Just curious at to how the people here who work in the industry got started. Grease monkey, knowing someone, maybe just your personal rig gave you the credit needed to get into a real shop. I'm just curious, because there are plenty of 4x4 fabrication shops here in Colorado, but none of them seem to be willing to hire someone without 5+ years of experience.

 

for me a friend of mine opened an offroad shop in santa cruz and i ended up helping out so much that he hired me

 

Whats your resume look like?

 

I've worked in the bicycle industry for the past 8+ years, and for the last 18 months I have been working for a company that does custom tuning of mountain bike forks ad shocks, but as far as auto related experience it's all been on my own. Never even worked for a tire and lube shop. I know this doesn't help, but everyone has to start somewhere.

 

Resume, smesume - what you need is a "portfolio" of your projects, at least your welding skills, etc.

Every shop I can think of that I would take my rig to and would be worth working for is SLAMMED and could use more help!

 

I use my build thread as my skills and previous managment experience which I have over 6 years of. Ive yet to land a job in the field but then again I want to start my own and be my own boss. (who Doesnt? )

School helps but so does the love and passion for it. go talk to the people who work at the shops you want to work at (EVERYDAY) till they hire you! Persistence helps. Companies want people who want to work for them and promote them.

 

Would he hire me??? Ide move in a heartbeat to work at a 4x4 shop anywere

Put in a good word for me!

 

unfortunately my friends shop closed so now i work at trent fabrications in tahoe city.

 

I got into it out of sheer hard work and determination. Learned most of the trade from working part time in shops and reading, screwing up and learning the right way. I'll be learning new things until the day I die. Everyone I've tried to get into my shop to work, there has been one thing missing from all of them....ambition and patience. They all think the work is cool and it'll be fun, then they start doing repetitive work for awhile (it's part of the job) and get lazy.

I really don't care what a person knows, as long as they work hard, think about what they're doing and pay attention to details...I'll teach them everything.

 

same problem with me i got the skills needed the problem they dont want to try me on

 

any day you don' t learn something new is a day wasted . . .

 

this thread popped up on a google search. I thought I'd bring it back alive instead of posting a new one. I don't know why I keep persuing a career in the auto industry, the most I've ever made is 11.50 an hour working as a parts guy with NAPA auto parts. Now for some reason Oriley's thinks I'm only worth 9 an hour with 5 + years selling parts and wrenching. My parents own an auto shop I grew up in making my allowance till I was 18. The mechanics there started teaching me about cars and teaching me how to work on them. That was 5 years ago. I've switch every couple years between wrenching and selling parts, always made more selling parts(I'm ASE certified in parts, but not in wrenching).
I started the Automotive Technology program at the local community college, but I think I'm going to drop out and start the welding technology program because it's only a 1 year program instead of the auto tech program thats over 2 years. I'm only going to use the auto tech or welding tech degrees as a back up plan. I've worked with kids that graduated from the auto program and i've always made and known more than them. The mechanic who took me under his wing has been doing it for 30 plus years and has never made more than 20 something an hour. A career in automotive isn't a good choice in my opinion, he has more than 40k in tools and spends hundreds a month now from the tool trucks. For what modern mechanics have to study and know and for what they pay for in tools, it's not a good career if you like make good money, have nice things, and support a family. My five years in the industry and I've got thousands of dollars worth of tools.
Down the road I want to finish the program and get ASE certified and that's going to always be my fall back plan. I'll be guarenteed a couple bucks more than minimum wage either wrenching or selling parts.
If the welding program doesn't work out, Ill at least complete the beg and intermediate classes(both classes are 80 % hands on in a shop welding) so I could possibly get into a 4x4 shop(hopefully). I think that's a better fall back plan. Either one will get me decent money while pursuing another career goal. It's better than going to school while flipping burgers making 8 bucks an hour.

I thought I had a question, but I think I forgot it. That was more just venting....any body got any advice or other thoughts on the subject?

 

I see this quite often I can understand the desire to build these trucks what ever type is your favorite make.

But give it time and pretty soon it is just a job . I talk to a few guys through my work for the most the guys doing the hands on building have no interest in even driving some of the stuff they build.

When your doing something for fun it is just a whole lot different when your doing it to feed the kids and keep the mother in shoes.

I know in my case doing welding and fabrication as my career it got old and the hours long. Now that I have a Day job welding and fabricating is enjoyable and fun.