Passed my Automotive service technoligy course!!! Now what?

[Southern3.0]

Well after getting kicked out/ droping out of my Sophomore year of high school 2 years ago, Ive got my GED last year, and as of today I passed my Automotive Service Tech course at the local tech school! Feels good too, and its nice seeing my GED and Auto Tech certificate next to each other.

But now what? Idk what to do. I'd love to get into to a Ford dealership even just starting out doing oil changes and grunt work, or in a Ford performance shop and seeing how theres well over a dozen of them in the Tampa area theres some choices there. I know my Marchman Certificate isn't gonna get me very far but its a start. I plan on taking the ASE's this fall and I'd like to get out of delivering pizza and into the Automotive field before then. and even if I do pass my ASE's what do I do?

Anyone have any advice?

 

[Carlos Murphy]

Career

Grunt work, lube man isn't much of a career starter, you'll need to start off as an apprentice mechanic and attend factory schools for FORD for instants.
If the dealer you choose dose not send you to school regularly you won't be of much value to them and no chance for advancement like team leader or shop foreman.
I worked for BMW for 33 years, the last dealership for 20 years, went to school twice a year until the last 5 because they knew I was retiring in 5. Most of the BMW schools were a full work week, dealer paid all expenses (from S.F. Bay area to L.A. and back) plus loss of my productivity for that week so they hated to send anyone to school but it was a factory requirement.
When the dispatcher assigns you to a repair order, the computer tells dispatch if you are qualified to do the repair according to the schooling you've had.
If I could do it all over again "today" I would be looking into working for a company that builds alternatively fueled vehicles or something along those lines.
Good luck.

 

[human5]

Try getting in a dealer like Carlos Murphy said. But also try to get into a little shop like Goodyear or something. It won't be that great but it's a start and what matters is experiance. Congrats thought man, I got another few years left of school cause I changed from a Cirtifitcate of Completion to an Associates Degree.

 

[Shoeboy]

Don't go for a dealer, get in with a small shop, you will gain experience, and move up faster. Not to mention the fact that you will get to work on many makes and models, so you won't put yourself into a corner by only knowing one make. Try to get a job at a small shop (5 technicians or less, and in a neighborhood without many other garages is best), Even if you are just sweeping the floor and taking out garbage, eventually someone is going to need a hand with something, and they'll have to change tires or oil changes, and then up from there. I started with oil changes, and now I'm a second year apprentice, and I do the work many 4th years do. I have also been getting a good knowledge of common problems with many makes and models. Like GM and intake manifolds on the 3L series as a big one, Or the GM trucks and fuel pumps, or the "Wacky gauge and electrical problems" in the Caravans caused by a low or bad battery, but it will lead you to believe its the BCM. You will come out of a small shop with a lot more experience in the industry, then if you work in a Dealer. You may not learn everything about one make or model, but you will learn the big things from everyone, and by then you will probably have heard of many stories about the little things. From what I've understood from people, there is no advantage over a dealership over a private garage, and a lot of people I've talked to have said private garages will do you better in the long run.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

Don't go for a dealer, get in with a small shop, you will gain experience, and move up faster. Not to mention the fact that you will get to work on many makes and models, so you won't put yourself into a corner by only knowing one make. Try to get a job at a small shop (5 technicians or less, and in a neighborhood without many other garages is best), Even if you are just sweeping the floor and taking out garbage, eventually someone is going to need a hand with something, and they'll have to change tires or oil changes, and then up from there. I started with oil changes, and now I'm a second year apprentice, and I do the work many 4th years do. I have also been getting a good knowledge of common problems with many makes and models. Like GM and intake manifolds on the 3L series as a big one, Or the GM trucks and fuel pumps, or the "Wacky gauge and electrical problems" in the Caravans caused by a low or bad battery, but it will lead you to believe its the BCM. You will come out of a small shop with a lot more experience in the industry, then if you work in a Dealer. You may not learn everything about one make or model, but you will learn the big things from everyone, and by then you will probably have heard of many stories about the little things. From what I've understood from people, there is no advantage over a dealership over a private garage, and a lot of people I've talked to have said private garages will do you better in the long run.

+1

Start off in a small shop. You'll get much more experience and learn more about everything. I'm working at a Lexus dealership at the moment and they assign repair orders by the amount of schooling you have. I have little to none, so I get a lot of basic work that isn't challenging. When I worked at my small shop, I learned so much more and had a much better time.

 

[fordwheelinman]

Working at a small dealership can be a good way to learn also. Youll have the oppurtunity for factory training, its a good place to get experience, make a name for yourself, and show people what you can do. Ive been working at a small Ford AND Chrysler dealer for the past year and seven months, at times its a pain, but more so from who i work with. I havent been sent out to school, but have been doing online training. We really only have three techs (including myself) who are worth a damn, an oil change guy (who also does tires and brakes) and one moron who couldnt find his way out of his own @$$hole. Ive learned a lot since ive been there. It may be mostly on Ford and Chrysler, but basically, cars are cars, each with their own perks and specials. Go for whats available, and what you really want to do. I'll be honest, im not looking to be a 30 year ford tech, but this is a stepping stone to where i want to be.

 

[Mutant Pony]

I did almost exactly the same thing as you. I quit school at the beginning of my sophomore year, I went to a trade school for high school completion/auto mechanics. No one would hire me. I had been working as an auto mechanic in a junk yard for 4 years but that didn't matter. I was told that I could get a job in Florida in a heartbeat with a Mich cert so, I went to Florida. After working as a Mason tender in 115 deg heat for 2 months I decided to go back to Mich. I eventually got a job in an AMC dealership, man was that HORRIBLE! I did get to drive a Renault fuego turbo though, that was cool. I eventually moved here and got a job in a junk yard (again) that led to my present job.

 

[reno]

Don't sell yourself short. The school you attended may\should have job Assistance,use that to your Advantage. Make a resume, ask your teacher(s) if you can use them as a reference. List everything you learned how to use and work with. If they taught you how to pull codes and understand what those codes are,list it. If they taught you about the Diagnostic machine,list it. Understand? The big main stuff,talk to your teachers about how you should list these things, they will know what employers are looking for and really wanting. If you had a high G.P.A., write it in there.
If you are looking for work and do not have a job, so what, work at a jiffy lube,Firestone,or where ever you can get work, it is a Temporary job, that will show the employer that you really want that job with, you will do anything to get your foot in the door to move up in the ranks. Plus it will put $$ in your pocket and ya won't be delivering pizzas, you will have an 8hour a day job 40 hours a week, and somewhat in the field you want to be in. When I was in the Military, I did more than Jump from a plane with my Browning 3-08,my MOS was 63 Bravo (Light Wheel Mechanic), I started off with tire mounting and oil changes, and slowly moved up to actually replacing broken\worn out parts. Sometimes we were able to pull a transmission or an engine, the Army usually does not do this, we are to scrap the entire vehicle.
But just work on that Resume,make several copies,go around town and leave them, some businesses want an application filled out as well, just fill out the Application and turn it in with your Resume.

Don't give up!! The Economy is real Rough right now, and jobs just aren't there like they used to be. I wish you luck sir, now go get'em!!!!

 

[Southern3.0]

Thanks for the advice.

Right now I'd love to get in anything right now, Oil changes, breaks, tiers. what ever. Hell even a parts driver for Napa or Carquest would be fine till I could find something better. Im just trying to figure out what would work best for me in the long run.

My best friends dad is pretty high up in the county Police ranks, and knows the ppl in the Police garage, thats definalty something to look into. Im gonna go down to The local Ford dealers and talk to them to see what have to say. I'm even gonna go to a few of the local tier shops and see what they have. I'll just take it as it comes.

 

[reno]

Thanks for the advice.

Right now I'd love to get in anything right now, Oil changes, breaks, tiers. what ever. Hell even a parts driver for Napa or Carquest would be fine till I could find something better. Im just trying to figure out what would work best for me in the long run.

My best friends dad is pretty high up in the county Police ranks, and knows the ppl in the Police garage, thats definalty something to look into. Im gonna go down to The local Ford dealers and talk to them to see what have to say. I'm even gonna go to a few of the local tier shops and see what they have. I'll just take it as it comes.

If you don't mind me asking, what school did you goto?

BTW, A little more help,just constructive criticism, it is TIRE shop-not tier and on the vehicles it is BRAKES - not breaks....breaks is what you get when you have a job,brakes stop your vehicle. Check and double check with a dictionary when making your Resume, have a friend or parent proof read it for errors before making multiple copies and\or giving them out.
Just a thought, I know if I had to hire someone and had simple spelling mistakes, like tire, I would worry that they are illiterate, and would not be able to read job orders correctly and make a bunch of simple mistakes. We both know better than that, but the interviewer does not know you from Adam.

 

[Southern3.0]

Marchman tech, Pasco county's finest...

Yea its late and Spell checker dosn't catch those kinda mistakes, someone needs to get on that lol.

 

[reno]

I was thinking about applying for a pell Grant and going to a trade school. The state of Florida paid for re-training, but the doctors refused a lot of my decisions in what I wanted to do. I tried for Paramedic,Truck Driver (I have a CDL B) and wanted to upgrade to an A CDL and Welder. all 3 were denied, I was kicked out of the Driving school, and never made it to the welding school. The State made the decision final to send me to Security school. I am now a Rent a Cop, I hate it. Doc says my back will not hold up to any strenuous work, he knows me very well and knows how stubborn I am, he keeps warning me about what I am going to do, and that is go into the field I want to do, welding. I would like to do Aluminum and Stainless steel welding. The material is lightweight, and I will be using a portable bandsaw to cut, and a tig and a mig, not to strenuous on the back. But at the same time I believe the doc is right, once any company gets wind of a bad back, the job is over.