when is it time to switch jobs

[Jeremy Snider]

Hello, I’m here to ask some technicians on some advice. Some of my back ground …I’m a 27 yr old working at a franchise auto repair shop making 25 an hour flate rate with no benefits . At least making 16 an hour bring home when business is slow in the winter . I’m the “check engine light ” tech at the shop. I have 5 ase. I just got a job offer to work at a chrystler dealer for 13 an hour in a union with free benefits. But it is only a lube tech. I’m asking if it would it be worth the pay cut to go to the dealership. Hoping I would move up . The manager said on the phone that there is only a 20 percent chance of getting hired in as a specialest or a journeyman. I would go absolutely nuts and bored all day just doing just oil changes. Right now I make most of the time 1500 in two weeks. My pay would be limited to around 800 every two weeks.

What ever information and opinions would be greatly appreciated !!!
Thanks !!!!

Topic

[Lorrin Barth]

My opinion is – if you want a good job apply for a good job. Don’t apply for less hoping to work your way up.

[Lorrin Barth]

If you live in a city and most people do, they have a police department with lots of police cars. Somebody takes care of those. They have a fire department with fire engines and ambulances and somebody takes care of those. There is a street department with street sweepers, dump trucks and graders and somebody takes care of those. The government has benefits and often pays pretty good. Just a thought.

[Roy French]

I agree with the previous posts. Fleet maintenance is a good deal. I’ve had success working at a taxi cab and wheelchair van company. Factories also need mechanics. Alot of the machinery in a factory is far less complex than autos.

[Rob megee]

I have had good luck working my way up at every job I’ve ever taken, there have been many. I think you need to look at the potential for work, pay and benefits. Is it a shop where you will get a chance to learn and get an opportunity to do what you want, then a small cut could be tolerated. (Depending on your situation)

[stingray66]

Been on both sides I ended up working for a fleet
Dept Was the best thing I ever did
19 years ago I made 21 an hour and all ways was good
For 14 hours over time a week and some times more
My benefits was way better no dealership could
Match it That was with DHL if I would go back today
I would be going with fedX
Your tool bill will be cheaper and any thing
Special DHL paid for it no warranty crap no flat
Rate no dealership politics pluss your days go buy
Fast and the best part you know how much
Will be in your check in the end of the week
My days were always interesting one minute
Replacing brakes ins van the next down on the
Ramp with 727s DC 8s fixing ground support
Ground support systems tell you my days went
By so fast one hour felt like 10 minutes
Mono would never do the dealership games
Anymore

[Pat61]

[quote=”barneyb” post=97858]My opinion is – if you want a good job apply for a good job. Don’t apply for less hoping to work your way up.[/quote]

I agree. Building experience as a lube man might help at Firestone, but I think it’s a dead end at the dealership.

I did fleet maintenance for a local ambulance company, and it was pretty good until the Powerstroke came out. Tool coasts soared for a few years, but it got better until the 6.0 came along…

It was kind of fun going on the occasional 911 call -and I learned the crews drove those rigs like a Porsche! Yep, I put on a lot of brake pads…

[Ken]

I wouldn’t take that lube tech job. You can do better than that. It’s hard to find good techs, and it sounds like you’re a good tech and places are always looking. Be patient and find the right one. Kind of like marrying a girl. Don’t settle. Unless you’re overweight and lonely, then yes, settle, larger people need love too. Keep looking. If you’ve got the goods and the experience and all of that, don’t take some lube tech job, come on man, pull yourself together! Find a good mom and pop shop would be my advice, and I think that would be Eric’s advice too. Be patient and good luck, you’ll find the right girl. But if you don’t and you’re getting older and time is running out then start freaking out and settle with any girl that will have you because that is better than dying alone! (I kid.)

Unions can be messy. I wouldn’t trust anyone who would hire a good diagnostic tech as a lube tech. That is just stupid, and a set-up for disaster. Who’s leading this brigade, some Napoleon type or child emperor? Who in their right mind would hire a diagnostic tech as a lube tech? Fishy baby, that seems fishy…

[zero]

I’m sensing 2 possible things here. 1 is whomever is in charge of hiring at the dealership is a complete jerk and is likely one of those people that low balls the crap out of people to get them in the door. Then uses them up until there’s nothing left and you’re basically forced to quit. Leaving a huge mark on you work history because in all likely hood it’ll come down to a huge blow up etc etc.

Or, for whatever reason you don’t present yourself as well as you could be. The job application process has very little to do with you yourself, but the impressions that you leave with everything from your resume to how you come across at the interview.

I’m not suggesting that there’s anything wrong with you, but if you are going to be actively looking for a job you might want to do some research and tune everything up that you can.

I would have said no and pretty much walked out if I was interviewing for a skilled job and the low balled me like that. not just in terms of pay, but as far as skill their offer says they feel you have none.

[Auto Care Career Hub]

Hey there! If you do decide to get a new job, take a look at AutoProJobs.com. I work there and it is a job board specifically for automotive job postings. Like a CareerBuilder but streamlined for techs! Definitely helps with the job search, whether you’re just browsing or actively pursuing a new job.

[Ed Curry]

I’m a lube tech at a mom/pop deal and I only get paid $10.75/hr. I do oil changes, flushes, brake jobs, cooling system repairs (water pumps radiators), alignments, shocks/struts, engine repair including (valve cover gaskets, spark plugs etc). I’ve been there 7 months and I don’t get any flag pay for any repair work. The paycheck isn’t paying the bills. Think I should just hold out and hope for the best or start looking elsewhere? I feel like I’m just cheap labor.

[Author]

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