Whats a good way to find a career in the automotive field?

Sinub

Sinub

Well-Known Member
304
83
Southern California
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
Hey whats up everyone, I'm about to graduate from high school and I want to have a career in the automotive field, more of a technician. I'm wondering what would be the best way of going towards that, I looked into UTI in Los Angeles but it seems too good to be true, too expensive for what you get out of it, and I've seen a lot of online complaints of false promises but others say you get what you put in and I've looked into community colleges and one provides a pact with Honda, but so does uti, and I love Honda :D so that caught my attention too but anyways I would love any suggestions on the best way of going towards my goal of having a career in the automotive field.
 
my understanding is working with a "pact" school, but maybe a tech here can provide advice.

http://hondapact.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=3
if you click on a job, it should give info. Like, express level tech says that these schools qualify you for that particular position:
http://hondapact.com/index.php?option=com_gmapfp&view=gmapfplist&id_perso=0&Itemid=2&ml=1

review from another honda forum on pact -

My experience with Honda PACT was great. There are a lot of misconceptions about it (some of which I see here). Again, this was MY experience in South Florida.

You will walk away from Honda PACT with an Associates in Automotive Technology and at least half the technical training you'll have to get anyway from Honda. That literally puts you years ahead of Joe Schmoe walking off the street doing oil changes. Honda techs are occasionally sent off to their local training centers to complete "modules" in all areas automotive (electrical, engine repair, suspension, etc). Yes, Honda will send you out to complete these modules for free while you have to pay for PACT. Although PACT is constant hands-on training you'll complete in 2 years while it may take you even longer (if your dealer even sends you out) to complete them as Joe Schmoe. These modules the techs need to complete are the exact ones PACT will require you to complete, you're already ahead of the game.

There are also "self-studies" techs are required to complete in their down time. I was 100% complete with those at the end of PACT. The only thing I had to do in that area was complete any new ones throughout the years, sometimes they update them too as new technology comes out. If you're no where near complete with these your shop foreman will hound you to get these done because the dealer receives a certain rating based on the amount of training their techs have. Not to mention, it also makes you a better tech.

These PACT courses also prepare you for the ASE certifications. Obviously, the more you have the more of your weight you can throw around. Which means you can actually negotiate your pay rate. PACT is very recognized and dealers want as many of these guys as they can get. PACT also offered job placement. Within 2 semesters I was placed at a dealer with no formal interview, simply because I was a PACT student.

Now, you will start out as an apprentice, hopefully with a competent tech or someone who gives a crap about your training. Even though you'll get both academic and hands-on training at PACT its very different from actually being on the line. They start you out with simple stuff because they don't know you or what you're capable of. I've seen master tech's come in and be complete screw ups, as well as PACT students. What you look like on paper means squat, you can have all the certs and training for 20 years, they're gonna need to feel you out.

You're probably gonna work 12 hour days. So the other option where you'd go to college while working as a Joe Schmoe off the street starting with oil changes is dumb. You won't have time for school, not even the energy. On top of the fact it will take you forever to get your certs/training/experience done. Another bonus is you'll get a significant discount on tools thru MAC, Matco, Snap-On, Cornwell, etc.

When PACT was over I had all 8 ASE certs, 60% training center modules done, 100% self studies done, hands-on training in all areas automotive, and an AS in Automotive Technology. I started as an apprentice at $10 hourly. After PACT, and after I proved myself to my dealer, I was able to negotiate starting as a flat rate tech at $18, worked there for another 4 years where I left in July 2010 at $22.75. If you walk away from PACT with those things but can't get them to negotiate with you, apply somewhere else and tell them another Honda dealer will give you what you want (because another dealer WILL). If they still can't negotiate then walk. 90% of the time your first dealer will hesitate to hand you an $8 raise. But there is a HUGE difference between an hourly apprentice and a flat rate tech. If they can't understand that then you don't wanna work there anyway. Now do the math and average 130 hours per pay period... you simply cannot do that as Joe Schmoe.

The auto repair industry is very different now and I chose to go a different route. If you're looking to get rich this isn't for you.
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Hmmm very interesting. Thanks for the links, I'm doing an automotive internship in school right now and the Honda dealership I got my Si is part of the program and so is a local Autoshop. Any other thoughts?
 
I saw some say they walked in off the street and started working at a dealership immediately. They said they only dealt with tire rotations/oil changes....and over time they were able to move up by proving they knew how to do other tasks. As other have said, the chance for advancement/better pay came with certifications. Might be worth asking the service managers at the shops near you as well.
 
I think I might be able to help a little here. I just went to Lincoln tech and graduated 2 years ago from the diesel program. The lies are endless they tell you all sorts of things and when you are there you don't do much of what they tell you. I had a group of very good teachers and they are what made it good. Although all the engines transmission and every thing else had been taken apart multiple times and missing some parts as long as you tried they help you as much as they could. It's all what you put into it. I started changing oil part time while going to school. Then changing brakes and wheel bearings. Once I graduated I got a job at the railroad and the rest is history. When I'm working ill be taking apart a fuel pump or something for the first time on my own and something from school will click and make sense it's kinda funny how that works.
It's expensive I paid 27,000 for 15 month program but in the end worth it. I hope this helped sorry about the length.
 
webby said:
I saw some say they walked in off the street and started working at a dealership immediately. They said they only dealt with tire rotations/oil changes....and over time they were able to move up by proving they knew how to do other tasks. As other have said, the chance for advancement/better pay came with certifications. Might be worth asking the service managers at the shops near you as well.
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Yea i was thinking of doing that and asking if UTI really does matter to them

Brooksie365 said:
I think I might be able to help a little here. I just went to Lincoln tech and graduated 2 years ago from the diesel program. The lies are endless they tell you all sorts of things and when you are there you don't do much of what they tell you. I had a group of very good teachers and they are what made it good. Although all the engines transmission and every thing else had been taken apart multiple times and missing some parts as long as you tried they help you as much as they could. It's all what you put into it. I started changing oil part time while going to school. Then changing brakes and wheel bearings. Once I graduated I got a job at the railroad and the rest is history. When I'm working ill be taking apart a fuel pump or something for the first time on my own and something from school will click and make sense it's kinda funny how that works.
It's expensive I paid 27,000 for 15 month program but in the end worth it. I hope this helped sorry about the length.
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It wasn't that long at all and thanks for the input!! I've seen a lot of people say the lies really are endless, but it seems alot of people there just go to go and expect to graduate and have everything done and ready for them. The few who were successful after they graduated said you only get out as much as you put in.
 
Sikid said:
It wasn't that long at all and thanks for the input!! I've seen a lot of people say the lies really are endless, but it seems alot of people there just go to go and expect to graduate and have everything done and ready for them. The few who were successful after they graduated said you only get out as much as you put in.
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I had perfect attendance and it paid off big thing in my interview. There were a lot of kids in my class who messed around. I sat with the two other kids who were very smart they helped me a lot I had very little experience going in but learned a lot. I do have to say I regret not going to Ohio diesel they had a great generator program. Don't be afraid to travel it goes by quick look around before you sign.
 
In my neck of the woods ( northern Ontario, Canada ) the automotive trade doesn't pay that well for what you have to invest in terms of time, training and tools. It's nothing to spend upwards of $ 45K on tools, and to get paid $ 20 - 25/ hr on average, unless you are at a unionized dealership with all your training completed.

Willing to relocate to another country? In the oilsands region of Alberta, Canada, I have seen dealerships advertise $ 65/hr pay for fully licensed techs, signing bonuses of $ 3500+, and relocation pay. Of course, along with that pay comes big bills, finding a place to live can be expen$ive.

Trying to find a good shop to get in on the ground floor, and have people teach you willingly can be tough. You have to at least have a fairly strong mechanical background and a good work ethic in order to succeed, as well as being a team player.
 
He is correct the part about guys not really willing to teach is correct. Pay isn't that great for a beginner car mechanic. It's hard to become the top now there are so many young people who want to do it. I would go to school I am taking night class's for business. It's hard to get a good job without a degree now a days.

Look into the railroad. Great retirement and pay.
 
I know someone who went to UTI and from what he told me and what I saw they didn't do a damn thing to teach him and barely help him get his job... He learned more from on the job work and working on his car with a simple car hobbyist ...
 
Sounds like I should think of a different career though failure is not an option for me. A lot of the kids taking the class I'm taking, kids who already took it I should say, get jobs at the places and start out $13-$15 an hr or flat rate according to my teacher doing basic things. Maybe I should go to UTI THEN get a basic degree?
 
Go get a job as a porter at a dealership and kick *** at your job. Then, tell the service director you want to be a mechanic. They'll start you off as a lube tech. You'll make absolutely terrible money for about ten years, then you'll make somewhat acceptable money. Every tech that I know that makes decent money does a LOT of side work and has been doing it for about 10-15 years at least. It's not a money-making job unless you start your own shop. I suppose it's like most other businesses: if you're the employee, you don't make money. If you're the owner, you MIGHT make lots of money or you might lose your ***.
 
Sikid said:
It seems like I should pursue a different career
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I think you're on the right track here. My father worked as a mechanic for over 40 years, and all he would ever say to me when I started working as a tech was "go to school, find a job where you will actually have something to show for it when its time to retire." Unless being a mechanic is what you love, and have your heart set on doing it 5 days (maybe more) a week, id look elsewhere and keep wrenching as a hobby. Im not trying to rain on your parade, just speaking from what ive experienced.
 
X-ray tech. 2 year school, around $20/hr starting.
Plus if you work in a hospital - paid vacation, retirement 401/403, health insurance, etc...
 
You get out of it what you put into it. The big schools arent always your best bet. I went to a local tech school for autobody. i was only in the program for 4 months when my instuctor came up to me andtold,me that i had learned about all i could in the school and he was going to graduate me out and get me job placement. I started working at a bmw dealership in the body shop. After about 4 months there i applied for and got into the bmw step program which is a paid internship at bmw of north america and you come out bmw master certified in paint andbody at the end of it. If you apply yourself and really push yourself the school you go to doesnt matter. And bmw has a step program for the mechanic side too. Just something to consider. Wether you like bmws or not there is no denying it is an incredible company to work for.
 
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