Discouraged Beginner Mechanic

[Vincent Brick]

Dood, OP, yer doing ok. You seem to have about as much as a grip on things as I do and I'm almost 20 years older, and your calypso is nicer than mine. :) Follow your gut, and although I would lean toward keeping wrenching hobby/fun status I know guys who have gotten into the race world and various specialties and do very well.

[Das Delfin]

OP, my parents wanted me to go to college and get a silicon valley white collar job. But the only thing I was really into (music) wouldn't land me any kind of useful degree whatsoever. So rather than waste hella money on a degree that would get me a teaching job or some kind of commission-based recording situation, I dropped out of school, worked full time, and chose to let life lead the way for a while. And what I've learned is that the blue collar way of working is the way to go. Just go in, do a good job, enjoy your line of work, develop a good relationship with your coworkers, and go home satisfied. Don't worry about job security or any of that bullshit. Treat what you've learned at your family-owned mechanic as an opportunity. Who cares if he let you go. You're only 19. Get back out there and find another job. Just do what makes you happy. Don't try to impress anyone but yourself.

[delatlanta1281]

I had no idea I would be doing what I am for a living at 19. Chill out and enjoy being young. career and money comes to those who work hard and learn. Wrenching on things you love should be done on your terms. With a good career and money comes those things. Trust me. Im old.

[Exodus_2pt0]

If you want to work on cars, get a job as an apprentice at a dealership. That way you have someone who will make money from your work while you get an hourly wage. Its a win win for both. He will make sure you are doing the job right, so you will learn without so much risk of making mistakes.

That said, I love turning wrenches, but I hated doing it on cars for a living. There's lots of other things that need Technicians; trains, airplanes, choppas, ect.

[Exodus_2pt0]

We no longer live in a world where a good skill can build you a solid career,

This is down right wrong.

A good skill is can certainly lead to a solid (and stable) career. You can make damn good money without spending ridiculous amounts of it on that piece of paper that MIGHT land you a job. College won't help much in the skilled labor department. If you focus and put effort into your skill, then you will find employers are more than willing to send you to technical training on THEIR dime, where you will learn the advanced diag skills which is where the money is at.

10 years as an Automotive technician and attaining my master ASE certs is what landed me an entry level Preventative maintenance position working on a commuter rail. Then, the skills (diagnosis, primarily) are what propelled me to become a lead role in my shop. Its persistence that worked for me, and college was never a part of it. There's no right or wrong way, but to say a good skill won't build you a career is the kind of reasoning that makes it hard to find good technicians anymore. Everyone wants to go to college, they learn on paper, and then can't apply that knowledge in the field.

If you love wrenching, then keep wrenching. Just always look to advance. IMO the shop owner should have taken more responsibility. If he knew you were green then he should have had someone keep a closer eye and teach you the right way to do things, which is what I was trying to say in my first post. Be persistent and keep pushing, as long as you don't give up you'll never fail.

[Zreberlcoe]

So some of you are saying to keep working at wrenching, some of you are saying don't make your hobby a career, and others are saying find something else to capture my attention. I don't want to wrench on everyone's daily driver for the rest of my life, I would like to see my future working on special BMW's, racekars, show cars, etc. I have been led to believe that repair work is the entrance into such line of work. My dream job is to work for someone like CAtuned, they build dream cars. Since I was a kid I have always wanted to build those cars you see in the magazine, although I think mostly all of us on here would kill to work for someone like Igor at CAtuned.


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[Exodus_2pt0]

Gotta run before you can walk. No one is going to let you work on their baby until you can reliably and safely repair a normal vehicle.

If you are passionate about building fun cars, stick with turning wrenches and keep your mind open to new opportunities.

[Zreberlcoe]

Gotta run before you can walk. No one is going to let you work on their baby until you can reliably and safely repair a normal vehicle.

Making my hobby my career didn't work for me, but you're not me.

Exactly. I mean it is my hobby, but it's also my passion to work on cars.


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[Julien]

Having worked at small independent garages with many young, new, enthusiastic employees I can share this, it's all about attitude. Don't try to prove to your boss you can do everything when you are still a novice. The attitude of always trying to prove yourself will distract you from actually doing a good job. Be resourceful, don't be afraid to ask questions but stay productive. This isn't the first or last job you will be fired from, keep your head up and keep trying.

[Zreberlcoe]

Having worked at small independent garages with many young, new, enthusiastic employees I can share this, it's all about attitude. Don't try to prove to your boss you can do everything when you are still a novice. The attitude of always trying to prove yourself will distract you from actually doing a good job. Be resourceful, don't be afraid to ask questions but stay productive. This isn't the first or last job you will be fired from, keep your head up and keep trying.

Seems about right

[mbonder]

So some of you are saying to keep working at wrenching, some of you are saying don't make your hobby a career, and others are saying find something else to capture my attention. I don't want to wrench on everyone's daily driver for the rest of my life, I would like to see my future working on special BMW's, racekars, show cars, etc. I have been led to believe that repair work is the entrance into such line of work. My dream job is to work for someone like CAtuned, they build dream cars. Since I was a kid I have always wanted to build those cars you see in the magazine, although I think mostly all of us on here would kill to work for someone like Igor at CAtuned.


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You do realize that all of the specialty shops that are building magazine cars got their start by doing general maintenance right? Just like a shop builds a reputation so that it can grow and eventually build the magazine cars, you need to build your skills at wrenching and your reputation so that you can eventually be the one working for the shop that is building the magazine cars (or own your own shop doing just that).

All things take time, you are young and enthusiastic for automotive work. Take that energy and go find another job at another shop (if you really like BMWs then go work for a dealer, hell you might find you like the sales side of it more and end up there too). My belief is that things like college aren't really suitable for every person. I have plenty of friends who decided that being a tradesmen was better than going to school and they are making good money in their late 20's and early 30's doing plumbing, electrical work, HVAC repair, etc. Unless you are driven to a particular career that requires college, why waste your time and money? If you aren't motivated to do it, then don't! You'll get some push back from family and friends, but it's your life, you need to make the decisions, that's being an adult.

Whatever you choose to do, do it with 100% effort. You won't succeed if you are constantly hedging your bets, thinking that you could always go back to school or try something else. If you think this way you won't devote yourself to gaining the knowledge that is necessary for success. Always move forward, don't look back. Make your decision and then leave everything else in the rearview.

[F34R]

Having worked at small independent garages with many young, new, enthusiastic employees I can share this, it's all about attitude. Don't try to prove to your boss you can do everything when you are still a novice. The attitude of always trying to prove yourself will distract you from actually doing a good job. Be resourceful, don't be afraid to ask questions but stay productive. This isn't the first or last job you will be fired from, keep your head up and keep trying.

BOOM! that 100% I always went and got my Uncle for advice while I was working on cars, I have never done damage due to that. I would rather seek advice than try to figure it out and screw it up. He taught me how to time engines, hone blocks and many other important things. It is better to ask than screw up.

[ethrty]

College/University is definitely not the only path, however a lot of people think it is.
The correct statement above is, If anything:
"Now is the perfect time to get into a trade."

we now live in a precious cotton wool world where the average joe blogs has spent thier time at uni getting a piece of paper, and, unlike 30 years ago, no longer knows how to change a sink washer or do an oil change.
The "uneducated" tradies are there to do this for you, and charge accordingly.

I never went to college/university. I am 23 and own my second property, (i would own my third if i didnt have 7 BMWs right now lol) Most of my friends went to university and are $30-40k in the red (we have ~60-70% state subsidy on education here). they will be 30 by the time its paid off before they can think about saving for a house. Kids will be along by then for most of them, so good luck but i dont see it happening.
Most of the richest people in the world never went to university.
believe it or not in most situations its your decisions in your 20s that will set the foundations for the rest of your life, not only in a career sense.

When i was 18 or so my very first serious girlfriends father owned a mom and pop garage, i was into E30s back then too, i considered becoming an auto electrician, he strongly advised me to keep my hobbys my hobby too. he hasnt any car toys for years as the interest is just not there

You are on a car forum, so you are obviously somewhat mechanically minded. Consider other trades, even if not auto. there will be someone in your family that is a plumber, landscaper, builder, etc. ask them thier story and opinion, and have a look where thier life has got them. You will be surprised at how similar other trades are to auto, and yet different enough you still keen to come home and tinker on your car.

[jalopi]

OP, did you leave an oil drain plug loose or something? Don't feel bad about it, it's kinda common amongst new guys

I personally made that mistake myself at my second derb (first was at a midas for a month so I'm not counting that as real), probably the only thing that kept me from getting fired was the customer not being named Derpy McDerpinson and noticed the dripping oil, keeping the engine from going boom + me basically groveling in front of my boss to not get fired

About three years later I ended up leaving that place to work in a different field, but despite the aggravation and bullshit I put up with I learned a LOT about fixing cars in that time. I'll agree with most other people that posted and say that the auto repair industry sucks balls and will murder your enthusiasm about your own vehicles, but I still think you should put out for a few years.

It's a good excuse to build up a kickass set of tools while you're young and mentally prep/educate yourself to build some WICKED cars of your own once you get out of the field

[Zreberlcoe]

Consider other trades, even if not auto. there will be someone in your family that is a plumber, landscaper, builder, etc. ask them thier story and opinion, and have a look where thier life has got them. You will be surprised at how similar other trades are to auto, and yet different enough you still keen to come home and tinker on your car.

Plenty of people have said this in different ways, I have no idea what I want to do otherwise. My grandfather has built homes for his whole life...? I'm not sure if I should change my whole mindset and career path just yet.