I really respect Mike Rowe a lot and listen to what he has to say. Here is my take on it:
I myself feel I’m a great worker. I maybe young but certainly not lazy. Still a lot for me to see and learn as well. But I’m good at what I do and receive compliments and tips all the time about the job I do. And I’m very confident in the job I do and take pride in my work. We have not had good luck with young workers at any of the places I’ve worked at. In fact at my first job they were like well we haven’t had good luck with anyone under 25 but we will give you a shot. Unfortunate but true. We have had quite a few mistakes with our young guys like wheels coming off or oil outs that lead to blown engines. Don’t give up if you make a mistake because I’ve seen that as well just make sure it doesn’t happen again. I definitely feel I’m a good worker especially after my company came to me offering me more money just as I was about to ask for more anyway so that took me out of an uncomfortable spot. Usually a company is not going to offer you more money, you generally have to ask. They thanked me for everything I’ve done like never ever missing a day or being late or leaving early and for letting people use tools when I didn’t have too and being there when no one else chose to be and ran the shop by myself several times and how they seen that I was a natural mechanic because when I was the only one there I didn’t let jobs kick my tail I said I can do it and got it done even if it was out of my comfort zone or knowledge base and how I come up with good solutions to problems or whatever. And yes I do make mistakes, everyone does. I didn’t tighten an oil filter fully once and it got all over the guys driveway so they made me clean it up. The filter was tight when it left but the GM filters have to be tightened with a cup otherwise they vibrate loose and it was my negligence that didn’t do it and that’s not the only thing I’ve done but never once have I gotten in trouble for a mistake they say take the problem and learn from it. And I agree with that and not give up either as I stated earlier. I’ve been at that company a year now and love it very much. It’s where I hope to stay for the long run. They are pretty tolerant with me despite the fact I’m slow at least to their standards but not as slow as some there but they did tell me try and speed up. That’s part of the reason I haven’t been flat rate at this place because they know I’m slow and I do as well and I acknowledge that. Instead they sat me down and talked with me saying there is always a place for me. They asked if I would train new techs and stay hourly. Whenever there is no one to train I’m doing fun stuff on Subaru not just stuff like oil changes or whatever and a lot of guys get stuck doing that for awhile but I had to prove myself of course and show work ethic. After they seen I could run the shop by myself they told me have at it because I earned it. A lot of guys get to changing oil and then don’t try and go get more work they don’t volunteer they just wait for the work to come to them. I say you need to be up at the managers desk saying hey what do you have that I can do? Don’t wait for work to come to you, you have to come to the work. And then they are wondering well why haven’t I moved up yet? Well it’s because you haven’t shown them you can do more you can’t just stand there looking pretty when there is plenty of work to go around.
We have this kid there, 18, bought a very expensive used Mustang, owes way more than I’ve ever owed to the tool man and doesn’t make the best decisions. I can’t say I’ve always made the best decisions for myself but I’ve also been one to avoid as much debt as I can even though I do carry a small amount to the tool trucks. I really do feel bad for him because I think he would be a good worker if he would put his phone down and pay attention. And most importantly for him stay out of trouble with the law. I trained him better than that. He blew his opportunity to get a state inspection license for another year because he kept getting speeding tickets the officer knew he was trying so he let him off with a warning the first one or two times then he gave him 6 months before he could get it now it’s a year. He keeps asking management why they haven’t given him a raise or advancement yet that he asked for 3 months ago they tell him you need to work on your skills and stay off your phone and they would consider it. And they pointed at the fact he can’t preform an oil change and tire rotation by himself and always calls for help. I’ve even tried to talk to him and offer to help but he says nah I got it I have to prove to them I can but then he gives up and eventually gets someone to come over because he can’t break a filter loose or has oil on his hands and doesn’t want to air up the tires. I am too young to properly see what the full problem maybe but I think it’s a lot to do with how you were raised, peer behavior and probably other factors as well. I don’t like what I see with some of my generation but there are good and bad just like their has been with every generation. And as you can see if you work hard and try it will pay off like it did for me.
That’s just my perspective on it. Regardless of age be a good worker who proves themselves and my most important thing I stress is don’t give up.
