Auto Industry Employment

Passport1

Passport1

Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
4,458
Location
A Barrier Island
Many of the BITOG members have prodigious skill and knowledge of cars, car repair and indurstry insight. How many of us have actually had employment in or supported themselves from the auto industry?

In my case, VW line mechanic x4 years. Decided it was not a long term career path and quit. Never earned another nickel working on cars.

If you worked in any of these areas and want to be recognized, stand up and say so.

mechanic
service writer
body shop
restorations
parts distribution/sales/tires
dealer sales/used car sales/auctions
finance/insurance
transport
auto journalist/advertising
manufacturing/auto engineering
machine shop/engine rebuilding
 
8th year of Laboratory Engineering at a large domestic manufacturer's propulsion laboratory. Mostly engine/power train R&D along with agency certification.
 
Retired last year from GM. Spent time in general assembly, stamping, paint & body shops. My last job was Metrology at Lansing Grand River plant. 28 of those years I also held dual positions as UAW Alternate Health & Safety Rep and Assistant Chief of LGR's Emergency Response Team.
 
This is my 7th year in automotive as a technician. I began as a part time weekend and evening lube tech in 2019 during high school and then moved to the line fully about 5 years ago when I began at another dealership after working for quick lube and another dealer and some independent shops. Went fully flat rate back in August here at my current place after being hourly and I’m killing it with time. I like this dealership a whole lot better than any previous job. A lot more incentives and bonus than other places. I am also a certified Virginia State Inspector and have been since last July. Working towards ASE tests. I had student ones but all have expired.

Honestly out of every lube technician I started with I am the last one left in the automotive industry and the only one that successfully moved up. That just shows how much turnover this industry has really. My friend was a mechanic and state inspector back in the 1990s but he said he never wanted it to be long term after he realized what all it involved lol.
 
AutoMechanic said:
This is my 7th year in automotive as a technician. I began as a part time weekend and evening lube tech in 2019 during high school and then moved to the line fully about 5 years ago when I began at another dealership after working for quick lube and another dealer and some independent shops. Went fully flat rate back in August here at my current place after being hourly and I’m killing it with time. I like this dealership a whole lot better than any previous job. A lot more incentives and bonus than other places. I am also a certified Virginia State Inspector and have been since last July. Working towards ASE tests. I had student ones but all have expired.

Honestly out of every lube technician I started with I am the last one left in the automotive industry and the only one that successfully moved up. That just shows how much turnover this industry has really. My friend was a mechanic and state inspector back in the 1990s but he said he never wanted it to be long term after he realized what all it involved lol.
Click to expand...
What manufacturer does your dealer carry?
 
1 - Jobber parts in Jr. High / High School, worked as the mechanic's parts person, sourcing parts for their jobs. Some retail customer interaction in the early days, selling parts over the counter. Good job, learned a ton about parts, terrible pay.

2 - Tire shop in High School, made enough money to support my muscle cars, barely, but enough. Main job was tires (mount and balance) but also did batteries, oil/lube/filter, wiper blades etc. No mechanical work (no trade ticket to do so) but I hung out with the mechanics whenever possible to learn. Took reasonably comprehensive courses provided by the company on tires. Learned a ton about cars at that job. Paid better than the parts job which is why I made the move.

3 - Final "auto" job and the best one, I worked at a Speed Shop through University. Sold high performance parts. Company also provided advanced vendor training eg. Crane Cams - I have a certificate from them (it's stored with my University degree) and Comp Cams (no certificate from them, just a training course) and other aftermarket systems (Hooker Headers etc.). Made good money at that job (paid for University, living, cars, etc.). When I look back on my working life, that was the best job I ever had, it was the only job I actually looked forward to going to.
 
AutoMechanic said:
A bunch. Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet, Buick, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram, Subaru and used to have Ford but we sold the Ford franchise to another dealership down the road. I’m Toyota right now I used to be Subaru. We are the biggest dealership in our area.
Click to expand...
I think Ford is going to be in big trouble down the road.
 
5 years Chevrolet dealership technician (drivetrain). 5 years shop manager (municipal fleet) 25 years Fleet and Asset Director (Local Government & Sheriff’s Office)
 
AutoMechanic said:
A bunch. Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet, Buick, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram, Subaru and used to have Ford but we sold the Ford franchise to another dealership down the road. I’m Toyota right now I used to be Subaru. We are the biggest dealership in our area.
Click to expand...

If I lived in the area I would pay you to work on my cars.
 
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