Celerity
Well-Known Member
So I have this new job.
I work for a company in Connecticut that restores old cars, as well as works on exotica like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and the such.
First: The work. I am an apprentice. So I have no formal experience in automechanics, yet I am trusted to perform tasks, and slowly get trusted to touch more and more involved things on increasingly high-dollar cars. I sweep up, take out the garbage, blah blah.. Shop Bitch. But I also have to learn high-end body work. So I sand fenders all day long, or I'll be assigned to prep a car for body work / paint. About 2 hours a day are spent washing cars with sterile rags and toothbrushes. I stink of Armorall.
Second: The people. I'm one of 6 people there. There are two mechanics, one works on mechanical things, and the other is dedicated to body work. The owner knows his shit, but he takes more time upstairs running the company, and meet-and-greet. His son started working there the same week as I, and of course get anything because he's the son. But he's the nicest person there, and will bend over backwards to help. Then a part-time guy to run the office (Also a really nice guy) and a part-time guy to do special projects (Kind of a prick). Both mechanics are pretty hard to get along with too.
Third: The shop. It's a 13,000 sqft facility. Split one way for a shop, and the other half is a body shop. Upstairs is an engine building facility, and the "Quiet time" workbenches for rebuilding gauges and old stuff. There is no AC and its hot as hades.
Fourth: The cars. I actually get to drive and work on, in one way or another, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes Benz (Like, 500k+ Pebble beach cars), Austins, and even some American steel (Mostly 60's full sizers). The cars are typically pre-69, but the owners of these multi-million dollar cars also has the shop work on their recent cars (Like I worked on a Ferrari F355 today).
Fifth: Pros and Cons.
Pros:
. I get experience that I normally wouldn't be able to get. It's like going to school for free. they actually teach me things, and then hand me show cars and other high-dollar cars to work on. They trust me, and I haven't let them down yet.
. I can use this experience to open my own shop. In a few months, my friend is getting some money and wants to open an import and custom shop - And I wanna help. I'm sick of working for the man.
. I can stay here, and within a few years become a specialist. You know how much a "Ferrari Mechanic" makes?
Cons:
. The pay is low.
. There is no insurance.
. The shop is always too full to bring my own projects in.
. Even afterhours and on the weekends, I will never get the keys before being there for at least 6 years. Basically, I can't work on my own things there.
. The hours are 8:00 to 5:00, and he freaks when someone is late by 5 minutes.
. Most of the people I work with are miserable twirps.
. Working takes away time to look for jobs.
Cliff's Notes: I was brought on to try out for 2 weeks. I try them out, they try me out. During that time I was paid $12 an hour, under the table. The agreement was to "See how well I do" and then talk about pay from there. Today my 2 weeks are up. I didn't get any pay raise at all. I can't live on $12 an hour. My absolute minimum needs are $14 an hour. I need insurance. I haven't had health insurance in 10 years. I run out of things to do, literally, and I have to make my time completely accountable to work there. In other words, I get docked and noted if I'm not doing something "To make the company money".
He said today that he would talk about more money when I prove my value to the shop. Basically, I make them money and he gives me money. No amounts or durations were verified - and he was very vague about the whole situation. So the job kinda sucks, in my opinion. I can do better - Or stay in IT and deal with a work shortage - But a good paycheck when work comes in.
But the cars are something else. It feels so good to work on these things. It's so .. Upper Class to be a mechanic like this. And, they are giving me a shot. So what do you guys think?
-> Steve
I work for a company in Connecticut that restores old cars, as well as works on exotica like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and the such.
First: The work. I am an apprentice. So I have no formal experience in automechanics, yet I am trusted to perform tasks, and slowly get trusted to touch more and more involved things on increasingly high-dollar cars. I sweep up, take out the garbage, blah blah.. Shop Bitch. But I also have to learn high-end body work. So I sand fenders all day long, or I'll be assigned to prep a car for body work / paint. About 2 hours a day are spent washing cars with sterile rags and toothbrushes. I stink of Armorall.
Second: The people. I'm one of 6 people there. There are two mechanics, one works on mechanical things, and the other is dedicated to body work. The owner knows his shit, but he takes more time upstairs running the company, and meet-and-greet. His son started working there the same week as I, and of course get anything because he's the son. But he's the nicest person there, and will bend over backwards to help. Then a part-time guy to run the office (Also a really nice guy) and a part-time guy to do special projects (Kind of a prick). Both mechanics are pretty hard to get along with too.
Third: The shop. It's a 13,000 sqft facility. Split one way for a shop, and the other half is a body shop. Upstairs is an engine building facility, and the "Quiet time" workbenches for rebuilding gauges and old stuff. There is no AC and its hot as hades.
Fourth: The cars. I actually get to drive and work on, in one way or another, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes Benz (Like, 500k+ Pebble beach cars), Austins, and even some American steel (Mostly 60's full sizers). The cars are typically pre-69, but the owners of these multi-million dollar cars also has the shop work on their recent cars (Like I worked on a Ferrari F355 today).
Fifth: Pros and Cons.
Pros:
. I get experience that I normally wouldn't be able to get. It's like going to school for free. they actually teach me things, and then hand me show cars and other high-dollar cars to work on. They trust me, and I haven't let them down yet.
. I can use this experience to open my own shop. In a few months, my friend is getting some money and wants to open an import and custom shop - And I wanna help. I'm sick of working for the man.
. I can stay here, and within a few years become a specialist. You know how much a "Ferrari Mechanic" makes?
Cons:
. The pay is low.
. There is no insurance.
. The shop is always too full to bring my own projects in.
. Even afterhours and on the weekends, I will never get the keys before being there for at least 6 years. Basically, I can't work on my own things there.
. The hours are 8:00 to 5:00, and he freaks when someone is late by 5 minutes.
. Most of the people I work with are miserable twirps.
. Working takes away time to look for jobs.
Cliff's Notes: I was brought on to try out for 2 weeks. I try them out, they try me out. During that time I was paid $12 an hour, under the table. The agreement was to "See how well I do" and then talk about pay from there. Today my 2 weeks are up. I didn't get any pay raise at all. I can't live on $12 an hour. My absolute minimum needs are $14 an hour. I need insurance. I haven't had health insurance in 10 years. I run out of things to do, literally, and I have to make my time completely accountable to work there. In other words, I get docked and noted if I'm not doing something "To make the company money".
He said today that he would talk about more money when I prove my value to the shop. Basically, I make them money and he gives me money. No amounts or durations were verified - and he was very vague about the whole situation. So the job kinda sucks, in my opinion. I can do better - Or stay in IT and deal with a work shortage - But a good paycheck when work comes in.
But the cars are something else. It feels so good to work on these things. It's so .. Upper Class to be a mechanic like this. And, they are giving me a shot. So what do you guys think?
-> Steve
. But the cool thing is, he charges actual labor, not book, and cost for parts for us, but my brother is the only one with a vw, and its a passat.
