Working at Havoline

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RamFan

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I decided not to get my commission with the Navy, long and tough decision to make, none-the-less it was the best move for me. So while I'm applying to police departments within the state I decided to work for Havoline Xpress Lube simply because my cousin works for them and knows the VP which means I was handed employment papers when I got off the plane from OCS. I'm not going to lie, the job sucks, $8.50 an hour with college loans and a car payment is just barely enough to get by. That isn't the bad part though, I'm the only college educated guy on staff and I'm the only one on staff that is actually knowledgeable on the oil industry. Sure, they know the marketing and try to up sell when they can, but they simply don't know the different basestocks, additives, etc.

I keep telling myself that this is just a temporary time in my life and to just breath deep when stress mounts. Try to educate when an opportunity arises and to never feel like I'm too good for the job (I don't think that and I love helping people maintain their vehicles). Anyway, if any of you find yourselves in Palatine, IL and want to chat with a fellow BITOGer or want some maintenance done the "proper" way, stop on by! Off to work I go!
 
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Gotta start somewhere. Whatever job one has...do your best at it. You can move up into management where you're now working, but start exploring for other better job opportunities elsewhere too. Good luck!
 
Originally Posted By: RamFan
Anyway, if any of you find yourselves in Palatine, IL and want to chat with a fellow BITOGer or want some maintenance done the "proper" way, stop on by!

I roam around that area when biking quite often. I'll try to stop by. Maybe I can teach you guys a thing or two about oil... just kidding!
 
Congrats! Keep working while you`re searching for another job. You`ll be much more desireable to prospective employers if you`re employed.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: RamFan
Anyway, if any of you find yourselves in Palatine, IL and want to chat with a fellow BITOGer or want some maintenance done the "proper" way, stop on by!

I roam around that area when biking quite often. I'll try to stop by. Maybe I can teach you guys a thing or two about oil... just kidding!



Yah, I can see it. Do you techs know the difference between MB 229.3 and 229.5 oil? Hint, the answer isn't .2

Kudos for keeping employed. Perhaps if you interface with the public you could get the word out...
 
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Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: RamFan
Anyway, if any of you find yourselves in Palatine, IL and want to chat with a fellow BITOGer or want some maintenance done the "proper" way, stop on by!

I roam around that area when biking quite often. I'll try to stop by. Maybe I can teach you guys a thing or two about oil... just kidding!



Yah, I can see it. Do you techs know the difference between MB 229.3 and 229.5 oil? Hint, the answer isn't .2

Kudos for keeping employed. Perhaps if you interface with the public you could get the word out...


I must say, the guys here do seem to have good intentions and genuinely want to ensure that cars are properly taken care of. There are just some things that they don't know or don't do that should be. Off of a regular oil change we only make $3, up selling is where the real profit comes and they don't over do it which is great, but, when they do it's pure marketing. I can tell they don't know the science behind it which is something I'm hoping to change. Can't come in on day one and make waves though, hopefully the swell I hope to create today will become a wave of knowledge. Just realized how optimistic that sounded...
 
Seriously, Havoline can't expect a minimum wage worker to know what all the oil specs mean. That would be unreasonable, IMO. That is why they have computers to tell them what oil should be used in what car and to minimize errors. Alas, we know that their computer recommendations aren't always spot on and they may not have oils on hand meeting every possible spec out there, so sometimes they will substitute with something they do have in stock rather than send the customer away.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Hopefully they will see the value in you and up your pay accordingly. Min wage is $10/hr here.

Chris142, actually our minimum wage is $8 hr. It will go up to $9 hr. in January 2014 and won't go up to $10 hr. until January 2016. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 hr.
 
Originally Posted By: RamFan
I decided not to get my commission with the Navy, long and tough decision to make, none-the-less it was the best move for me. So while I'm applying to police departments within the state I decided to work for Havoline Xpress Lube simply because my cousin works for them and knows the VP which means I was handed employment papers when I got off the plane from OCS. I'm not going to lie, the job sucks, $8.50 an hour with college loans and a car payment is just barely enough to get by. That isn't the bad part though, I'm the only college educated guy on staff and I'm the only one on staff that is actually knowledgeable on the oil industry. Sure, they know the marketing and try to up sell when they can, but they simply don't know the different basestocks, additives, etc.

I keep telling myself that this is just a temporary time in my life and to just breath deep when stress mounts. Try to educate when an opportunity arises and to never feel like I'm too good for the job (I don't think that and I love helping people maintain their vehicles). Anyway, if any of you find yourselves in Palatine, IL and want to chat with a fellow BITOGer or want some maintenance done the "proper" way, stop on by! Off to work I go!


1. You turned down a commission after OCS? Very happy you will not be an officer above me!

2. I've seen other junior officers who should have not accepted their commission or who should have resigned their commission.

3. How do you think prospective employers, (police departments, etc.) are going to view you after seeing you turned down a commission? If you did not want to become an officer (read that as "quit") what makes you think police departments, or anyone is going to want to employ you?

BTW, I've seen and served under some GREAT officers.

Good luck .
 
Originally Posted By: ctrcbob
Originally Posted By: RamFan
I decided not to get my commission with the Navy, long and tough decision to make, none-the-less it was the best move for me. So while I'm applying to police departments within the state I decided to work for Havoline Xpress Lube simply because my cousin works for them and knows the VP which means I was handed employment papers when I got off the plane from OCS. I'm not going to lie, the job sucks, $8.50 an hour with college loans and a car payment is just barely enough to get by. That isn't the bad part though, I'm the only college educated guy on staff and I'm the only one on staff that is actually knowledgeable on the oil industry. Sure, they know the marketing and try to up sell when they can, but they simply don't know the different basestocks, additives, etc.

I keep telling myself that this is just a temporary time in my life and to just breath deep when stress mounts. Try to educate when an opportunity arises and to never feel like I'm too good for the job (I don't think that and I love helping people maintain their vehicles). Anyway, if any of you find yourselves in Palatine, IL and want to chat with a fellow BITOGer or want some maintenance done the "proper" way, stop on by! Off to work I go!


1. You turned down a commission after OCS? Very happy you will not be an officer above me!

2. I've seen other junior officers who should have not accepted their commission or who should have resigned their commission.

3. How do you think prospective employers, (police departments, etc.) are going to view you after seeing you turned down a commission? If you did not want to become an officer (read that as "quit") what makes you think police departments, or anyone is going to want to employ you?

BTW, I've seen and served under some GREAT officers.

Good luck .


As part of our departments hiring team turning down a commission can be viewed as a strength; a real man who thinks through the immediate glory and deep into the future. This would of course be predicated upon a solid, well explaine reason for turning it down.

Good luck with the cop job....it truly is the BEST job in the world and the WORST job in the world. Depends upon the day. Someday you'll think back to this statement and it will click.
 
OP -- you say that your co-workers do know about the science behind it, and that you want to change it.you sound like a woman who wants to change/fix her man. good luck.
it's likely that they couldn't care less about the science of oil, nor will they care that you're educated. you could be seen as a know it all jerk to them.avoid taking up a cause, since this is a temporary job for you.follow your own advice, and avoid making waves.focus your energy on your future job, and don't worry about "changing" your co-workers.food for thought.good luck.
 
Sorry to say that with GOOD jobs availability at an all time low it might have not been the best decision to refuse that officer commission. It does not appear that the general jobs situation is going to improve in any meaningful way in the long term.

As for your co-workers, I wouldn't try and "educate" them too much. Like others have said at 8 bucks and change /hr they could likely care less, and nothing more than basic work should be expected of near minimum wage earners. You may also gain their contempt if you try and out do them.
 
Yeah just change the oil and let the service writer handle choosing it.

I worked at a tire store for 4 months and it was cool; very different than DIY. Left after I injured my ankle.
 
Imagine that, a Chief who immediately bashes Officers. Those JOs that shouldn't have been leaders joined for the wrong reasons. I come from a Navy family and there is no doubt about my leadership ability, I respect all men and women regardless of rank. The money, benefits, job excitement, travel, etc. Was not worth the cost of leaving family behind while I was doing a 9 month cruise. Typical sea/shore rotations seem to be a thing of the past for SWOs who want to make Admiral, there's a lot of guys at the 10 year mark who are already on ships 3 and 4. No thank you. Navy wasn't the problem, SWO was.
 
My Grandfather was Chief way back in WWI on a carrier. I'm surprised at many of the comments on this one. All I can say is it appears you stepped up and made a decision, eyes wide open, as a man. Only time will tell if you truly made the right decision, but either way you made it! My advice is do NOT look back, move forward.
 
a little bit off topic.. but my wife and I were at Wendy's. a young girl was interviewing to work there, she told the manager that she had a bachelor's degree in biology.
shocked.gif
 
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Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
a little bit off topic.. but my wife and I were at Wendy's. a young girl was interviewing to work there, she told the manager that she had a bachelor's degree in biology.
shocked.gif



What gets a lot of graduates is that they don't realize that even entry level positions in your field want experience. I made that mistake also. The key to avoiding issues is to intern while in school!!! I cannot stress that enough, entry level positions today like the degree but they love the experience. Experience doesn't even always have to be in the field you ultimately want to be in, a lot of places just want to see that you're able to have commitment and that you're able to maintain some kind of position.
 
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