree is always in your favor that not having one. Also I know that an AAS degree sets you up for entry level work in a field, but I just felt that coming from studying along with on hands lab study that you would start off a little higher than someone who has no experience at all.
4. I’m well aware know schooling is only a prerequisite and cannot substitute for years of experience in this trade.

ASE Certified: Master Tech L1
1. I’ve heard that its better to specialize in certain things rather than trying to cover all bases. Is this really true?
2. Covering the 8 ASE types, any general information would be greatly appreciated.

Hourly VS. Flatrate: The Pro’s & Con’s
1. I’ve read all over multiple times on how flat rate is nearly 80% of the time TERRIBLE. Even though I’m not a technician yet, I fully understand where you folks are coming from. Every car that rolls into a shop isn’t new, and there is many variables that could possibly come along the road of fixing what the customer intentionally came from.
2. For entry levels I’ve heard of first finding employment that offers hours first instead of jumping right into flat rate. I totally agree and see why.

Dealership VS. Independant Shops: Which would you choose?
1. Aside from pay, what are other things to look for?

Tools: Are you paying for quality or the name?
1. I’ve heard of some of the top tool brands; Snap on, Matco, Mactools, but what are you really paying for? I don’t see that buying a named brand tool will make you a better tech if you have no idea on how to use it.
2. This topic is more meant for newer Techs starting out. In my local area almost every dealership or independant shop asks for your own tools. I’ve looked and compared prices and to be honest craftsman is more in my range of price. I don’t see anything wrong with craftsman other than everyone saying that backyard mechanics use it and “real” mechanics use top quality.

Advice from Seniors: If they could do it again…
1. In most forums that I’ve read most mechanics hated their jobs and would regrettably not choose this same career path if they had a second chance.
2. I understand that if perhaps you’ve been in the business for so long that you’d want out. Or is this also a reverse psychology to discourage the new beginners from seasonal works. I mean hey the less techs there are the more jobs you have.

I don’t in any way mean to offend any techs, its just that this is my choice that I’m striving to persue so I figure if I plan to do this for a career throughout my life, why not dig a little deeper to find out more before diving in blindly. Just hearing on how the automotive industry was collapsing and what not I had to search for answers.
I truly am dedicated and I have a drive its just that as that video that ETCG made, its hard to look at the positives when there is so many negatives surrounding. In any case I’d like to thank anyone who responds to help not only me, but others that are in my train of thought or situation. Mahalo.

Topic

[skim3544]

My advise is to work in the field for least a year before even decided on going to be automotive tech. You do not want to go into debt to pay for education ,tools, … then find out that you hate the industry.

All the questions are just matter of preference. 10K in education may worth to some people but may not be worth it for others. Education/ASE certifiaction will help you find jobs. So if you decided to be automotive tech, do invest in yourself and get some education. But I cannot answer what is the right education for you.

[dreamer2355]

[quote=”skim3544″ post=33781]My advise is to work in the field for least a year before even decided on going to be automotive tech. You do not want to go into debt to pay for education ,tools, … then find out that you hate the industry.

All the questions are just matter of preference. 10K in education may worth to some people but may not be worth it for others. Education/ASE certifiaction will help you find jobs. So if you decided to be automotive tech, do invest in yourself and get some education. But I cannot answer what is the right education for you.[/quote]

That’s a great response and basically sums up all your questions.

Working in this field is very tough, stressful and when you start off ‘new’, it will be a baptism of fire. Your first few months will be very hard. It will be a wake up call from college/tech school.

If you can survive those first few months, then you should be fine.

I would stay away from the tool trucks for a while and look for used tools before going into debt for a career you may not enjoy 6 months down the line. However, you get what you pay for when it comes to tools and the higher brand names such as Snap On, Mac an Macto will always triumph over the lower end quality tools in most cases. Craftsman will be a great starter tool for you.

My 3 bay tool box at work consists on Snap On, Mac and Craftsman.

In the field, i would start off as hourly before going flat rate. Eric has made a few video’s on his ETCG one regarding flat rate. Check them out.

As for place of work, i would choose independent over a dealership. And i would recommend starting off as General Service so you can get a good feel of the industry.

When you work in the field, do not act like you know it all, ever. Listen to the other techs, respect them (even the old grouchy techs) and learn as much as you can from them.

Hope this helps 🙂

[Josh]

wow, someone like me! I just fell in love with cars and working on them. I personally dont ever want to work for a dealership cause then you really just have issues in that a customer is just a “number” and its more flat rate. Plus its more retail and trust me, after working retail for nearly 5 years, I am sick of it. I like the independent shops personally due to the feel you get from them. They are a lot friendlier and you can learn how car makers design the cars and not just one manufacture of a car. but for tools, a mechanic actually told me to hit up sears and buy some craft’s men tools. Like a ratchet set but dont buy power tools. I personally do not have any true hand tools as of yet, but I plan to start buying them in a few weeks. I my self am also on a pretty tight budget with how little hours I get at work with only two bills right now that equal a total of just over 300 dollars a month.

For tools, is their any reason why the top name brands are so expensive compared to other brands? like different manufacturing process?

[dreamer2355]

You get what you pay for when it comes to automotive tools, period.

If you intend to ‘wrench’ 10 hours a day, you will soon see how the cheaper brands fair against the big name brand tools.

I also started like the above poster with no big name tools, just my Craftsman. Then as time goes on, you will start to buy tools you need on a daily basis and then start to upgrade your current Craftsman tools to the big brand of your choice.

[mckrishes]

Usually the tech/vo-tech programs are not transferrable unless there is an arrangement with another school for continuing education. Whatever career you choose, I would definetly work in that field first to see if it’s something you would enjoy. And keep in mind that working on cars for yourself or friends and family is not the same as doing it for a living (from what I’ve heard).

[Author]

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