AutoJunkie
Forum Member
Lol I figured that. My mom still is still paying her $6K loan off from Community college from 14 years ago. What scares me that is I'm going to have a 40-60K loan...*Runs*
Career options....comments/suggestions appreciated
- Thread starter AutoJunkie
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LTLHOMER
Club Sponsor
Planning for the future is never a bad idea.
Your dad is giving good advice but maybe leaving out some other options as well. It is true that your chances of doing very well go up when you get a 4-year degree, but that doesn't mean that you can't do just as well or better if you don't. The chances just go down.
Look at the classes that you really liked or really excelled in during high school and see how that matches up to a 4-year or other type degree.
Engineering degrees are probably the toughest 4-year degree but they are also the highest paid straight out of school. I turned down an offer from Cummings that was in the 60's with up to 15% bonuses right out of school. I ended up going over to GM and I start my master's this fall and then I will do an MBA. Having degrees from good schools is a great way to know that you will always have a lot of offers and that's a good thing in the sometimes crazy auto industry.
Good luck on whatever path you choose.
AutoJunkie
Forum Member
I'm going to end up getting into the computer field. Is there anything I can do to prepare? Books,Online....etc. I work at a dead end job. Mountain Mikes so the pay and hours are ass, so money is like ancient around here. 
I do visit some tech sites on a daily basis; AnAndTech,PC World,Guru 3D,HardOCP. I also enjoy building computers. I built mine (2) and I also my moms and little brothers PC.
I do visit some tech sites on a daily basis; AnAndTech,PC World,Guru 3D,HardOCP. I also enjoy building computers. I built mine (2) and I also my moms and little brothers PC.
1BadLSC
New member
what gives you the "one up" on a guy is thinking about things differently and getting them done faster and easier. They show you how to do stuff the "right" way or how how it was originally done. Nobody shows you how to shove shit outta the way and pull a heater core out and replace it in 1.5 hours and get paid 8. That comes from doing it and finding shortcuts. And getting a a race team or being some big shooter at the Big 3 is like the top 1% of the auto industry, don't go to UTI and expect to go there, that commercial is BS. BTW where do you work?
97blksvt
Forum Member
I didnt go to a auto school, and work at a dealer. My advice keep the 20k in your pocket get into a shop as a light duty tech. Get some certs to do more stuff and more up. Let me tell you its sucks iam glad I found out at 21, the pay sucks shit I think I could go on for over 1hr.
AutoJunkie
Forum Member
Okay, I'm back at it again. I just moved and I'm not getting any younger. I have alot of knowledge of where I can be with the computer industry with 3 pages of posts about computers. I would like to know more about where an auto school can take me. I been strict about working out and as of lately there is no pain in my arm and it is recoverying well. I talked to someone I've known for about 11 years now the other day. We had a wonderful chat about my options. He had also gone to UTI XX years ago and sure it is a different market now, but some of the things he did were shocking. He managed multiple shops, actually owned his own shop a few years back.
Talking with him I got a lot out of it. He said do what you love or your passionate about. He said go to a school like Wyotech or UTI and learn what you can. If you like it, stay, if it doesn't turn out what you thought it would be....he said at least you tried it and I will come out with knowledge of cars that will come in handy with your own car. He also mentioned that you can go through this school and as you work you can think about what you want to do. Go get your General AA or a BA in business or something like that. I like computers and all, but I don't think I would have the love or drive to push as hard as I would in the automotive industry. I don't really want to be a grease monkey spinning wrenches at a dealer for the next 30 years. He mentioned all the NHRA,SCCA,Pit Crews,Specialty Shops,Diesel.
I don't know I'm still kind of in the lost and dumb stage as you guys can clearly see. Is there anyone here in the auto industry care to give my advice or pointers?....again. lol
Talking with him I got a lot out of it. He said do what you love or your passionate about. He said go to a school like Wyotech or UTI and learn what you can. If you like it, stay, if it doesn't turn out what you thought it would be....he said at least you tried it and I will come out with knowledge of cars that will come in handy with your own car. He also mentioned that you can go through this school and as you work you can think about what you want to do. Go get your General AA or a BA in business or something like that. I like computers and all, but I don't think I would have the love or drive to push as hard as I would in the automotive industry. I don't really want to be a grease monkey spinning wrenches at a dealer for the next 30 years. He mentioned all the NHRA,SCCA,Pit Crews,Specialty Shops,Diesel.
I don't know I'm still kind of in the lost and dumb stage as you guys can clearly see. Is there anyone here in the auto industry care to give my advice or pointers?....again. lol
Computer guy here, and while I like cars I'm making waaaay too much money to jump into automotive work.
Building computers is sort of impractical when you can run into compatibility issues, OS problems, and just shitty hardware. People spend months looking at the best deal for a computer, yet they still end up buying crap because it was a good deal. You could work at a Best Buy or Circuit City making $12-14 an hour while you try to find something better.
And forget about programming or anything like it. Since there is little or no physical presence required, they farm it out to the eastern hemisphere.
There is nothing wrong with spinning wrenches. Guys have made a killing doing it. Just not at a dealership. There aren't enough qualified, competent mechanics in the world. Just a thought.
Building computers is sort of impractical when you can run into compatibility issues, OS problems, and just shitty hardware. People spend months looking at the best deal for a computer, yet they still end up buying crap because it was a good deal. You could work at a Best Buy or Circuit City making $12-14 an hour while you try to find something better.
And forget about programming or anything like it. Since there is little or no physical presence required, they farm it out to the eastern hemisphere.
There is nothing wrong with spinning wrenches. Guys have made a killing doing it. Just not at a dealership. There aren't enough qualified, competent mechanics in the world. Just a thought.
AutoJunkie
Forum Member
Out here you have to 18 and a half to work at a best boy or circuit city....:icon_frow I'm working at my aunts bar right now. They are overstaffed so I'm only getting about 20 hours at $7.75/hour. This is just temp. until I can find something else. I'm looking to get a 50+ Hour a week job and save a lot of my money for college. Security Deposits, Shop Fee, Meter, and some fall back money in-case I don't get a job right away.
AutoJunkie
Forum Member
Hey guys long time no see, hehe. I'm just bumping this thread one more time for me. I know there were a lot of responses to this thread and I do appreciate it. I've been quite busy actually. From my moms house I moved in with my aunt in brentwood stayed there for 6 months. Devry sold me and I went there for 2 months (that was a joke) and now I'm here in Arnold living with my grandpa and grandpa. I'm currently working at a grocery store paying off my bills I have with the school which will be in about 4 months.
After tossing around a few ideas I would like to get into computers. Since quite a few people seem to know what they're talking about here I figured I would give it a shot. After going through hell and back at Devry I want to get into a 4 year University and get a BS in computer science or something along those lines. I will start off by saying that my math skills are mediocre at best so I don't expect to get get into Yale or Harvard, but I don't want to attend another school such as Devry. There are so many schools out there and I am so gullible that you can pretty much sell me on anything. I hear San Jose State had a wonderful computer program. I'm just not sure though.
After tossing around a few ideas I would like to get into computers. Since quite a few people seem to know what they're talking about here I figured I would give it a shot. After going through hell and back at Devry I want to get into a 4 year University and get a BS in computer science or something along those lines. I will start off by saying that my math skills are mediocre at best so I don't expect to get get into Yale or Harvard, but I don't want to attend another school such as Devry. There are so many schools out there and I am so gullible that you can pretty much sell me on anything. I hear San Jose State had a wonderful computer program. I'm just not sure though.
The Big Cheese
Club Member
Todays world you must be marketable..period!
No such thing as job security anymore...
If you dont have the grade to get in a 4yr school start at a community college and work up.
If you dont know what you like to major in..Take all your liberial arts, math and sciences for a 4 yr degree to get them out of the way.
Best advice I can give...
I wish you..Good Luck on your venture!
To Everyone on here..This is a very good read!!
No such thing as job security anymore...
If you dont have the grade to get in a 4yr school start at a community college and work up.
If you dont know what you like to major in..Take all your liberial arts, math and sciences for a 4 yr degree to get them out of the way.
Best advice I can give...
I wish you..Good Luck on your venture!
To Everyone on here..This is a very good read!!
black_bullit
Club Member
There is a back lash on offshoring programming. It's not huge but it has begun.
Many US software companies are starting to keep all development state side due to many factors, the least of which is trade secret theft.
If you really want to make major coin learn SAP development.
97blksvt
Forum Member
We tell our service advisors to fuck off and the service manager at work the same when he suggested things. Alls I know is we have good techs that didnt pay 30k to go to school instead they bought tools, started in easy stuff like suspension and worked up to whatever they wanted.
Also Iam glad I didnt spend 30k to go to school because I found out I dont wanna do this stupid shit anymore in under 6 months. My buddy spent like 27k going somwere or I should say his parents lets say he makes, less then me and I dont make much at all.
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black_bullit
Club Member
This is my JMHO but you either have the "wrench hand" or you don't. I tried wrenching for $$$ and found out quick that I was in the second catergory.
mdhmi
Club Member
Definitely computers. I know several companies that are having a difficult time (including my own) finding good IT people. Maybe if our schools spent more time teaching people real computer skills instead of how to get in touch with their feelings we wouldn't need to go to third world countries to find qualified computer people.
Forget those stupid "certification" type schools. Either get your foot in the door somewhere doing PC support or helpdesk or basic networking or get some sort of internship at your school.
You can make big money in IT with or without a degree. Given your age I would highly recommend getting one. The next four years of your life are going to fly by whether you get a degree or not. Just hunker down and get it done with.
Good luck
Forget those stupid "certification" type schools. Either get your foot in the door somewhere doing PC support or helpdesk or basic networking or get some sort of internship at your school.
You can make big money in IT with or without a degree. Given your age I would highly recommend getting one. The next four years of your life are going to fly by whether you get a degree or not. Just hunker down and get it done with.
Good luck
97blksvt
Forum Member
Its sucks there is not really enough money to be made doing it unless A you get a cake job, B get into one of the few places that pay good.
SSunset
Club Member
black_bullit
Club Member
Malpractice is a bitch if you go for the golden ring (doctor).
