• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Career change

G

green00prix

New member
Like the title says, I’m seriously considering making a career change. For as long as I can remember I’ve been extremely passionate about cars and have always enjoyed working on them. Back when I chose a career path I always thought that I wanted to keep cars as my hobby and do something else as a career because I didn’t want to ruin something that I loved by making it a career. Well, I’m learning that that might not have been the wisest decision.

I’m a very technical minded person and had an interest in construction and computers so I studied to become a CAD operator and architectural draftsman and earned an Associated Degree in Applied Science. Doing that I was able to combine my technical thinking of how things go together and to make a creative idea a reality and I also got to work on computers. After 13 years, it’s been a great career but I don’t really enjoy it as much as I do the automotive industry. The economic times in the construction industry aren’t helping any but that’s not where my true problem lies. I just don’t have the passion to push myself further in this career.

What kind of advice could those of you in the auto repair industry give to someone looking to make this kind of career change? How difficult would it be to get my foot in the door somewhere without any school level training? I have plenty of experience working on cars but working in your own garage can’t really go far in impressing a potential employer. I’ve checked out the ASE website and thought about taking the certification test, or at the least quizzes to see where I stand. If I take the test and pass, it won’t do much good since I won’t actually get the certification until I have two years of work experience but it may prove my commitment and knowledge. What kind of compensation can one expect? Enjoying what I’m doing is more important than the money but obviously it would be nice to earn decent money. Is working for a dealership shop a better place to start than a regular repair shop?

Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.
 


i would never want to be a mechanic. they work really hard for the amount of money they make and the work is dirty. my brother's hands are always stained from work.

i would think that it would be fun to get into the speed shop scene though. a performance oriented shop would be fun to have.
 
After being a certified mechanic for 3 years.... and what I do now....

I miss being a mechanic. All the fun times in the shops, working on works of art. life is so much simpler fixing things. no drama(other than angry customers).

Now I am in a job that has no stress, work at my own pace... but I am not going anywhere so I am opting for a different career myself.

my advice.... life is too short. Go with what makes you happy. yes, if you want to sacrifice pay for being happy, by all means.... mechanic is the way to go. with your design background... I would see if I couldnt get a job designing parts for cars...... best of both worlds.
 
thats what i did today lmao i love working at the jeep dealer versus a crap pee on tire and battery shop boooooooo lol so yeah whatever makes you happy man money isnt everything if your miserable dude!
 
Speed shop would be awsome. Especially with your knowledge in computers. A dealership is going to want to start you off on the bottom and train you for what they want. But, like said above, if it's what you love, then go for it.
 


Every mechanic I know pretty much hates it. I chose the same as you and kept it as a hobby which I feel was a good idea.
 
Never do what you like to do as a hobby as your job. You will grow to hate it. I've tried several times now and I give up. Leave hobbies just that, your hobbies. Unless you want to get sick of your hobby.
 
offroadfury6 said:
personally sounds like a great idea but me being me, I'm all about my money man...
Click to expand...

Bingo and there is the knockout punch, money... Money is what makes the world go round, if you can be happy off a mechanics salary and support the family you have/may have one day go for it. If not you will have to keep it as a hobby :(
 
I have a frind that ownes a speed shop, and he tinkers with race cars of all types and classes, he loves it. but in the same token he has gained a good hundred lbs in the last five years or so.
 
If you are a CAD operator, go back to school in the evenings. You could be an engineer, or anything else technically related, in a few years just doing nights. Then you can move on and find a job that crosses more into the "hands-on" sort of work, while not resorting to killing your hobby.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top