I’m Not Learning Anything.

[Corey]

Hello,

I’m 21 and currently am in college for automotive and also work in a dealership. I have about 2 years experience, and I get my degree next June.

At my dealership, I’m basically a lube tech.
I do rotations, oil changes, clean the shop, etc. If the day is extremely busy, I’ll actually get a big job — one that actually teaches me something. But, that’s rare.

Anyhow…I’m not learning anything doing oil changes.
I understand that I’m hourly and the other techs are flat-rate and they need the higher-paying jobs…but, it’s stupid. By the time I go flat-rate, I’ll starve because I’m not getting practice with anything I learned in college.

I know how to rebuild an auto trans. I just need more practice to get better at it.
I know how to do electrical work. I just need more practice so I can get better at it.
I can rebuild an engine. I’m more experienced with that than the other things listed, but still need practice.

I asked my service manager if I could like…do the other techs’ BS work (such as pulling trannies so they can rebuild them, etc.). I asked if I could do their work for them and have them get compensated for it…this way if I need help, I don’t have to feel annoying, because the tech will be getting compensated. While I’m doing one of their jobs, they could be doing another one of their jobs and we could kill two stones with one bird.
He said no.

Once I graduate, I’ll be flat-rate, supposedly. But, what good is that going to do if I’m lacking practice in everything? I’ll sit there trying to solve an electrical problem for 3 hours and get paid for 1 hour. It’s stupid.

I feel like I’m falling behind and I’m never going to be a good tech because of it.

Anyone care to shed some insight?

Topic

[619DioFan]

Many , many moons ago I was in your same position ( at a buick dealership ) doing GS work , hourly plus a small commission. I made friends with the master tech who had 2 stalls and an alignment rack next to me. he realized that I was more then just some knuckle dragger and started having me do some of his work ( helped him greatly when he had 5 waiter RO’s on his box ) since he had been there near 20 years he had some stroke and the service manager didn’t mess with him ( plus he was the only master tech there ) learned alot from him. you may want to try what I did ( although some guys are not as ” friendly ” ) as my buddy.

[ridinred24]

I had the same experience as diofan. Try to buddy up with the a good flat rate guy to help him and learn.

[Corey]

I tried to buddy up with a master tech. My service manager won’t let me.
There’s a guy in my shop — Eddy. He’s my hero.
He’s the top dog of the shop, and he went through the same exact college program as me.
He’s been through the same BS as me and such, so he knows how it is. Every time I ask for help, he’ll always stop what he’s doing to come help.
Like I said…I wish I could do the work he doesn’t want to do so I can at least learn something, and have him get paid for it so he doesn’t lose money. But, I’m not allowed.
So dumb.

[ridinred24]

Well maybe ask your manager to pay you hourly plus flat rate if you flag more hours than your there until your more comfortable with your situation.

It doesnt make any logical sense to throw you to the wolves and expect you to survive once your done with school

[Corey]

That’s actually a good idea.
Thanks for that.

[Goobe]

I do not understand why such qualified but inexperienced mechanics offer free/ volunteer services at seniors,
disabled, or poor peoples premises naturally with disclaimers due to inexperience.
I think an honest, not greedy, and polite approach would definitely find acceptance amongst many needy.
Personally, I am 74, and felt many times a need for such help. I know it is not easy because of lack of credentials.
I don’t know what the actual mechanics in auto repair shops make, but for sure the shops are turning out to be a turn off because of various reasons of their own.
But it has to be started some time and some where. Suggest reading Eric’s personal story in his “ABOUT” menu tab. Perhaps easier
said than done.

[619DioFan]

[quote=”coreychristianclark” post=58142]I tried to buddy up with a master tech. My service manager won’t let me.
There’s a guy in my shop — Eddy. He’s my hero.
He’s the top dog of the shop, and he went through the same exact college program as me.
He’s been through the same BS as me and such, so he knows how it is. Every time I ask for help, he’ll always stop what he’s doing to come help.
Like I said…I wish I could do the work he doesn’t want to do so I can at least learn something, and have him get paid for it so he doesn’t lose money. But, I’m not allowed.
So dumb.[/quote]

Perhaps you can get a senoir tech to speak to the service manager on your behalf. sometimes in the business world it takes a person higher up the totem pole to get results.

[Konrad]

Shops need lube techs so the real techs are not bothered with menial tasks. I worked at a place that required a 4 year apprenticeship before going flat rate. Some were apprentices for 5 years. Most apprentices don’t need that much time to gain the minimum required skills, but the shop needed hourly techs to take care of certain jobs. Someone needs to do the oil top offs, change light bulbs, inflate tires and sweep the floors, and it sure won’t be the flat rate techs. It wasn’t until a position became available that the possibility of going flat rate opened up.

Your service manager already told you no. At least you got a clear answer out of him. Once you go flat rate, your service advisor should gauge your skill level and assign work accordingly. Even so, you will probably lose your *** at least the first year and make little more than you did as a lube tech. It takes hard years to get good so don’t think you should be able to run with the big boys as soon as you go flat rate.

[jay]

I was in the same boat 22 years ago,how I changed that situation is I got the hell out of the corporate goodyear shop I was in and went to work for a small independent shop,me and the owner and his wife thats it,I learned more and did more in 2 years there than 10 years any where else.

[drthrift035]

I know exactly what you are going through. Don’t give up. If you are not getting what you need at that location find somewhere that is about working with the up and coming mechanics. In addition, you can gain valuable experience by doing things that you are weak on on your personal vehicle. I have been in your shoes before. HOWEVER, DON’T GIVE UP. THE INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE MOTIVATED MECHANICS LIKE YOU.

P.S

The guys in your shop have arrived at their station in life. You are on the rise. Keep your head up.

[Steve]

First, congrats on your beginning career Cory. Next, this might sound lame but sounds like you truly want to learn by doing. But you an old clunker car for $1,000 or even less and work on that in your spare time. If you don’t have a place to keep it and work on it, maybe a family member will let you if you keep the workspace neat, etc. If you can’t afford parts for it, then take old parts off and replace them with the same parts. Still gives you experience in doing the procedures, using the right tools, etc., etc. And heck, when you do all the stuff on that car, sell it and buy another make and model and do it for that one too. That’s still “experience” that you can put on your resume, even if you do it on your own time. Good luck.

[Corey]

I appreciate the words, friends.

I think I’m going to set off and find another job. This is ridiculous.
Saturday, I almost had a meltdown.

“I have an oil change for you.”
“Got an oil change in your bin.”
“I just put up a waiter oil change.”
“Can you do this oil change before you go?”

Wanted to throw my hammer through the garage door window.

I go to class an hour early EVERY day. I sit in the back of the room and read every page of every book the instructor hands out.
What do the other kids do? Come in a half hour late, don’t read the books, and just guess on the quizzes.

I keep up with my training and certifications.
What do the other kids do (even the instructor got pissed about this one)?
They haven’t even touched their online post-tests to get certified since day one. I’m taking this seriously, and they all take it as a joke…and you’re going to give me nothing but oil changes?
It’s gotten to the point where it’s insulting.
I’m not trying to have a complex here…but, honestly? It’s stupid.

So, I think not this upcoming week, but the week after, I’m going to go and apply at a few different places and tell my current job, “Listen…I’m not learning anything, and giving me nothing but oil changes when half of the people in this shop don’t even care to keep up with their certifications is insulting.”

In the end, I don’t think I’ll be sticking with the flat-rate mechanic career.
I’ve considered working for Jasper or finding a job that pays you to diagnose the unique, complimented problems so you can post fixes about them.
I also think it’d be interesting to fabricate and modify cars.

I’d be happy doing one of those, and fixing mine, family’s, and friends’ cars on the side. Because, hell…doing inspections and new car preps all day can get boring. But if you’re rebuilding engines/trannies/etc. and also fixing brake lines, ball joints, etc. on your car, or family/friends’ cars, it keeps things mixed up and interesting.

[Brian]

[quote=”RhinoBlu3″ post=58574]First, congrats on your beginning career Cory. Next, this might sound lame but sounds like you truly want to learn by doing. But you an old clunker car for $1,000 or even less and work on that in your spare time. If you don’t have a place to keep it and work on it, maybe a family member will let you if you keep the workspace neat, etc. If you can’t afford parts for it, then take old parts off and replace them with the same parts. Still gives you experience in doing the procedures, using the right tools, etc., etc. And heck, when you do all the stuff on that car, sell it and buy another make and model and do it for that one too. That’s still “experience” that you can put on your resume, even if you do it on your own time. Good luck.[/quote]

This is exactly what I am planning on doing, when I start school here soon. Even though I have people I believe will help me that are in this field that I know on a personal level… I too do not want to be an annoyance for them either. Getting a vehicle and doing work on it just for the sake of learning is a great idea to be honest. (*Just don’t turn your everyday vehicle into a guinea pig! You still need to get to work or learn to take a bus I guess! 😉

[Ethan]

It’s cool that you are serious about what you’re doing.
With automotive, as well as any service industry, you are working for the customer. Whether or not you are learning anything is a secondary issue. Your employer is not in the education business, and passing off work outside of your job description opens them up to all kinds of liabilities.

It might be helpful to keep in mind that as long as you are working as a lube tech, you will be doing oil changes; that’s your job. Instead of becoming frustrated, become the best.
I’ve seen far to many young people come through my shop, wanting to take on big jobs, but not able to do simple ones well over the long haul. It’s not that they didn’t know how, they were impatient and “bored” with the work. There was an air of entitlement about them, and it was not in my customer’s best interest to have these guys work in my shop.

Be patient, be humble, daily drive a car with K-Jetronic

[dan]

i understand the concept of the flat rate guys doing the big work need to be un interrupted, thats how those shops make prophet, flat rate… though i think its a obsolete system, many shops still use it.

however it kind of hurts the new mechanics, there is no room for them too learn the ropes, and they get stuck with the hourly wages, but that doesn’t irritate me as much as the manager who has been working on cars since he was a kid, and expects the new guy fresh out of school too know everything!

[Author]

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