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I am currently out of college and working at a dealership. They have me changing oil and flushes and that kind of stuff, which is fine as I have only been there 3 months. What I am wondering is how can I move up I want to put my knowledge and skills to the test. Now I am at a disadvatage as that I didnt graduate from school cause I couldnt afford to keep going, but I have skills and knowledge. I grew up on a farm which I still do all the repair work on. After I started there my dreams of getting put in the main shop droped when they hired 2 other mechanics. WHat can I do to get moved in back and if that dont work what do I do.
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Hey Vince, it sounds like you have some good experience between school and the farm. Some of the smartest mechanics I’ve met got their start fixing farm machinery. I think with a positive attitude and a good work ethic you will be able to move into the main shop. Ask for any available training and make sure the right people know you want more responsibility. Take training even if you think you know the subject. They are more likely to promote someone they know shows up for work and does a good job than someone they know nothing about.
Another route you could go, is working for an independent shop. You would get more work experience quicker there. You might also consider working at a factory or canning plant doing machine repair. With your farm machinery back ground you should already have some welding,conveyors and gear boxes under your belt.
Personally I would stay away from the chain garages. They seem to be the dark side of the industry.The dealership is FULL of politics. Unfortunately you have to work your way “in” before things start to turn around. I kind of see dealerships as something like a small town or city unto themselves. If you’re not from there it takes some time before they begin to warm up to you. At least that’s been my experience. After a while they get used to your work and hopefully they’ll come around and let you do more stuff. I guess the best advice I can give is just wait it out for a while, make friends and see what happens. If they don’t come around then you might consider looking for work elsewhere. I hope it doesn’t come to that but you sound like a good technician and it’d be a waste if you weren’t utilized to your potential.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Will keep waiting for a while, but at same time have applied at a few other places. I Had some experience at an indepentand shop before I came to this dealer. I had interned there for school and one of his guys had elbow surgury so I worked there for 4 months and did alot more and learned alot more there than at this dealership. And yes this dealership is full of polotics, the parts manager is the owners brother. But I do like the guys in the shop and they seem to like me. I wishI could just get them to put me back in the main shop for a month or two and if it dont work for them to just send me on my way.
Make sure you show your interest in moving up. Stay current with your training take as many classes as you can try and find a tech that can show you the ropes when your not busy. Some techs don’t want to help but others will which is cool. I don’t know if every other dealer is the same as the 2 I’ve worked at but what i did is when all my oil changes were done i would go around to the line techs and see if there was something i could do to help. Some said sure and i learned a lot that way.
I wouldnt jump ship after only a few months. It took me 4-5 years to move from an hourly lube guy up to a regular tech position. During that time I just tried to do all the work the other lube guys stayed away from.
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