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thinking of career change ... dropping out of university to becom a car meachanic?

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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 03:47 PM
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thinking of career change ... dropping out of university to becom a car meachanic?

hi guys
i want to know what you guys think about this
i was studying the whole day today for my exam which is tmrw sunday suckx...
to change my mood i went down.. to have a look at my fd... and just stayed there for an hour .. daydreaming .. wat if i was a car mechanic ... build engines.. e.t.c

came up opened my book and couldnt gather the right amount of concentration to focus for my exam.....
now i am just thinking wat if i go to some college to become a mechanic....
and do somthing with cars...
any suggestions ....... what you guys think?
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 04:03 PM
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Dont do it.... Get your degree, do your job.. then have your FD as a hobby on the side...

I was in line to become a Automotive service tech, and changed directions, reason being... I enjoy working on cars/vehicles as a hobby, as soon as your do it everyday it become a chore and you start to hate it, give up on trying to fix your own car break down and buy a Honda...


finish, get your degree and then do it a hobby... that way you will enjoy it... Trust me


J.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 04:20 PM
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i know what you are trying to say
but being a car mechanic.. might just be a transit stage for me.. and i will move on to something else like car dealership or something... cars dont get me bored that easily lol
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 05:56 PM
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Finish your degree and keep your eye on your career options.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 06:19 PM
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i just started my mechanics apprentishp and am loving it....if you want to then do it...find a small shop to get in and do it that way so at a dealer you dont just clean for a year... you can always move when u get certified..but im nothing but happy right now ive started my life...but i also didnt drop out of school to do it...

follow what you love.. thats it... life isnt always about money.. u gotta be happy to get up and do it everyday.... in 20years when ur hurting.. move to dealer and be service manager or start your own and teach youngsters that are in you shoes...
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 06:22 PM
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Don't do it.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Prôdigy2nd
Dont do it.... Get your degree, do your job.. then have your FD as a hobby on the side...

I was in line to become a Automotive service tech, and changed directions, reason being... I enjoy working on cars/vehicles as a hobby, as soon as your do it everyday it become a chore and you start to hate it, give up on trying to fix your own car break down and buy a Honda...


finish, get your degree and then do it a hobby... that way you will enjoy it... Trust me


J.
LISTEN TO THIS ADVICE!!!!! I've been a mechanic for 5 years and what Prodigy said hits the nail on the head! All I ever wanted to do since I was a kid was work on cars so it was a no brainer for me to get into the trade and get my licence. It was fun at first, but after a bit you begin to realize how shitty of a trade it is. You invest upwards of $40k of your own cash into tools and get paid dick all in return. Everyone wants their **** fixed right now for no money so all you work on is garbage. So what happens, you bust your *** off for nothing and beat up your body at the same time. If you can start up your own place it's not so bad, but there are still a lot of drawbacks. I STRONGLY suggest you think this over a little more.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 06:32 PM
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I LOVE driving. Love the feeling of being in control of a vehicle. I'm a truck driver..... I HATE MY ******* JOB!! I still love driving, but doing what you love as a job sucks all the enjoyment out of it. You work on your car because you want to, not because you have to.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 06:34 PM
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you guys are rite
but i will still give it a thought
any schools in toronto for automotive tech
oh wait
you guys know any school which teach you .. how to work on turbos and other tuning stuf
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by orion84gsl
I LOVE driving. Love the feeling of being in control of a vehicle. I'm a truck driver..... I HATE MY ******* JOB!! I still love driving, but doing what you love as a job sucks all the enjoyment out of it. You work on your car because you want to, not because you have to.
Agreed!
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Prôdigy2nd
Dont do it.... Get your degree, do your job.. then have your FD as a hobby on the side...

I was in line to become a Automotive service tech, and changed directions, reason being... I enjoy working on cars/vehicles as a hobby, as soon as your do it everyday it become a chore and you start to hate it, give up on trying to fix your own car break down and buy a Honda...


finish, get your degree and then do it a hobby... that way you will enjoy it... Trust me


J.
QFT.

I have friends who are mechanics and my father-in-law is too. That's the truth for all of them.

Same as any other "job". Once it's your "job" and not your hobby, you'll hate it.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 09:27 PM
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STAY IN SCHOOL........ Keep working on cars your hobby... once u make it your job the hobby and love is all over.


hybrid
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 11:10 PM
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learn how to spell BECOME. Then, maybe you can BECOME something.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 11:49 PM
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University isn't for everyone, but I'll second what buggy said. Almost the day I got my red seal as a tech, I left to thankfully go back to my family business. A lot of time wasted on knowledge that's less than valuable IMO. **** my back breaks on my truck are down to the steels and I still don't feel like changing them, lol.
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 11:58 PM
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Don't do it, finish the degree first.......
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 05:12 AM
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If you're having doubts about school you need to think it over before you waste money and time. If you're not happy with your classes there is a big chance your grades will suffer. . .

I can already tell you've lost focus and need support. Every university has a section called Student Counselling Services. Make an appointment because they're not hired by the university for nothing. MANY people finish with something different than their first/second year path.

I do know what you mean by University exam stress though. I still get nightmares about exams a couple times a year and I'm not even in University now lol
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 11:24 AM
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Well if you do plan on something car related, I recommend centennial college. I'm there right now, I'm having second thoughts about becoming a mechanic... But I would wana do something car related. Anyone have any suggestions? Something automotive related?
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 11:34 AM
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That's the problem with the automotive field, feels like there isn't enough variety. The only careers in the field I could seem to find were,

-Automotive engineer(too hard for me, the only people who I've talked to in it were suffering, and the sciences aren't my forte, but if you're good at that stuff by all means go for it)

- Automotive marketing/administriation, I didn't wanna be selling people camry's, seems boring too me, I know there is higher up jobs but it seems everyone starts at the dealership, and you can do that without an education

-Automotive Technician, I enjoy it when it's for my own purposes, but I'm not planning on changing balljoint's on a caravan for the rest of my life

Now I'm in Legal Studies, and to be honest I kindda regret not taking automotive marketing then the bridge for automotive administration, but that's also because my school fucked me over and for anyone who knows the Downtown UOIT SSH campus, you'll know why I regret choosing this school.

There's nothing more demotivating then getting a couple crappy marks in a program you've lost interest in, in a school you've lost trust in.
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 2Fierce
learn how to spell BECOME. Then, maybe you can BECOME something.
so true man!!
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 01:35 PM
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its not surprising that most of you guys have gone through this situation or are still going....

i am at york taking human resource management (second year)
i got accepted at schulich ...if u guys know where is that
however turned down the offer ... coz they were only giving me couple grand scholarship
and went to HR (LAPS) at york
its not that i hate HR and i wont have any job in next 2-3 years
its just that i like cars more and wana make money through cars ...
any1 knows on average how much an auto tech makes?
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 02:38 PM
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do mechanical or eletrical engineering.... then u have options
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 03:34 PM
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You can do HR work any day, anywhere, all year round in a clean office, till the day you retire.
Ask a mechanic if he enjoy's starring up at a dripping car covered in snow, or when it's super humid in summer? Ask a gray haired mechanic if his artheritis ever bothers him?

I think you are better off working in an office to pay your bills, and save the weekends for doing what is fun.
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 04:11 PM
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an average auto tech makes 50k a year

Anees Dont do it, your job should be always something you can do everyday no problem, cars are clearly your hobby it'll be the biggest mistake you make

just to prove a point, All the people saying dont do it are mechanics that have been doing it for a few years, and the people that are saying do it are not mechanics and may have been a mechanic for 2-3 years
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 04:21 PM
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Also 50K a year is on the high side in the GTA. Where I work my wages don't even come close to that much. Try 25 to 30k a year that's a little closer to the truth. The automotive repair trade has to be the most under rated and under paid trade out there.
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Old Nov 21, 2010 | 04:39 PM
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Don't feel so bad buggy, I'm a student, I lose money every year lol
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