School or no school?

[Rick]

Before I decided to shove my foot into the mechanic field, I was in school for engineering. I quit half way through my senior year because I hated the field. I worked as an engineer, and that added to the sour taste schooling gave me.

So I’m grabbing my ankles on student loans already, and I honestly don’t feel like adding more for a community college degree, classes, certificate what ever have you.

I’ve talked to a lot of techs, and literally 50% say go to school, the other 50% say climb up the A-techs ass every chance you get and learn on the job.

I want to know what you guys think?

If I don’t do school I think I’ll check out books from the local library and study as much stuff as I can to get a good basic foundation to build off of.

Topic

[James O’Hara]

streetglideok I agree attitude is everything. I survived on 4hrs of sleep a day work over a 40hr work week sometimes with 10-12 day stretches of working all day. I drove an 1hr 15mins each way too and from school. I wanted it and I wanted it for me no one else. That is the mindset you have to have. There was one time where I literally went 80hrs without sleep I worked at two different stores at the same time and went to school in-between.

Perfect Example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTFnmsCnr6g

[Greg L]

I spent my days off as a parts runner for midas, and even once I moved up to an apprentice/trainee hanging around the shop, watching what the guys were doing, asking questions when it was appropriate, etc. I designated those days as my training days. I did that for months as much as I could to soak up everything possible. I spent a lot of time in later years reading up on iatn as well. This isn’t a job like Mcdonalds, it’s a career, and a profession. It requires more dedication and investment mentally, physically and monetarily. Way back 20 years ago, for less than $2k, you could have most of the things you needed to be a C tech, mind you that’s with craftsman tools etc. Now, at least double that amount, with a cheap tool box to get you going. One can not instill it enough on the new blood: You have to use your head on what you need to learn, and what you need to buy. Tools and knowledge are the two biggest investments you’ll make in this field. You have to invest in yourself to make money, and as you move up, to make more money. Venturing into light duty diesel diag work has paid off really well. Too bad Ford doesn’t still make them 6.0/6.4 engines lol.

[sergio]

Go to school, even if its like some basic courses. It will introduce you to being a tech and teach fundamentals, It will take you way longer to learn only on the job and probably misdiagnose and start getting bad rep. ..it will hurt your pay if you don’t go to school .I don’t mind teaching new guys but it does get frustrating when they have no knowledge at all on basic systems

[Rick]

[quote=”tech123″ post=120858]Go to school, even if its like some basic courses. It will introduce you to being a tech and teach fundamentals, It will take you way longer to learn only on the job and probably misdiagnose and start getting bad rep. ..it will hurt your pay if you don’t go to school .I don’t mind teaching new guys but it does get frustrating when they have no knowledge at all on basic systems[/quote]

I can’t agree more. I started at my job at the same time as another guy. Both of us have the same knowledge, which is very little. The difference is I go home and research, study what I don’t understand. Then come back the next day and explain what I found and what I learned. The other tech just acts like everyone should teach him as many times as it takes. I’ve noticed a couple techs actually pull me to the side when they aren’t slamned and show me more, and more while ignoring the self entitled kid.

Btw I bring this up because I started doing the “homework” after reading your post and it’s literally changed things 100 times for the better for me.

[Mike]

[quote=”Pitt” post=121207]I’ve noticed a couple techs actually pull me to the side when they aren’t slamned and show me more, and more while ignoring the self entitled kid.[/quote]

I show exactly this kind of preferential treatment at work towards the promising junior guy vs the other guy who went from sponge to having a half-assed answer to everything. Today the guy I like was doing a timing belt he’s never done before, and I went over and showed him all the tricks during the job and saved him a good amount of time for his 1st time around.

[Rick]

That’s awesome bro. I’ve always felt sharing knowledge is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone.

[Rick]

Thanks bro! :cheer: the way I see it if someone isn’t busting my balls at work, they don’t know me or don’t like me. So if someone is busting my balls that means we are cool and they are good people. If I bust someone’s balls its because I like them.

[Author]

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