Working in the Automotive Field

[saylor]

I think I went the cantflip route if I read his post correctly...

I quit school in 12th grade at Christmas break, right about now - just couldn't get myself back to berkner

when I turned 18 that next month january, I got a carton of smokes for my b-day present and got tossed out of my old mans house since I was all grown up and done with school...

its hard goin that way man, finish school and stay at home / don't piss off your rents / for as long as possible.

I raised 2 kids they are now what 23 and 27 or so.. one left home at 17, one stayed home while going thru 4 yrs at UTD. they have totally different lives.

half of it is the person themself, and you have that already. if you apply yourself and don't bullshit half ***, you will do OK. if you want to do FKN AWESOME, do something for work that is also your hobby/fun to you. if its not fun, its work. and work sucks.

let me drive that yellow car.


- saylor

 

[cantflip]

I think I went the cantflip route if I read his post correctly...

I quit school in 12th grade at Christmas break, right about now - just couldn't get myself back to berkner

when I turned 18 that next month january, I got a carton of smokes for my b-day present and got tossed out of my old mans house since I was all grown up and done with school...

its hard goin that way man, finish school and stay at home / don't piss off your rents / for as long as possible.

I raised 2 kids they are now what 23 and 27 or so.. one left home at 17, one stayed home while going thru 4 yrs at UTD. they have totally different lives.

half of it is the person themself, and you have that already. if you apply yourself and don't bullshit half ***, you will do OK. if you want to do FKN AWESOME, do something for work that is also your hobby/fun to you. if its not fun, its work. and work sucks.

let me drive that yellow car.


- saylor

You did... I spent the last semester of high school on my own... I would have starved to death if I wasn't provided lots of pizza and beer working after hours on the lead tech's street rod. I think I must have walked 15 miles a day if I didn't get my timing just right to catch rides. I always had to double time it, mostly uphill, to get to high school for class after leaving the shop at noon.

I am still kinda proud of the diploma... I had to work hard for it those few months. My brother dropped out and is now a hotel manager making at least twice what I do... It isn't all about education, but it sure helps.

 

[cantflip]

I know you mentioned in your earlier post that you perhaps were looking into restoration as a career. There is one school out in Kansas that most of the big name restoration companies recruit out of there. The School is McPherson college. It is a four year intensive program that teaches you every aspect of restoration and they allow you to work on your on personal cars for lots of the project. I have been considering, once I am done with the Army, going to a school like this. As a "retirement" career.....

It looks like a great program so if you haven't considered it check it out.

http://www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/

I know you mentioned in your earlier post that you perhaps were looking into restoration as a career. There is one school out in Kansas that most of the big name restoration companies recruit out of there. The School is McPherson college. It is a four year intensive program that teaches you every aspect of restoration and they allow you to work on your on personal cars for lots of the project. I have been considering, once I am done with the Army, going to a school like this. As a "retirement" career.....

It looks like a great program so if you haven't considered it check it out.

http://www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/

I would look into the school and faculty a bit deeper if were you, I don't know anything about them, but they only show one guy on their website as ever having been an automotive tech. The architect and the NASA electrical engineer are interesting too, if you believe they have done cars for a living... successfully.

Most auto programs are populated by broken and close to retirement techs. They should have a track record and may not have a college degree. They also usually make less money than they did in the shop.

A buddy of mine was offered a job from the local community college... he simply could not figure out how to live on the wages ($30s) and wound up taking a service advisor position.

 

[rexus31]

Lots of great advice/information here. I'll add my two cents. It seems like you've got a pretty good head on your shoulders and your family life is pretty stable. Do yourself a favor and go to college and live at home for as long as you can. Mechanical engineering may interest you since you like problem solving and working with your hands. What may seem like a fun and satisfying career at 18/19 years old (restoration, working on cars) may in fact be hell when you are twice as old. Manual labor can really suck as you age and a degree can add a wealth of value later in life and open doors that would be closed otherwise.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Lots of great advice/information here. I'll add my two cents. It seems like you've got a pretty good head on your shoulders and your family life is pretty stable. Do yourself a favor and go to college and live at home for as long as you can. Mechanical engineering may interest you since you like problem solving and working with your hands. What may seem like a fun and satisfying career at 18/19 years old (restoration, working on cars) may in fact be hell when you are twice as old. Manual labor can really suck as you age and a degree can add a wealth of value later in life and open doors that would be closed otherwise.

That's sound advice do not know of a shop/dealer/tire and battery store that would not hire you with mechanical engineering degree and showing up in the yellow car, manual labor sucks after 45/50 Y.o. seems like long way off now but it will be here before you know it.

 

[mopar_4life]

I would look into the school and faculty a bit deeper if were you, I don't know anything about them, but they only show one guy on their website as ever having been an automotive tech. The architect and the NASA electrical engineer are interesting too, if you believe they have done cars for a living... successfully.

Most auto programs are populated by broken and close to retirement techs. They should have a track record and may not have a college degree. They also usually make less money than they did in the shop.

A buddy of mine was offered a job from the local community college... he simply could not figure out how to live on the wages ($30s) and wound up taking a service advisor position.

I know all about looking into colleges. What your saying is correct. It is difficult to live on wages that colleges pay... I have a Doctorate in Trombone Performance and was looking for a college job (I did have one, only part time) but I couldn't afford to live off of the college jobs that were available for me. So I joined the army and play in the band.

I only know of this school because of the show Chasing Classic cars.
Specifically this one:


No matter what path you choose it is always good to visit and find out more history about the program.

 

[BigBen]

Commando you crack me up.
Dylan I grew up working in my dad's garage started mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms at a very early age. The job you're seeking has to be one you truly love otherwise it'll just feel like a physical grind day in and day out there is not one thing easy about that job. That said it can also be more fun than you ever dreamed possible go talk to people who are in that business be respectful of their time they are busy but most of them love to talk get to know what you need to know you can make a much more informed decision.

 

[cantflip]

I know all about looking into colleges. What your saying is correct. It is difficult to live on wages that colleges pay... I have a Doctorate in Trombone Performance and was looking for a college job (I did have one, only part time) but I couldn't afford to live off of the college jobs that were available for me. So I joined the army and play in the band.

I only know of this school because of the show Chasing Classic cars.
Specifically this one:


No matter what path you choose it is always good to visit and find out more history about the program.

You must be very good at what you do, I have always heard there was a lot of competition to be in that band.

I think the concept is really cool, but the job market this opens up would definitely not be my part of the industry and my part can/does go to the restoration side very easily... except of course, the money is tough there.

If you look at this from another perspective, what education would an "Automotive Historian" require? There are lots of very good schools and lots of good directions a young person (or an older one) could take for resume building. In all honesty, that is a big part of what a formal education provides.

Experience and reputation will be the major factors an employer would look at once they determined you had the correct basic qualifications they require... Most employers I have dealt with also look to see if you will fit into their shop, but that one gets backburnered when they need to get more bodies on the line.

When you think about reputation... Chip wouldn't be where he is without Boyd, and GMG wouldn't be where they are without Chip. That doesn't mean they would not be successful, but they were legitimized and given exposure by the association with the known builder they worked under. GMG sort of legitimized the spinoff from their group...

There are a lot of ways into this business, Dylan's build thread would be enough for me to hire him if I was in that position. And, while he would not start anywhere but the bottom... I don't think he would be disadvantaged in a restoration shop by not having gone to restoration school. CC machinist program, (don't laugh) CC non accredited sewing classes, and basic electrical skills would go a long, long way (they do still sell the little "learn electronics" kits)... The quality of his work would ultimately be the deciding factor in his advancement.

 

[barnfind]

Lots of sage advise, and experience posted. Dylan your miles ahead of where many of us started (myself included). You have a supportive family, don't EVER take that for granted. Do what you love to do and you don't work a day in your life. A great attitude and work ethic can overcome all obstacles regardless of the task. You already have the passion, run with it. Continue learning from everyone, including what not to do.
All the best to you.

 

[Ripinator]

I hate everyone over 30 40 50 under 50 60.

And I wear dungarees.
Not jeans.
Not denims.
Effing DUNGAREES.

Nope. You wear over-hauls. . .

 

[traintech55]

Dylan, I was extremely lucky when I started in High School. I had one of the best teachers that ever existed. He taught Body and Fender, and recognized that I had a talent for it. His advice after the first year was to take the mechanics course, machine shop, sheet metal shop, and electronics. these are all skills that I use to this day. Even when I got tired of working in the auto industry and went to the railroad, these skills helped me advance sooner than most people did there. They also helped when I became a teacher for them and really enjoyed teaching my skills to others. If you really want to get into the restoration side, you will need all of these skills under your belt.

 

[bluefury361]

I got the impression Dylan was interested in a career in the specialty, restoration, custom, high performance field.
Being an established auto repair tech won't get you very far in this industry. You really need to establish yourself as a mechanic....! It seems the auto repair trade has forgotten about mechanics. You don't hear the word "tech" in most of the race or specialty shops.
A good mechanic will be well versed in not only the automotive field but will need welding, fabrication, an understanding of design, form & function and how it applies.
The sheet metal people will get the biggest bucks, especially in the racing world.
I'm also not an advocate of formal education in this field. Some of us are just not great students. Learn each field from an expert, welder, fabricator, designer etc. They can usually use some inexpensive help around the shop and will be the best teachers. One on one, hands on.
It's a quest of passion, not just a job. There are plenty of guys who get the notoriety and big bucks out there, Foose, for example has done well but had the advantage of a father in the trade. Guys like him are only a tiny fraction of the people in the trade who work hard. Most for meager pay, and go home at night, (sometimes), with the gratification of creating something special, unique or beautiful that day.

 

[rexus31]

There are plenty of guys who get the notoriety and big bucks out there, Foose, for example has done well but had the advantage of a father in the trade. Guys like him are only a tiny fraction of the people in the trade who work hard, for meager pay and go home at night, (sometimes), with the gratification of creating something special, unique or beautiful that day.

Foose also had the benefit of a top tier, formal education having graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

 

[bluefury361]

Foose also had the benefit of a top tier, formal education having graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

Exactly...! Credentials won't hurt, but are not essential. All the credentials in the world aren't a substitute for experience. In a sense, sometimes time spent gaining education is time wasted gaining experience.
Chip had a huge leg up on the industry as a youth, and the passion to pursue the business.

 

[rexus31]

Exactly...! Credentials won't hurt, but are not essential. All the credentials in the world aren't a substitute for experience. In a sense, sometimes time spent gaining education is time wasted gaining experience.
Chip had a huge leg up on the industry as a youth, and the passion to pursue the business.

Ideally, one could gain education and experience at the same time, i.e. college and a part time internship.