ChaosStarter
New member
(This'll be a long read, so if you get bored quick, might as well move along)
So working on cars has pretty much been my whole life. Been doing it since I was 14 and being paid to work on them since I was 16. Every job that I've taken, I've gone up in pay. I've worked hard and busted my ass for years. I'm ASE Master certified and Toyota Expert certified (I should be Toyota Master but my service manager never sends anyone to school which directly affects myself and the other techs).
Started out with the basics as an Install tech at Best Buy doing radios, amps, speakers/subs, alarms and video systems. Did that for about 4-5 years but it got boring. I always liked working on cars but I wanted to get into the mechanical side of things, and less on the A/V mod stuff.
Decided to go to Lincoln Tech as a way to get into a high end dealership. Graduated in the top 3 in my class. Got into a Lexus dealer out of school and was there for about 1.5 years. I was still an apprentice at the time and when the industry started taking a shit, they cut their non-union techs. Unfortunately, that was myself and 2 other guys. This has been the only time I've ever been 'fired' from a job in my life. I genuinely liked working there. I liked the other techs and even though you had to be careful with the cars (rich people inspect everything), I really enjoyed the place.
Went to an Audi dealer for about 8 months because I had a 'in' there. That was a mistake. The cars are nice to drive, but shit to work on. They're built like they're never meant to be taken apart. They had so many ghost issues, it was unbelievable. It didn't help that management was incompetent and couldn't keep customers coming in the door with their awful CSI scores.
Left to go to a Ford dealer because again, I had 2 other friends there. This wasn't so bad. The problem is the place was dead. Really liked the guys there. I didn't care for the cars, but at least they weren't Audi's. I only stayed there about a year because of the lack of work. Towards the end, because I was the new guy (even though I was a better worker and smarter than others) I got the least amount of work. As a tech, you can't survive on 20 hours a week. Ford was really cracking down on warranty work, so you couldn't even work the system that well there. The good thing was that I became closer with the guy who helped me get in, and when he left Ford, he really helped to get me into my newest job (later in the story).
After Ford, I went to an independent shop close to home. I was there for about 2 years and probably learned more there than any other time in my life because you literally worked on everything. Domestics, Asians, and Euro cars with trucks of decent size thrown in. The problem with them was my manager was the biggest scumbag I've ever met (and he wasn't even the owner). I've never wanted to punch someone every single day in my life except for when I worked there. He was the owner's puppet. He knew how to cup the balls and he did it well. You could never ask him a single question without getting some stupid, sarcastic remark.
Luckily, a guy that I'm now best friends with and he's also my fishing buddy put in a word for me at a Toyota dealership. I had experience with Lexus, so I wasn't concerned at all. It started out great and I Was making really good money. I kicked butt and over the next 6 years, made my way up the ladder. I was one of the few guys (out of 25) who was getting raises every year. I loved the guys I worked with, even when the management changed. They started cutting times and we really started struggling to even make 40 hours a week at times. Luckily, my hourly pay made up for slower weeks.
The main problem with this industry is that the money can be tough to come by sometimes, and unless you start a 401k, you'll never have any kind of retirement or pension plan. Because of that, 2 years ago, I started applying to various local railroads and power companies. My buddy left Ford a few years ago and joined up with the railroad.
Amtrak never had any openings and have been on a local hiring freeze for a while. Never heard a thing from CSX. Finally heard from NJT.
Took a test for Bus mechanic 2 years ago - Passed. Never heard a thing.
Took a test for Electrician 1 year ago - Somehow passed even though I don't have any commercial or industrial electrical experience (FYI, I never applied for electrician but was invited for the test). It was not an easy test either. I only have 12v AC/DC and Hybrid high-voltage experience. For the position though, they brought in 1 or 2 guys who had more experience (which made sense) than I did. They'd keep me in mind however.
Finally, after myself and my buddy bugging the recruiters, they got me on the list for Machinist. I passed (making me 3 for 3 on tests). Got a fast interview (the only fast thing NJT has done) and proved myself. 2 weeks later, I passed my medical screening and got my start date.
Now, I'm working on giant locomotives which is just super surreal. 16cyl, twin-turbo diesels that are bigger than my 4Runner and can generate around 3000hp. Some locomotives have 2 engines. Some just one. Others are a hybrid electric/diesel (can operate in either mode). Brake rotors the size of my rims and tires. Big Timken bearings and oversized Sachs shock absorbers.
It's weird not working on cars anymore. Not having my toolbox or having the guys around me that I've been around for the last 6 years. But with my backround, I don't think I'll have any issues in this industry and looking forward to learning as much as I can. Looking forward to a pension in a few decades. Maybe one day, I'll get to drive them too.
ray:
Thanks for reading. :thumb:
P.S. [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] - looks like another bit the dust!
So working on cars has pretty much been my whole life. Been doing it since I was 14 and being paid to work on them since I was 16. Every job that I've taken, I've gone up in pay. I've worked hard and busted my ass for years. I'm ASE Master certified and Toyota Expert certified (I should be Toyota Master but my service manager never sends anyone to school which directly affects myself and the other techs).
Started out with the basics as an Install tech at Best Buy doing radios, amps, speakers/subs, alarms and video systems. Did that for about 4-5 years but it got boring. I always liked working on cars but I wanted to get into the mechanical side of things, and less on the A/V mod stuff.
Decided to go to Lincoln Tech as a way to get into a high end dealership. Graduated in the top 3 in my class. Got into a Lexus dealer out of school and was there for about 1.5 years. I was still an apprentice at the time and when the industry started taking a shit, they cut their non-union techs. Unfortunately, that was myself and 2 other guys. This has been the only time I've ever been 'fired' from a job in my life. I genuinely liked working there. I liked the other techs and even though you had to be careful with the cars (rich people inspect everything), I really enjoyed the place.
Went to an Audi dealer for about 8 months because I had a 'in' there. That was a mistake. The cars are nice to drive, but shit to work on. They're built like they're never meant to be taken apart. They had so many ghost issues, it was unbelievable. It didn't help that management was incompetent and couldn't keep customers coming in the door with their awful CSI scores.
Left to go to a Ford dealer because again, I had 2 other friends there. This wasn't so bad. The problem is the place was dead. Really liked the guys there. I didn't care for the cars, but at least they weren't Audi's. I only stayed there about a year because of the lack of work. Towards the end, because I was the new guy (even though I was a better worker and smarter than others) I got the least amount of work. As a tech, you can't survive on 20 hours a week. Ford was really cracking down on warranty work, so you couldn't even work the system that well there. The good thing was that I became closer with the guy who helped me get in, and when he left Ford, he really helped to get me into my newest job (later in the story).
After Ford, I went to an independent shop close to home. I was there for about 2 years and probably learned more there than any other time in my life because you literally worked on everything. Domestics, Asians, and Euro cars with trucks of decent size thrown in. The problem with them was my manager was the biggest scumbag I've ever met (and he wasn't even the owner). I've never wanted to punch someone every single day in my life except for when I worked there. He was the owner's puppet. He knew how to cup the balls and he did it well. You could never ask him a single question without getting some stupid, sarcastic remark.
Luckily, a guy that I'm now best friends with and he's also my fishing buddy put in a word for me at a Toyota dealership. I had experience with Lexus, so I wasn't concerned at all. It started out great and I Was making really good money. I kicked butt and over the next 6 years, made my way up the ladder. I was one of the few guys (out of 25) who was getting raises every year. I loved the guys I worked with, even when the management changed. They started cutting times and we really started struggling to even make 40 hours a week at times. Luckily, my hourly pay made up for slower weeks.
The main problem with this industry is that the money can be tough to come by sometimes, and unless you start a 401k, you'll never have any kind of retirement or pension plan. Because of that, 2 years ago, I started applying to various local railroads and power companies. My buddy left Ford a few years ago and joined up with the railroad.
Amtrak never had any openings and have been on a local hiring freeze for a while. Never heard a thing from CSX. Finally heard from NJT.
Took a test for Bus mechanic 2 years ago - Passed. Never heard a thing.
Took a test for Electrician 1 year ago - Somehow passed even though I don't have any commercial or industrial electrical experience (FYI, I never applied for electrician but was invited for the test). It was not an easy test either. I only have 12v AC/DC and Hybrid high-voltage experience. For the position though, they brought in 1 or 2 guys who had more experience (which made sense) than I did. They'd keep me in mind however.
Finally, after myself and my buddy bugging the recruiters, they got me on the list for Machinist. I passed (making me 3 for 3 on tests). Got a fast interview (the only fast thing NJT has done) and proved myself. 2 weeks later, I passed my medical screening and got my start date.
Now, I'm working on giant locomotives which is just super surreal. 16cyl, twin-turbo diesels that are bigger than my 4Runner and can generate around 3000hp. Some locomotives have 2 engines. Some just one. Others are a hybrid electric/diesel (can operate in either mode). Brake rotors the size of my rims and tires. Big Timken bearings and oversized Sachs shock absorbers.
It's weird not working on cars anymore. Not having my toolbox or having the guys around me that I've been around for the last 6 years. But with my backround, I don't think I'll have any issues in this industry and looking forward to learning as much as I can. Looking forward to a pension in a few decades. Maybe one day, I'll get to drive them too.
ray: Thanks for reading. :thumb:
P.S. [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] - looks like another bit the dust!
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