When to find a new job
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Originally Posted By: eljefino
Is it true that mechanics don't give 2 weeks' notice b/c they don't want their tools vandalized? They just show up with a rollback at 4:50pm and haul out?
There is some truth to this, the danger is that If the tech tells management in advance usually this information gets around the entire business and this means that if there are some especially unethical folks in the shop (detail, lot, even other techs) you might end up with stolen tools and or a damaged tool chest. I was in the dealership service business for 25 years and theft and vandalism does happen that way.
There is some truth to this, the danger is that If the tech tells management in advance usually this information gets around the entire business and this means that if there are some especially unethical folks in the shop (detail, lot, even other techs) you might end up with stolen tools and or a damaged tool chest. I was in the dealership service business for 25 years and theft and vandalism does happen that way.
I haven't experienced that but a lot of times what happens is the management won't give you your two weeks if you request it because they don't take think you do a good job ect.
I have a meeting tomorrow with a local shop. He's a friend of a friend owns a pretty reputable business. I'm nervous he only offers a 30 hour guarantee but pays holiday vacation and if you make over 35 hours you get paid a little bonus and if you hit 40,or 45 you get even more of a bonus. It'll be a new deal for me so I'm nervous but hopeful that it goes well to. I always feel less confident than I should be because I'm not nearly as experienced as some people are that are older.
I have a meeting tomorrow with a local shop. He's a friend of a friend owns a pretty reputable business. I'm nervous he only offers a 30 hour guarantee but pays holiday vacation and if you make over 35 hours you get paid a little bonus and if you hit 40,or 45 you get even more of a bonus. It'll be a new deal for me so I'm nervous but hopeful that it goes well to. I always feel less confident than I should be because I'm not nearly as experienced as some people are that are older.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I always feel less confident than I should be because I'm not nearly as experienced as some people are that are older.
Go for it! And a good manager will sprinkle his mix with rookies and old timers as some jobs are appropriate for one or the other.
I always feel less confident than I should be because I'm not nearly as experienced as some people are that are older.
Go for it! And a good manager will sprinkle his mix with rookies and old timers as some jobs are appropriate for one or the other.
Originally Posted By: JustinH
Quietly get something else lined up.
Have sick time to go on interviews? Use it.
Don't tell anyone at the shop you are ticked, and just go about your job as normal.
When you get that offer for a new job, put your notice of leave in writing and bring it to your supervisor.
Make sure you cover all your bases and you read all HR documents (if they even have HR).
My wife just quit a job in Social Work. She expected her former employer to pay out 90 hours of unused vacation time. The company stiffed her on it, because she did not work for the company long enough.
She didn't do her homework, it was spelled out in HR documents. What she should have done was scheduled 2.5 weeks off with her supervisor, then quit after her vacation to collect the money that was rightfully earned by her.
Don't burn any bridges, keep your cool.
Keep your bases covered for Health Insurance, etc as well.
My uncle was in a similar situation. Master Tech worked on all high end euro cars. Beat the book all the time but got tired of the gig.
He saved his money year by year, and put up a pole barn on his property. The past 15 years he has operated his own shop out of his back yard. Working on only high end euro cars and keeping all the money for himself and his family.
Said it was the best thing he ever did. He is older now so he has slowed down a bit, but he only takes work he wants to do, and never works on junk. My aunt files his taxes and does his books, he has an LLC.
He schedules all his work, and decides when he wants to do it. If he wants to have a beer at lunch in his own house, he does that as well.
Good advice and good for your uncle.
It's good to hear when something goes "right" for good people every once in a while.
Quietly get something else lined up.
Have sick time to go on interviews? Use it.
Don't tell anyone at the shop you are ticked, and just go about your job as normal.
When you get that offer for a new job, put your notice of leave in writing and bring it to your supervisor.
Make sure you cover all your bases and you read all HR documents (if they even have HR).
My wife just quit a job in Social Work. She expected her former employer to pay out 90 hours of unused vacation time. The company stiffed her on it, because she did not work for the company long enough.
She didn't do her homework, it was spelled out in HR documents. What she should have done was scheduled 2.5 weeks off with her supervisor, then quit after her vacation to collect the money that was rightfully earned by her.
Don't burn any bridges, keep your cool.
Keep your bases covered for Health Insurance, etc as well.
My uncle was in a similar situation. Master Tech worked on all high end euro cars. Beat the book all the time but got tired of the gig.
He saved his money year by year, and put up a pole barn on his property. The past 15 years he has operated his own shop out of his back yard. Working on only high end euro cars and keeping all the money for himself and his family.
Said it was the best thing he ever did. He is older now so he has slowed down a bit, but he only takes work he wants to do, and never works on junk. My aunt files his taxes and does his books, he has an LLC.
He schedules all his work, and decides when he wants to do it. If he wants to have a beer at lunch in his own house, he does that as well.
Good advice and good for your uncle.
It's good to hear when something goes "right" for good people every once in a while.
The amusing but despicable thing about the auto repair industry claiming they can't fill huge number of open tech positions is they won't tell the entire story, which is the, the working conditions are usually poor, lots of physical stress, hours are long, the pay is not that good except for the most senior techs, and the benefits are questionable.....
Whaaaa there are tons of available open positions for auto technicians but we can't find people....LOL
Whaaaa there are tons of available open positions for auto technicians but we can't find people....LOL
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Why do you think mechanics haslve a bad back, knees, elbows, neck by the time they are 50 years old.
Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
The amusing but despicable thing about the auto repair industry claiming they can't fill huge number of open tech positions is they won't tell the entire story, which is the, the working conditions are usually poor, lots of physical stress, hours are long, the pay is not that good except for the most senior techs, and the benefits are questionable.....
Whaaaa there are tons of available open positions for auto technicians but we can't find people....LOL
And mechanics aren't respected enough, someone like my grandpa would rather someone be a college educated manager at Subway and "in charge of four people".
(not that I have a problem with either)
The amusing but despicable thing about the auto repair industry claiming they can't fill huge number of open tech positions is they won't tell the entire story, which is the, the working conditions are usually poor, lots of physical stress, hours are long, the pay is not that good except for the most senior techs, and the benefits are questionable.....
Whaaaa there are tons of available open positions for auto technicians but we can't find people....LOL
And mechanics aren't respected enough, someone like my grandpa would rather someone be a college educated manager at Subway and "in charge of four people".
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Why do you think mechanics have a bad back, knees, elbows, neck by the time they are 50 years old.
MR NICE so TRUE!!! I can check off the bad back!!!Knees I'm working those and I'm not even 50!!!!
Why do you think mechanics have a bad back, knees, elbows, neck by the time they are 50 years old.
MR NICE so TRUE!!! I can check off the bad back!!!Knees I'm working those and I'm not even 50!!!!
Originally Posted By: ram_man
He's a friend of a friend owns a pretty reputable business. I'm nervous he only offers a 30 hour guarantee but pays holiday vacation and if you make over 35 hours you get paid a little bonus and if you hit 40,or 45 you get even more of a bonus. It'll be a new deal for me so I'm nervous but hopeful that it goes well to. I always feel less confident than I should be because I'm not nearly as experienced as some people are that are older.
Give it a good crack.
Don't be afraid to go that extra sentence or two to get another point across re your experience.
I recall one interview I was on, where a candidate was asked about financial experience, and stepped into another field briefly with his experience managing the budget for a church construction in his community.
The questions were oriented to OUR business of course, but he could bring other things into it by having the confidence in what he's achieved.
Another interview, when it got to team work, the candidate brought the the table that he coached an international hockey team, and then went into strengths, weaknesses, and some really good examples of building and working with teams.
He's a friend of a friend owns a pretty reputable business. I'm nervous he only offers a 30 hour guarantee but pays holiday vacation and if you make over 35 hours you get paid a little bonus and if you hit 40,or 45 you get even more of a bonus. It'll be a new deal for me so I'm nervous but hopeful that it goes well to. I always feel less confident than I should be because I'm not nearly as experienced as some people are that are older.
Give it a good crack.
Don't be afraid to go that extra sentence or two to get another point across re your experience.
I recall one interview I was on, where a candidate was asked about financial experience, and stepped into another field briefly with his experience managing the budget for a church construction in his community.
The questions were oriented to OUR business of course, but he could bring other things into it by having the confidence in what he's achieved.
Another interview, when it got to team work, the candidate brought the the table that he coached an international hockey team, and then went into strengths, weaknesses, and some really good examples of building and working with teams.
Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
The amusing but despicable thing about the auto repair industry claiming they can't fill huge number of open tech positions is they won't tell the entire story, which is the, the working conditions are usually poor, lots of physical stress, hours are long, the pay is not that good except for the most senior techs, and the benefits are questionable.....
Whaaaa there are tons of available open positions for auto technicians but we can't find people....LOL
The thing I found was, and why I dropped out of school to be an Auto Tech, is no one wants the inexperienced people.
I got so tired of seeing "Entry level" in the title and open up the listing and it says "2-3 year exp. required"
MF thats not entry level!
Why even go to school if it counts for nothing. Then theres the whole $10k of tools I needed. Yeap. Glad I stopped pursuing that.
The amusing but despicable thing about the auto repair industry claiming they can't fill huge number of open tech positions is they won't tell the entire story, which is the, the working conditions are usually poor, lots of physical stress, hours are long, the pay is not that good except for the most senior techs, and the benefits are questionable.....
Whaaaa there are tons of available open positions for auto technicians but we can't find people....LOL
The thing I found was, and why I dropped out of school to be an Auto Tech, is no one wants the inexperienced people.
I got so tired of seeing "Entry level" in the title and open up the listing and it says "2-3 year exp. required"
MF thats not entry level!
Why even go to school if it counts for nothing. Then theres the whole $10k of tools I needed. Yeap. Glad I stopped pursuing that.
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Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Why do you think mechanics haslve a bad back, knees, elbows, neck by the time they are 50 years old.
I've always thought the job has kept me fit and supple - if I had to sit at a desk all day I'd stiffen up, get fat and my brain would grow mould in unused corners. I've worked in a lot of shops, still changing jobs in my 60's....3 man shops are the best.
Why do you think mechanics haslve a bad back, knees, elbows, neck by the time they are 50 years old.
I've always thought the job has kept me fit and supple - if I had to sit at a desk all day I'd stiffen up, get fat and my brain would grow mould in unused corners. I've worked in a lot of shops, still changing jobs in my 60's....3 man shops are the best.
Given the low pay, low public opinion, and back breaking work, I am not surprised that so many people run from this industry.
I frequently review competitor's employment ads, and see ads for positions paying $15 an hour that require ASE cert, 5 years experience, and tools.
Who wants to go to school for 2 years and buy thousands of dollars of equipment so they can beg to perform hard labor for $15 an hour?
For the respect?
This business is harder and harder on techs every year. No kidding there has been blowback.
I frequently review competitor's employment ads, and see ads for positions paying $15 an hour that require ASE cert, 5 years experience, and tools.
Who wants to go to school for 2 years and buy thousands of dollars of equipment so they can beg to perform hard labor for $15 an hour?
For the respect?
This business is harder and harder on techs every year. No kidding there has been blowback.
Gawd, the tire shop here pays rookies off the street "7 and 7"-- $7.50 min wage plus $7 an hour flat rate. Stay 100% billable and get $14.50. Oil changes are 1/2 hour, four tires are an hour. In two years with ASE certs they bump up to $18/flat rate hour.
We pay $26 an hour starting to replace circuit boards and test.
Field service for Diagnostic Imaging top out At $48 an hour + OT.
Field service for Diagnostic Imaging top out At $48 an hour + OT.
I post jobs on BITOG, here is an example...
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...cia#Post3888280
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...cia#Post3888280
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