Automotive service professionals help me out with career advice for my son.

robvas said:
Either deal with 2 more years of school or 40 years of not being able to find a good job.
Click to expand...


Best advice I never took was finishing my bach before starting working.

I'm now 25 working fulltime and back in school but I did a major switch and it'll prob close to 3 years before Im done with school. so 28 before i can truley start my life ehhh

Do yourself a favor and dont stop going till you have at least a bach!
 
I attended Ferris State University and received my Bachelors in Automotive and Heavy Equipment Management (AHEM) in 03'. They have a great program, I do not know the current day costs though
 
My advice would be to stay away from the automotive feild all together, BUT if he insist on staying with it, It seems to be one of those feilds that is more who you know and how much on the job experience you have then college exp. Tell him to start doing some networking and try to get his foot in the door someplace. Thats what I did and I now work as an assistant bodyshop manager at 22, when kids I went to school with and left for various schools in the auto body feild now work at olive garden and are un employed.
 
Everyone, I talked to him soem more and his plan is to do the ASM course for the associates then auto-diesel and heavy-diesel. as for experience he was thinking of doing a short military stint after this to help out (I'm thinking this is a good plan however maybe do the military 1st, then use GI bill and or night classes for the degree (at least an associates at a community college) instead of a tech degree.
What do you guys think?
 
Line Noise said:
Everyone, I talked to him soem more and his plan is to do the ASM course for the associates then auto-diesel and heavy-diesel. as for experience he was thinking of doing a short military stint after this to help out (I'm thinking this is a good plan however maybe do the military 1st, then use GI bill and or night classes for the degree (at least an associates at a community college) instead of a tech degree.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Very good idea there..

(IMHO)
 
Myself and a few buddies went to Motech when it was open. It was good training, but you walked out thinking "damn, I don't know shit". I'd go to WCC and then Ferris.
 
Join the Navy, get money for college and become a tech working on deisel engines, plenty of Frigates in the Navy that use Detroit Deisel motors to propel the ship, He would go into Navy schools and learn before he went to a ship :)
 
A degree doesnt mean shit when there isnt any work. Tell him to go into pharmaceuticals :lol:

I love mechanical shit. but have him work p/t and see if he really likes it. I started out at a Midas with little experience an no certs. Worked my way through got my certs, made assistant manager and almost went to manager before quitting for other oppurtunitys. All I can say is after 5 years working in a shop I no longer wanted to work on cars anymore. Its dirty, hard work. And you can be held responsible for the inevitable. I no longer work in the repair field and am happier then a kid in a candy shop. I strongly suggest talking him out of it, or atleast try it out before he makes it a career choice
 
I've had a few friends that have gone through the ASSET program @ HFCC. We have at least 3 techs that are currently working here from this program. All doing well.
 
Sorry pitcrew but I feel that just about any degree doesn't help much in the technician field and above tech level, you need experiance.
For example, where I work. We have 4 managers ($65-$80k a year on 40hrs). I know for a fact that 2 of them don't have ANY degree and I'm pretty sure no college at all.
Of my 18yrs of automotive experience. I would have to say that hard work, dedication and natural ability have gotten people further. Not schooling.
NOW, having said that. I think that schooling is required for MANY other fields just not automotive (except engineering and stuff).
 
Linenoise,
How old is your son?
Does he show natural ability towards mechanical things?
Was he taking apart things to see how they work? Has he taken on repair tasks bigger than his ability? ( I see that as a good thing. Shows drive and ambition.)
I feel like you have to be a certain type of person for the automotive job.
I have seen people struggle because it didn't come naturally. They just never got it and they moved on. ONE of them had an associate degree in automotive technology. When it came to real world, he wasn't sharp enough.
 
i' m not saying you need a degree to be a tech, i know alot of techs with no schooling.

but other people in this thread are making comments that an associates degree won't get you ANY jobs these days and that you need a bach. degree or you will forever be unemployed. thats what i disagree with
 
pitcrew85 said:
i' m not saying you need a degree to be a tech, i know alot of techs with no schooling.

but other people in this thread are making comments that an associates degree won't get you ANY jobs these days and that you need a bach. degree or you will forever be unemployed. thats what i disagree with
Click to expand...

Well, I kinda have to agree. That degree won't get you the job. Experience will.
 
turn around, run as fast as you can ! thats my advice. I wasnt even aware they had anything other than a certificate of completion there. dont even think about northwestern ohio... ferris state or a number of community colleges here in michigan will be better choices, but my advice is run as far from the automotive sector as possible, shit sucks right now and may only get worse.
 
braxx said:
Well, I kinda have to agree. That degree won't get you the job. Experience will.
Click to expand...


well yeah I agree with that also but my point was a few members made it sound like its a waste of money to get a 2 year degree and 4 yr is the only way to go
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top