Switching jobs

johnnycasx

Active Member
Joined
May 27, 2013
Hello everyone, I’ve been working in a dealership for almost 17 years. After so much time, I began to realize there is no real quality of life working for a dealership and it’s been difficult to maintain 40 hours per week with a majority of the work being warranty. I did have an interview recently with an independent repair garage. I pretty much am hired but I need to think somethings over 100 percent. I just want to make sure I’m making the right move. Any thoughts ?
 
If you've been working there for 17 years, you are no longer a kid. And being there that long, I doubt they really want to lose you. If you are comfortable with the owner, have a talk about your concerns but DO NOT tell them you are looking to leave. They might find a way to help out, maybe even move into an office role like finance where you can make better money and alot easier on your bones.
 
if you have been to the interview, I'm thinking you are already half out the door. Though it is a two way street, what would happen if the dealer was sold? Even if they offer up more money, an easier physical job, or other it can all change in the blink of an eye. And the excuse is, "its just business" but to you it is much more.

I would put the feelers out in a much larger scale and really see what is out there. Ive never though of my job as a career, and I'm not married to any of them. I work to live and never the other way around. You might be surprised what you can pull in with a proper search. Going fishing without the pole or bait is no way to get the fish.

Good luck with what ever you choose to do!
 
Make sure the new place makes money consistently, a lot of independents are going out of business up here.

New guys will get the reduced hours and furloughs if there's no work, stealerships tend to have enough margins to stay in business.

Make sure you get a big enough raise to leave, don't do a lateral move unless your current conditions are hurting you physically or seriously emotionally.

Just my .02.
 
Thanks guys. Yes there were a few people that were there same time as me or longer. One technician that retired after over 45 years, the manager emptied out his tool box while he was on vacation and left the boxes next to the tire room and it made me think, if they did that to a veteran technician who was there since 1975 and just dumped his tools like that, imagine what they would do to me. This is a multi-billion dollar mercedes Benz dealer ship which is the headquarters for the corporate operations of the 63 other dealerships. They are just interested in numbers and money
 
You are in a specialized field that takes yrs of training, i would tell them to suck a fat rats ass.. but that's just me of course...
 
You are in a specialized field that takes yrs of training, i would tell them to suck a fat rats ass.. but that's just me of course...
That day is coming soon but I just want to take vacation time first
 
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Here is the a quick peek of the work load at the new shop
 
As long as you can make a parallel amount of money or close to I would leave yesterday. Being unhappy at a job is the worst thing in the world. You give these people your life. You give them more time than you give your family and yourself. I would never want to wake up in the morning and feel like I have to do an 8 hour prison sentence. Life is too short. Finding a career that makes you happy is entirely about being proactive, ambitious, disciplined, and a good decision maker. It's a lot harder than settling for something. But it's 1000x more rewarding.
 
Good luck

I left my old job after 16 years over 5 years ago.

When I left I was on good terms, last year they called and asked if I would come back.

Don’t burn any bridges, always good to have options if it doesn’t work out
 
well you could become a golf course machenic all you gotta do is learn how to grind reels
best of luck to ya
corporate places who treat people like that veteran and you are unbelievable
 
some jobs in our field pay 60K plus
simple small engine stuff mainly and dealing with wear and tear from idiots on commercial fleet
my old mechanic at my last course worked for Firestone and dealerships for years till he came over to ourside
as long as everything was running right and cutting good he came and goes as he pleases
 
I made a move after 17 years from a place that took me for granted and assumed I'd put up with anything. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't second guess my decision at times, but 2 years later and I now realize it was the best thing I ever did. Went from dealing with big corporate a-holes to feeling like part of a family again. Sometimes, you have to roll the dice and bet on yourself. Best of luck.
 
Timely topic for me as after 24 years working for a large electrical contractor I'm looking to make a change. Gonna wait till we get into the new year then I'll start interviewing company's lol. My employer is becoming ever more corporate in the way they operate and it's almost silly, works for some who drink the Kool aid but not me.. I'm done with loyalty it's 2018 and it doesn't seem to matter any more. I'll now take the approach of working for you till I'm board then on to the next.. nice thing about construction work here in tax and spend Massachusetts is there are many public/government projects that pay prevailing wage, $90 an hour in some cases lol it's time to capitalize on the hackarama
 
Timely topic for me as after 24 years working for a large electrical contractor I'm looking to make a change. Gonna wait till we get into the new year then I'll start interviewing company's lol. My employer is becoming ever more corporate in the way they operate and it's almost silly, works for some who drink the Kool aid but not me.. I'm done with loyalty it's 2018 and it doesn't seem to matter any more. I'll now take the approach of working for you till I'm board then on to the next.. nice thing about construction work here in tax and spend Massachusetts is there are many public/government projects that pay prevailing wage, $90 an hour in some cases lol it's time to capitalize on the hackarama
Look at that casino being built in the city I live in. Those workers have an ear to ear grin
 
Also a electrician, worked with a big shop for 12 years. Got sick of running my ass off all day and long hours. I was very stable in that company. Pulled the plug and went with a small family shop. Great atmosphere and get to have a normal life again. Best move I did. Been with them for a year.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
My main goal is to work 2-4 years and open my own place eventually.
Nothing wrong with the ambition but running a shop is much different than working and wrenching at one. You should go to the local community college and ask about business classes. You need some accounting, some business, some marketing and things like that. Because you can't collect the money if you don't bill and bill correctly, and if you don't collect the money and are doing it for free, it is just a hobby. And you have to get the people to bring their problems to you. Being a problem solver is what you do and if you can't solve peoples problems they wont be coming back.

We have all seen the greatest mechanics, trades people and others go under and it has nothing to do with their wrenching/working ability. Working at your business and work on your business are two very different activities.
 
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