Looking for some advice.

[Brian Duensing]

I know I am new to the site but I am looking for thoughts from you all about a career change and if it is something that obtainable or just wishful thinking.

I have been in the Information Technology field as a system engineer going on 26 years now and tired of the bs and I am at a point that I want to go into a new direction.

I am seriously considering automotive field and focus more to the performance side of the trade.
By going this route will require substantial changes for the family and finances and will almost assuredly mean that I would have to get temp housing for myself by whatever school I go with. Another consideration is my age and making such a change later in life and if my age will hinder progress in the field.

The schools I have either spoke with or gotten information on at this point are Western Tech, Ohio Tech, SAM, Wyotech, UTI/NTI , UNOH and Lincoln Tech. I am concerned about Wyotech and that Corinthian is selling to ECMC and the stability of the school moving forward.

With this being said I am looking for input from all you that are knowledgeable in the field if any of these schools or others that I have missed but might be worth a look and is the field outlook good and is this change something I should be even thinking about?

Thank you in advance with your thoughts on this,
Brian

Topic

[Andrew Button]

I would say comparing the car do it yourselfer to a line mechanic is something like this. Imagine a bunch of random broken car projects you have no previous knowledge of all being thrown at you in a short time, and knowing that if any of them are done wrong or not fast enough, or the last person mixed something up, or you break a bolt, or any number of nasty things, then your ass is on the line. Working on someone elses car is not like your own – Not even a comparsion there. Home DIY guy can sit on stuff, but shops are like meat grinders, and if you don’t keep moving, you will be toast. The BS never stops. Even if you get a nice owner (all service writers are pukes), you WILL run into horrible customers that lie..the phony things customers come up with should be an Eric video, some are so crazy. I knew teacher one time who said it best, and he was not the nicest guy himself, but he spoke complete truth with this one thing he said.. ‘no matter how much I yell at you, tell you to speed up, criticize your work, I can never, ever match what you will encounter when becoming a line mechanic’ words of wisdom. I replaced a timing chain in a 460 ford truck one time, this rusty old thing was brought in on a sling (remember those?), guy brought the front pieces, fan, pulleys, broken bolts, distributor, other parts of the engine in a grocery bag, he cracked the timing cover prying off with bolts attached, then tried to patch it with that battery putty stuff, timing cover all mangled and broken with what looked like dried chewing gum on it, anyway I put this mess back together (replaced time timing cover, crank pulley and other stuff he broke, obviously), and then when it was altogether and down the road he went to my boss days latter an claimed it ran BETTER before I worked on it. Tell me about office BS. Normal shop stuff, and this was decades ago. I am sure its worse now. Think about that and what others have said.

[MotorT350]

Brimaster in every shop I’ve worked in there was BS there’s no such thing as a job that doesn’t have BS so don’t expect it to be any different from where you are now, when it comes down to it, it all depends on how you handle it remember someone else might think you are BS too, so if you do come in the industry be positive and treat others and your self well and you will survive don’t be an asshole like some techs are. One thing to consider is if you have an interest automotive repair it is very different working out of your house or friends house compared to a shop environment. If you looking to get in a dealer you have to have manufacturers certifications without it its harder to get in; now if you don’t mind franchise type shop you may get leverage and end up working but on thing to now some states require ASE in order to even work in the shop. so find a school that best fits your desire.

[Author]

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