For Those of you who are/were mechanics: What kind of job is it?
 

Yes, before you say it, I know this "should" be in open discussion, but I think some of the most knowledgable mechanics on this forum don't go there.

I'm 17, and I've become more interested in auto mechanics than any kind of work I've ever encountered. I love working on my car, and feel very fulfilled whenever I fix a problem. You could say I've become addicted to the work, and I'm seriously considering forgoing a typical 4 year university and entering this field. The problem is, I don't have any family or friends who have any experience in this (except you guys), so I know almost nothing about the details of how to do it.

Don't get me wrong, I've got the grades and SAT scores to get into most any college I would want to and doesn't cost 80k a year to attend. The thing is, I'm not really interested in that lifestyle (that being aimlessly taking courses with no real goal in mind while building up huge debt and killing brain cells), and I'm very interested in automotive work.

I'm looking for some honest, no BS assessments of what the profession is like, where/how/what school(s) to get certified at (I'd like to go the highest level I could achieve, I've always been pretty mechanically inclined), and what to expect as far as employment opportunities.

I know this is a lot to ask, but I don't really have anyone else to ask and you'd be affording me help on a much larger scale than fixing my cooling system :D . By the way, have a great 4th of July.

I know a few mechanics; and by the time they hit mid to late 40's they all seem to wish they went to school and got better paying jobs. Sure they enjoy their jobs but the money isn't that great. Also they seem to complain about their body's being shot.

Why not get a job working on cars and go to school at the same time?

A few of my friends have sudjested that since I enjoy working on boats and cars I go into that field. But I don't want to spend the rest of my life fixing other peoples stuff.

I loved auto mechanics since I was in high school and spent quite a bit of hobbyist time tinkering until I was in my mid/late twenties. At that time I became a co-owner in a start-up European auto repair biz. It only took 2.5 years to completely suck the fun and intrigue out of what used to be a passion. It was almost another decade before I picked up that passion again. I also used to be passionate about fishing, but a six year career in commercial fishing completely wiped that out too.

Think long and hard about turning a hobby into a full-time profession, and be aware that an education prepares you for a wider variety of career paths, no doubt about it. Go for the education, while you can.

YMMV

I'm going to college (2nd year in the fall) for a Major in either Information Systems (IT admin guy) or possibly a DNR (Department of Natural Resources) type person.....both fields I know I would enjoy. I love working on my car, but I don't think I'd have fun if I had to do it all the time and for other people. I just intend to be one of the above mentioned type people, but with the knowhow to fix my cars myself :D

Also, if you choose the right college and find the right assistance you can get by with little to no debt at all.....so far I have actually profited by being in school.....and this year now that I have transfered to a local/larger 4 year school I will owe less than 2k out of the entire cost of tuition, which I can pay for with the jobs I do......works out very nice. And being able to fix my car myself also saves a lot! :D

Southern CT State U costs me just less then $5k a year. You don't need to go to a $30k a year school to get a good education.

OH GOSH, where to start ? First, the answers already posted are right on the money... read them over and over again...

People neglect their cars... never wash the engine, then bring it to you to work on and want it fast..

They bring you cars which they don't own an owners or shop manual for...and of a make like Honda which does not share its TSB's with independant shops.. and want you to fix it.

If you have not been to a Factory School.... and anyone else in the shop has... you will be assigned all the mind numbing dirtiest jobs...

more later.....

A mechanical engineering degree could open a lot of doors for you and fulfill your passion for wrenching.

Unfortunately, in today’s world you often need a college degree to get in the door of a lot of jobs. Even where there is no correlation between the field of study and the actual work.

A degree would allow you to keep your options open. You could still go into wrenching.

The Navy can also be a option for you with your grades and scores. They could pick up your schooling. A friend went to nuclear propulsion school, had engineering school paid for and was given the rank of E-6 (which is damn good) for pay purposes while in school. He was commissioned at graduation and had his choice of going sub or to the surface fleet.

Best of luck.

Is a factory school a brand-specific technical program? How do you get in? Do you have to have prior experience or what? It's for getting a job at a dealership or brand-specific shop, right?

They bumped him straight to E-6 after boot camp?!! Did he take ROTC to get commissioned or did the Navy elect to do this? That's interesting, I'd never heard of anything like that before. I didn't realize they took your experience/grades/scores into account in deciding your pay grade.

Go see your local Military representative... BUT DON'T SIGN ANYTHING... LOL
Don't even give them your name... there was a report lately of the types of info they are saving about young men....

Recruiting people are famous for lying to people about what programs they will be attending... and I speak from experience on that one...
Get everything in writing...

The Navy would sure beat the Army... always better food and living conditions..

"took your experience/grades/scores into account in deciding your pay grade."

They don't.. if you qualify for a school everyone in there ( unless you have been and have a higher rank already ) will be getting the same pay... except married people will be getting more than you will .... no ' equal pay for equal work' there.... as if dating does not cost money...

The nuke program is different from just about everything else. He didn't even attend boot camp. But he was in the ROTC program and as part of his contract was made an E-6.

Blew me away. As a college graduate enlisted man in the army infantry I got E-4 and I knew guys who were in 15 + years and who were an E-6. Hell, this was in the eighties, but I knew a guy who was a Vietnam vet who retired at 20 years an E-6.

I did the tuition repayment plan. Uncle Sam paid off 1/3 of my student loans for evey year I was in. But that is not the reason I went in. I did it for the adventure and travel. I am greatful now that I did not have to fight in a war.

Leathermang is on the money. Research, research, research. Then, get everything in writing! In a contract!

I knew an Army recruiter who was buddies with a Navy recruiter and one of the funniest quotes he got from his Navy pal was "....the closest that kid is going to get to electronics is putting batteries in flashlights."

I still laugh when I think about that one.

So, if you are interested in the military, do your home work.

You're writing style; as shown in your initial post on this thread, shows that it would be a mistake for you to forego college.

Being an automotive technician is admirable work, but your options are greater with the degree.

I've done manual labor, technical work, and professional activity. I've shined shoes, done construction work and been an asst. professor in the UC system. TRUST me on this one!! Get the degree(s). It's not that it means that you are in a "higher" echelon (it doesn't). What it is; is another tool for YOU to use in life, however YOU want.

It's much more difficult to go back to school, than to go back to automotive technology.

Sounds like I'll be the most positive person on this topic even though I haven't worked as a mechanic for 20 years. :D

Like everything else, how much you enjoy the job has a lot to do with where you work. I have worked at good places and bad. I have a friend who works at the local Mercedes dealership and he loves it.

The worst place to work is a place whose niche is discount repairs. The best would be a high end dealership or a company that needs to keep a fleet of trucks running. Both of those typically spend whatever is needed to get the job done rather than always trying to save a buck.

Up here in Canada there are lots of mechanics making $60K plus.

Having a valid mechanics license also opens the doors to other things. I opened a parts rebuilding company that I ran for 15 years and now I work in the alternate energy field. I couldn't have done either without my license.

Give it a try. The worst that can happen is that you'll spend a few years collecting a set of tools that will be the envy of all your friends and gaining enough knowledge that you can save $50,000 in vehicle expenses over the rest of your life.