First off I just want to say that I know this question in completely subjective, therefore some people would find working with autos great and some would find it terrible, I 'am simply looking for a bit of advice.
Everyone keeps saying to me ‘go with what you know’ and what I know is IT and cars. I have been taking IT networking courses at Mohawk in Hamilton but I just don’t think it’s for me. So that leaves me with cars, I know I would do better with cars because I have a passion for cars, and I am only capable of doing well with something if I 'am passionate about it. I just don’t know anything about the automotive industry and I keep hearing negative things from friends that are working in the field, one is a Canadian tire tech and one does customer service for BMW. Each friend seems to feel that working with cars sucks and to keep my future directed somewhere else. However I wouldn’t want to do what they are doing, I would want to do paint and body with my ultimate goal of restoring classic exotics.
Basically what I am wondering is, if I am good at what I do, I mean if I really become great a shaping and sculpting car bodies and paint will the money and job security follow?
Can go both ways. Some days I love going to work and wrenching on cool cars while learning more about how they work… others I hate going to work because I know I’m going to be stuck changing some stupid part under warranty that won’t get paid for. Working for 4 hours and only getting paid for 2 of them is stressful in that kind of situation, and can really start to chew away at your passion for cars.
I can also say there is way less motivation to work on your own car after an 8 hour day of wrenching.
It all depends on the person. I love it, and I hate it.
I can say I’d rather be doing something else but the grass is always greener
hey dude stick whit what ur doing right now, ive been in the automotive trade for 4 yrs, 3rd apprentice, every year its just a down hill trend, im at nissan for 3 years , it aint what u think, unless ur a gtr tech u aint working on it, all day ur working on altimas, maxima, pathfinder, good damm murano (piece of wood)
the money is shit as an apprentice, unless u get ur licence u aint making no kind of money, even license guys on flat rate aint making there hours,
i aint trying to lead u the wrong way, just giving u an real idea of whats going on,
i luv what i do, i still like working on cars, but i just wish the money would come back to the trade,
i know lots of guys will disagree with me but just remember u aint in my shoes, this is a realality check on the automotive trade
its just my 2 cents
if you’re awesome and hustle you’ll do fine no matter what field you’re in. If you’re just like everyone else you’ll be just as miserable as everyone else.
send me your resume if you want are looking for work in the hamilton area. I may be able to help on the IT side and on the auto body side of things…
some days are good some are bad. winter time sucks cuz everything is wet and cold. like ka24power said you have no motivation to work on your own car after an 8 hr day. i find cars more of a hobbie then a career. thinking i might just stick with it till im licensed then go off and start an electrition apprenticeship
You’re in a pretty good program and I encourage you to stick with it especially if you’re gfited and motivated to learn. Every work-semester our company takes in co-ops from Mohawk and Sheridan in yours and the telecom programs.
Within 5 years you can be in the 100k salaray field(with benefits) and can have a job offer before you graduate. Unless you become the shop owner you’re just another employee with little control on your growth, exposure and income.
I love cars and working on them. So much so I buy one every year to work on during the winter and sell it off in summer. Having this job though allows me to do that.
The IT thing might not be your passion but it can pay for it. It’s a means to an end.
The entire Automotive industry is cut-throat. If your not one of the best, honest or licensed. Your nothing PERIOD.
Turning wrenches at a dealer ship vs private shop is completely different.
I know for a fact getting into this trade (more so being hired as an apprentice) is a huge PITA. Once your licensed it is a little easier.
The expectations for tech’s, service managers and body men/women are insane now a days. With pay being quite shitty for a long while.
Essentially it’s the same as any other trade. You have to work extremely hard to get where you wanna be. And trust, it’s not easy.
My advice, honestly. If you enjoy turning wrenches or painting cars. Try and do it as a full time hobby or part time job. One thing I dislike about being a tech is that some days I love my job and cant wait for more. Others, I want nothing to do with it what so ever. Sure that’s normal I guess. Yet, if you can have a job you enjoy 100% every day all day. Stick with that.
^ So true. I’m in the Auto Marketing program at Georgian. When I tell people what I take in school, they go " Oh so your going to be a mechanic" or " Your going to sell cars"? People are so close minded when it comes to the automobile industry.
ill offer my 2 cents, but again its all pretty subjective
when i worked at pfaff tuning/autoworks i had the time of my life. working on really high end cars is a dream because for the most part they are all coming in for fairly straight forward shit. theres very little trouble shooting of retarded little problems.
plus the guys i worked with here the best. every day i would wake up and happily go to work, even though i was making mediocre money.
when i worked at a hyundai dealership though, it fucking sucked. pay is shit, customers are cheap morons who want everything for free, company ended up fucking me over huge because everything was about bottom line.
stick with IT, unless you find an amazing job youll be miserable 90% of the time
I’m back to get my degree now, whats your sched like? Need any books? Spd-Dmn is around, we should grab some beers.
P.S Bing is right on - Auto industry has a job everywhere. I’m in it because I love cars and have done lot jockey, marketing, event planning, and sales to date.
^ I’m only there Thursday afternoons and Fridays, 3 online classes. I’ll let you know if I need any books. Right now I just need the custom Management book for principle of management, but I think its new this year… You’ll probably see my vert in the parking lot if you’re around those days. I saw a dark colored metallic s13 as I was leaving today (body kit, turbo’d, chrome wheels, aftermarket seats). We shouted a few words across the road. Do you know who that is? Anyone on here? A trip to the TLC sounds good with me.
if you wnat my advice guys, do not think of your post-secondary eduaction as a 2 or 3 year term in college. Post-Secondary education is a 10+ year thing with gaps in between and working all the while… I’ve spent 7+ years in university + 2 professional designations and i can’t stop yet if i want to get where i want to go.
also, i’m not doing anything close what what i went to school for either adn that’s thanks in part to an education that qualifies me for a broad scope of opportunity.
You should be looking at what university fast track programs you can take after that college program and then doing them on-line or part time while working to get a degree… then look at other programs you can do after that like an MBA or marketing certificate programs etc. etc. and keep doing.
there are tons of fags out there with university degrees and more… don’t let them look better on paper than you do.
Personal preference. Everyone will knock this and knock that. At the same time praise this and praise that.
Your telling everyone to stay in school and spend huge amounts of money? Not everyone is like you. Not everyone has money. Not everyone wants to do it.
I know money is hardly an excuse now a days in reality. Yet, some people. Well you know.
I love working with my hands, getting dirty. Every job has it’s ups and downs. I don’t care who you are or what you do…you’ll have a bad day where you consider other professions.
Being a licensed tech is meh. It’s just a piece of paper. Yet that piece of papers sets me apart from all the “grease monkeys” and backyard wrenchers.
Money is great…money is very important (duh) Yet…I’d much rather be happy with my job 80% of the time and make 60% of what someone makes at a job they don’t really enjoy. That’s me.
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Pretty useless comment. Also arrogant.
The automotive trade is probably one of the biggest globally. Tons of opportunities. All depends on you, and your attitude. Which sucks.
chris i was on max OSAP all through school working 2 jobs and hustling parts + summer school etc. etc. i had no money and whether you want to ‘do it’ it irrelevant. If you do average things you will get average results no matter what industry you’re in.
another tip i have for guys, especially those whose families have no money (like mine). Apply for every needs-based scholarship and bursary that you can.
I must have got $10k over 3 years in cash and OSAP forgiveness… millenium bursaries, ‘access’ scholarships (a nice way of saying scholarships based on how poor you are) etc. etc. No one ever applies for these things so you’d be surprised.
I saw you today, parked right across from you in my dealer plated Toyota Matrix. sideways240 I think goes to this school as well but have no idea if thats his car or not. Ya I had another book for principles of managerment, but I have plenty more so give me a shout when you get your book list.
TLC is a must and I have class Thursday and Friday so either one should work.
