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[quote=”Jasonw1178″ post=175209]The subject of education. I have mixed feelings about it. I started working in this field and decided this is what I want to do, changing oil at some hole in the wall shop. I never finished that schooling because I was frustrated that it didn’t make me a technician and felt I learned more at work than I did in the classroom because at work I was learning what I needed to know, in the classroom, learning things that really didn’t seem to help me in the real world. Stuck with it and finally made it. Now looking back, I can see where that education really came in. It’s as though once I learned to apply it, you really can’t put a price on that. I do believe that the education I have had as an experienced technician from the dealership/manufacturer has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
I hear “Nobody cares about education and certification, it’s if you can fix a car”. Okay, well that is true in any field. Unfortunately in this field, you don’t need a license to at least try. But, how do you think people get good? When I hear guys say things like “pick it up as I go” or “learn by doing”. So you think some shop owner/manager is going to let you experiment on customer’s cars learning by trial and error? That’s bad business especially when you have errors! Learn from others? Nothing worse than having them move the rookie next to you who lacks the tools and skills to do the job so he’s constantly bothering his neighbors. Then again, it’s bad for shop moral to allow the newer tech to sop up all the easy gravy work while the more experienced techs deal with the problem vehicles. Fact is that the first few years is very, very hard and you find yourself loosing your ass more than not. Not even knowing these systems it’s going to be that much worse.
My advise is to go to school but get a job in the lube area of a dealership. Once you are close to graduation they will probably start sending you to dealer training, that’s where your job will take off. For school, forget these big names, go to the local community college or tech college. They won’t make you a tech, but they will lay the foundation.[/quote]
That’s exactly my plan. Luckily my schooling will only run 7k total and that’s because I’m considered out of district for the college I am going to. I chose it over the local community college because the program seemed more involved and they actually have a huge shop with lifts and you work on the cars not just assemblies on a bench like the school closest to me.
[quote=”Pitt” post=174776]Getting your ASE’s and state certs will put you miles ahead of guys without those certs. We currently have a guy that only studied his ASE’s, has zero trade school back ground and he is a line tech after a 6 month apprenticeship. ASE’s, state certs, and schooling will get you more job offers than you can handle.
You should be able to literally get a pay agreement signed by HR that you will be paid an above average amount for an entry level tech, and an apprenticeship lasting no longer than a year, or less depending on when you feel comfortable going solo. I’m taking core classes at my local community college just to show my employer I am worth investing in, plus I am studying for my ASE’s. For some reason employer’s love to show customers our certs.[/quote]
Thanks, this lets me know I’m on the right track then. I plan to start applying at a few dealers at the end of this year or beginning of next. I have to stay where I’m at until then since I have a bonus coming up at the end of the year that I want to snag to help pay for my auto classes, plus I figure like most other places they really don’t hire at the end of the year unless they really have to
Ill piggyback this question on this thread so as to not clutter up the forum since I’m not a tech yet either. I noticed one of the Toyota dealers near me I want to apply shows as one of the requirements or wishes if you will is that the applicant have a state inspector certificate or license, is this pretty common place? I can get just the safety inspection license pretty easy it seems for like $27 bucks and a 4 hour class and test, 8 hours if you get the emissions side of it.
[quote=”Pitt” post=174625]Education is very subjective. I’ve seen dealerships hire people with zero experience and then train them to change oil, do basic flushes and other simple things to help the ELR.
I’ve seen dealerships that only hire people with previous experience in express work. Sometimes it’s as small as Valvoline/Jiffy Lube Tire Shops. Then move them up to flat rate lube techs. Brakes, tires, alignments, flushes, suspension work.
Others have hired people with zero experience, but they have their associates in Auto Repair. Sometimes you don’t even need an associates, just the core auto classes. These guys can sometimes just get thrown into the pit, and sometimes they will apprentice with master tech for 90 days.
Recently my dealership just opened another dealership right next to us. Apparently General Motors can’t sell Buick/GMC and Chevy out of one store. So we now have a Buick/GMC dealership and one parking lot away we have a Chevrolet dealership.
The reason I bring this up is because we’ve had to take 22 techs and suddenly fill 45 bays. We are hiring guys from Grismer, Firestone,good year and other manufacturers. Some places don’t require schooling, just experience in the field. Firestone is a shop that typically trains you as you work.
More about schooling.
ASE’s are important to some manufactures, dealerships, and some don’t care about ASE’s. Sometimes ASE’s supplement formal technical training. Hiring managers see that you have the ability to pass an ASE test then they feel like you have the knowledge. At least the theoretical; side and you don’t need technical school. Some places require both, but give you times to study for ASE’s and attend school part time while you work.
There are varying degrees on school. I’ve said on here a few times the local auto school in my area is kind of a joke. Their funding is under a microscope and there are so many dealerships around they literally have to compete with dealerships that offer OJT. However about 30 different shops have called our school looking for technicians of any and all skill levels.
A school I attended before moving to this area is ranked top ten in the country. I know that GM, Chrysler and Ford sends their techs to that college for manuf training. They also have GM ASEP, Honda PACT, FORD MLR, Chrylers ASSET programs. You work for a semester and go to school for a semester.
It might be in your best interest to drive a while to attend an amazing school. However good or bad the school you can and will get out of it what you put into it.
Many good techs have purchased text books and studied while working in shops. If you get down time find a tech that likes to explain things and teach. Some techs will take you under their wing if you do their shit work for them. One example is balancing their tires on the tire machine while they do brakes.
If you don’t understand something in a book you are reading some techs will try to help explain it. Sometimes you can find some answers on youtube. Eric, Scanner danner, Engineering explained and other channels are great resources.Grabbing parts for techs and taking their stuff to them really helps. I know I’ve been in the middle of things where I can’t stop and suddenly I get a call over the intercom that my parts have arrived. Magically an hourly shows up with my parts. I always ask them if they would like to do the work while I watch so they can learn some stuff. Some guys will mop my bays while I’m at lunch and I grab them to teach them things even if I don’t need an extra set of hands.
Some people, no matter how much you help them, or go out of your way to learn from them simply will not help you. Sometimes they want to get their job done, crush the book times for flat rate. While others see you as a threat. Why pay a master tech $30 an hour to do brakes when they can get a $12 hourly guy to do the brakes. Some techs are just shy, and old school. They won’t talk to you or joke with you until you have earned their respect.
Keep in mind these guys came up old school. They weren’t talked to like we are today. The guys that trained them were rough dudes, and weren’t easy on them. So earning that respect can and will be difficult.[/quote]
Thank you for this post, a lot of good info here. Doing a similar thing as the OP here. I’m changing careers after 14 years in my current one. I’m going to night classes at a large community college taking their auto tech program which should take me about 2 years to complete. I shade tree on my own stuff and have a general idea just need more practical application time and some leading I suppose. I’m reading everything I can get my hands on pertaining to the ASE’s etc. I have taken the online course with ASE for the (EPA 609 certification) and also there intro to automotive service. I’m currently studying up on the G1 certification and believe I can pass this exam now as well. Why am I doing this? I figure even though I cant be certified because I don’t have the 1 or 2 year work requirement I can at least show potential employers/dealers I’m able understand the material and can pick it up quickly and that I’m motivated to learn