Auto parts store? I can see you as a p/t assistant manager.
X2.
Parts stores like part time employees because there is no risk of having to pay overtime, and they don't have to offer benefits. Being willing to work less desireable shifts like Sundays and closing shifts will make you appealing to them too.
With your experience, they would probably offer at least $10 an hour to start.
I thought I stated in the OP, but I guess I didn't, sorry - I'm already a store manager with one of the big parts store chains. It's [censored], and they do NOT pay ANY part timer $10/hr. The most I'm allowed to hire ANY p/t position is $8.50/hr. There is no such thing as a p/t assistant manager.
This is an odd-shot, but what about residential pool service? It's amazing what my neighbor pays and the poor service he gets. I diagnosed a faulty seal the guy missed, the neighbor bought the part, we installed it and I got some piece and quiet. Pools are much simplier than cars, are electrical/mechanical/fluid/chemical systems that require regular maintainence + you don't need a license. You already know how to diagnose and troubleshoot.
Or since you're already a mechanic, I'm guessing you also work on air-conditioning. What about residential HVAC work?
You know - a good friend owns a pool business. Seems cool, I've spent a few days working for him over the years. I could get down with it, but a few things come to mind immediately. He IS a good friend, therefore, I don't even want to try to compete with him, even with his blessing. I can't swim, so it's truthfully a bit dangerous for me to do. I can do AC work, but automotive only. I took the residential test, and passed all 3 tests - missed 3 questions on the core test though, so I only have my automotive license. I suppose I could re-test for the residential/commercial though, I didn't back then because I was a broke UTI student, and the $75 for a test I failed was hard enough to swallow at the time.
Maybe find a Biomed Association in your part of GA (medical equipment repair / calibration / testing ) and see if they need a part-timer to help out with PM's in the evening or a few hours on Saturday.
If you have electronics / troubleshooting experience it will be even better.
Interesting, I've never heard of this. I'll try to investigate that more. Any idea what the pay is like? Thanks so much!
I guess I don't quite understand this. If you are a skilled mechanic you should be popular. If you don't want to conflict with the BMW job I would consider being a home shadetree mechanic that specializes in older Volvo's ONLY. 240 series are going up in value, 850 and V70 are very cheap but good (but flaky) cars that can't be taken to dealer cost wise. Lots of nice folks have and keep old 240's, and many new / used parts sources exist. Hope you don't live in an apartment, but you can get regular clients built up.People will put a significant amount of $$ in an old 240 because they like it - I don't think thats true of older but boring cars.If you get a rep. I can see people bringing a 240 significant distance and leaving it for a month or more. THIS IS POTENTIAL long term, and cash only translates into a relatively high salary.
Oh, I DO plan to start taking on more of the sidework that I've been turning down over the years. Popular is relative though. I've had to turn down so much work because I've been SO busy with my 'real job' that some of those clientele have wandered off to others. Will take some time to re-create that part of business. Just made $260 last week dropping, re-sealing, and re-installing an E46 rear diff. Have a HG jo9b coming up on an M3, even though I've tried to tell the guy the head is more than likely cracked (#6 full of water), and with a ~200k S50, he's really better off just putting a lower mileage S52 into the car. What do I know though, I'll take his money, then show him the cracked head when I pull it.....
I have NO interest in 240's. I get emails almost DAILY about people wanting an LS motor mount kit for a 240. I've said the same thing to every single one of them: Bring me a 240, and an LS, and I'll build a mount kit. To date, nobody has taken me up on the offer. I refuse to build one because 240 owners are a bunch of cheapasses who don't even want to pay what the materials cost would be for a well engineered set of mounts. I've done a few surveys over the past few years gauging interest at different pricepoints. It's simply not worth the effort. Sadly, the online Volvo community sucks (at least the older volvos), and thats why there's nothing out there fort them in the aftermarket. I'm actually selling my LS swapped 960 that was the development car for the V8Volvos 700/700 LS motor mount kit once I get a few other things squared away, and finish the BBK for it and start delivering those.
KenO,
Is your wife OK about you quitting and career change ?
Single - never married - no kids
Allows me to be much more flexible, and do whats best for me.
I like the cemetery idea, but it's not really something I would want to do. Keep the ideas coming guys, and thank you! I'm really looking for something outside the box.
