19 Year old mechanic needing some advice please

[twostrokeking]

I'm an entry level tech at a ford dealership and I've started to ask myself where I'm going in my life. I love working on vehicles but what are some goals I could set? I need something to work towards but I have no idea what my options are. I've been with the dealership for a little over a year.


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[rockinacummins]

Where do you wanna be in 10 years?
Still a tech?
Or move into management?
Or a different career altogether?

An older guy on the forum can shed some more insight on this for you but in my opinion, it comes down to what you are passionate about. For example, I'm about to graduate and hopefully get an above average paying job in the safety field. Work my *** off for however many years - probably 20 or so and save my money so I can open my own shop and do custom upfits, installs, fabrication, welding... That's my goal cuz that's what I love doing.

 

[autonaut]

As a mechanic having been in your shoes, my advice is slowly but surely to start working towards a different career. 10 years as a tech/mechanic is more than enough to net you a job elsewhere in a different sector. During those years acquire new knowledge as you go. Not "just" in automotive. But in various related sectors. Studying medicine wont help you. Hobbying with 3d printing will(software and hardware at the same time)So will automation and everything else that happens in an industry environment.

Myself, i did actually end up in medicine after 10 years. Not from studying medicine though But only to keep their production facility (machines) up and running. Im the best paid among my friends now, and have plenty of spare time to fix cars still.

Also, enjoy your youth while your at it.

Thats my best advice to you.

Good luck.

 

[rodm1]

Not a Tech but at your age no one is thinking about there retirment. You need to start saving the Max the IRS will let you and investing it well.

 

[ryanp77]

I am 37 work full time have 2 year old and a 4 month old and I am back in school. Study what you are interested in besides automotive, get some schooling in now. Automation, robotics, and avaiation are growing fields. My school is one of 5 in the country to get a 15 million dollar grant to get a aviation program going because 60% of the aviation field right now could potentially retire. Also save your money as much as you can, buy stuff but don't go overboard and rack up credit card debt.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Stay out of debt. Nothing eats at you like the bank's rope around your neck.

I started as a heavy tech at 19, I still enjoy what I do 9 years later.

Wrenching can be hard on your body, take care of yourself. Spend 30 seconds thinking about what can go wrong before you start any task, even if you do that task every day.

I don't spend as much time wrenching on my own vehicles as I would like to, after 10 hours in the shop there is not much juice left for it at the end of the day.

Love what makes you happy, use your passion to get your foot in the door and a leg up on the life you want to live.

If you do not have many obligations (kids/house/etc) my best advice is to set some money aside and travel. If possible to another nation, if not at, least get outside of your region. It is important to experiance how other people live and see life.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Good advice so far. Just remember the body that you have now that is handling the physical work and stress of your present job with ease, will not have the same capabilities 30 years from now. Plan accordingly... JMO

 

[dlcwent]

I'd like to tell you to get out of it. Most of my friends that have spent their life doing it are in so much pain that they have no quality of life. Seems to bring a lot of spine related issues. Why???? Don't know. But I don't have any "mechanic" friends that are over 50 that aren't suffering in some way.

Heavymm isn't kidding.

 

[thewatusi]

If I could give my 19 year old self some advice it would be 1)don't get any credit cards, don't finance new cars, buy things that you can pay for with cash and 2) put the maximum allowed in retirement accounts every year.

I'd be hundreds of thousands ahead of where I am now if I had done those two things.

 

[Brett268]

I am 29 I started my career as a mechanic in a Toyota dealership at 20. I would recommend getting out lol. when I was 24 I started working for crown equipment the forklift company and have not looked back. Great benefits a future as far as getting promoted and a company vehicle. You don't need a ton of specialty tools and get a good hourly wage. I would leave for something that can become a better career! Just my 2 cents

 

[Tim37]

I am 29 I started my career as a mechanic in a Toyota dealership at 20. I would recommend getting out lol. when I was 24 I started working for crown equipment the forklift company and have not looked back. Great benefits a future as far as getting promoted and a company vehicle. You don't need a ton of specialty tools and get a good hourly wage. I would leave for something that can become a better career! Just my 2 cents

IMHO that's great advise I do a lot of work on lifts (Raymond) they are so much simpler tha cars.

If you want to stay on your tools and not go to another career field I would start taking night classes get some welding motor controls hydraulics and machining then move in to the industrial world

The best advise would be to become a lawyer.

 

[jlmoss]

My advise is stay out of debt, save for the future and always be improving yourself with new skills and education. Lastly, work at what makes you happy and live a healthy life style.
Retired and happy!

 

[goodgollyjosh]

Good advice so far guys....I see a lot of comments regarding keeping low debt and saving for retirement. I second these statements.

My own experience/advice would be to do what you love. At no point would I be satisfied with a desk job regardless of pay. I have always loved the comradery that comes with working in a shop environment. At the end of the day nothing beats working with my hands. I along with many of my co-workers left the dealerships for a steady pay check. I work in automotive research now. You would be surprised just how many facilities there are that do R&D. There are several large independent labs around the country. Also many fuel and lubricant companies have their own in house facilities as do auto manufacturers. Most engineers do not know how or care to spin a wrench. This is where the blue collar trade can benefit. I get a steady but good paycheck, good benefits, and they pay for college as well if someone were interested in that direction. As for me, I have elected to stop at my associates because my boss has flat out told me that if I get my bachelors I will be "over qualified" to work in the shop and he will be forced to put me behind a desk. But I don't want that to stop someone interested in a college education. A person could always get their employer to pay for school and then leave after they get their degree. Sounds like a nasty thing to do but it happens everyday.

Good luck to you bud!

 

[Kracin]

put away as much money as possible right this instant. 401k/IRA etc, put away at least 2k per year (5k if you can). and by the time you are 45 you will have enough to retire if you keep going at that rate in life. then when you retire early you can do whatever you feel like. work is work, go where the money is, if you have the opportunity to do what you want to, then do it. but don't get dragged down with everybody claiming they are "following their dreams". 99% of people lie about how happy they are with what they do. dreams are nice, but living comfortably requires work.

 

[Kaizen]

NEVER STOP LEARNING

If your dealer has any higher pay grades to get through studying and school do it. If they will pay for it go to school for something else that might help you in the future. so say you love wrenching but you want to do high end engine building business of your own. you'll need some computer and some business knowledge. It ***** most of the time as you'll be exhausted but when your buddies are getting laid off and you have a few back up plans you will understand. even if you want to stay a tech and go for a job at another place against 20 techs with the same qualifications they will see you are eager to get ahead when others just wrench and go home.

 

[lordy123]

put away as much money as possible right this instant. 401k/IRA etc, put away at least 2k per year (5k if you can). and by the time you are 45 you will have enough to retire if you keep going at that rate in life. then when you retire early you can do whatever you feel like. work is work, go where the money is, if you have the opportunity to do what you want to, then do it. but don't get dragged down with everybody claiming they are "following their dreams". 99% of people lie about how happy they are with what they do. dreams are nice, but living comfortably requires work.

This is great advice. I started in technical career I was passionate about, now I'm in the position I've always wanted to be in, and make great money, but the passion isn't there any more...

But please note that 2k a year is not enough to retire on, not even close.

Starting now, putting 166.66 a month into a retirement account that earns 8% interest for 312 months, he will have 174,886. 5k a year with the same assumptions is $437,226. Which is closer, but something for healthcare in retirement would likely need to be arranged outside of that sum.

I'm 26 and wish I would have been smarter about saving these past 8-9 years.

 

[drelldrell]

Get out and talk to people in different fields. Talk with students at colleges and ask them why they are studying their field. Ask a 30-50 year person in fields that interest you how they got to where they are and why they chose the field. People are very willing to share information on this topic. It also kind of like the person reminding themselves of their goals - so again the willingness will be there. Most people love talking about themselves anyway.

Also, I am absolutely sure that what you want now, versus at 22 years old, versus at 25 years old will be different. Life and its experiences will change your outlook. I work with people that changed careers in their 30s or 40s. The thing is whether or not you have the courage and/or the ability to act the change.

So along the way keep your options open - limit debt to smart and strategic debt (student loans, house), save as much as you can even if it just $50 a week on average, buy some stock here and there, and manage personal relationships well (wait for marriage unless you are both sure because the people changing thing goes both ways). Have fun before you have a family and the type of fun changes - it will make you a much better person later in life.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I started out in the automotive field myself, and while I truly love working on cars and any form of tinkering. I did notice that the older guys all had issues with arthritis, bad backs, and any other part of thier body that could wear out. Maybe this has changed, but look at the older guys in your shop to see how well they are holding up. I was 22 when I thought about going back to school and my parents offered to pay for it so I went to college and only play with cars as a hobby now. My opinion is that people who are naturally mechanically minded, like mechanics, tend to do well in math, physics, and engineering courses. Language and the arts come more difficult for me.

When I got my first job I found out years later that my supervisor, who was raised on a farm and was extremely mechanically minded, would only hire engineers who were capable of working on thier own car. The fact that my resume showed that I worked in the automotive field before going to college was a plus in his book.

Chris

 

[Kracin]

This is great advice. I started in technical career I was passionate about, now I'm in the position I've always wanted to be in, and make great money, but the passion isn't there any more...

But please note that 2k a year is not enough to retire on, not even close.

Starting now, putting 166.66 a month into a retirement account that earns 8% interest for 312 months, he will have 174,886. 5k a year with the same assumptions is $437,226. Which is closer, but something for healthcare in retirement would likely need to be arranged outside of that sum.

I'm 26 and wish I would have been smarter about saving these past 8-9 years.

"at least", its mostly assuming that the trend will continue, 2% taken out, turns into 4% , 4% turns into 8%, and soon you'll be taking out 15% and not even noticing the money being missing from your paycheck. can't put away a lot to start out when you have no money in the first place. otherwise i would have dropped 100k in when i was 19 and just sat on it ya know, lol.

 

[Kracin]

I started out in the automotive field myself, and while I truly love working on cars and any form of tinkering. I did notice that the older guys all had issues with arthritis, bad backs, and any other part of thier body that could wear out. Maybe this has changed, but look at the older guys in your shop to see how well they are holding up. I was 22 when I thought about going back to school and my parents offered to pay for it so I went to college and only play with cars as a hobby now. My opinion is that people who are naturally mechanically minded, like mechanics, tend to do well in math, physics, and engineering courses. Language and the arts come more difficult for me.

When I got my first job I found out years later that my supervisor, who was raised on a farm and was extremely mechanically minded, would only hire engineers who were capable of working on thier own car. The fact that my resume showed that I worked in the automotive field before going to college was a plus in his book.

Chris

if only other places went by this as well. it's crappy to work with engineers who don't understand basic concepts, but know how to draw it in cad and watch the program do the common sense mistake fixing for them.

back on topic though. OP should consider doing all of the above, but not forget to live life right now. nothing worse than working 18 hours a day when you are 20-30 and forgetting that you had the chance to do some pretty awesome stuff.


fyi, the military is also a great avenue to make and save money. but you have to have discipline. one guy on my ship when i was in the navy literally spent 10 dollars a month (besides soap and toothpaste, etc). and that was on bus faire once in a while when he went out just to get out, he was kind of a shut in but he would eat on the ship when he was off duty, had a paid for barracks room. bought the bare essentials from the nex. when we all found out how he was living we asked how much money he saved. and he had 99% of his pay all in his account. all 55k of it after a few years.... !!!! (thats not for everybody though, some people can stay broke after getting paid 2 minutes ago)

 

[RedRabbit]

I'm a 16 year old mechanic and plan on studying automotive engineering. I also love to work on cars. But fu it only as a hobby, although I work in a shop and get paid. Check out this route if you want to continue to work with cars and name good money. Good luck.

 

[twostrokeking]

That was all really good advice guys! Thank you all so much. I'm replying on my phone so this may be short. But automotive has always been my passion. I love working on things. My main interest is the electrical side of things and the custom side. Stuff you don't see everyday. I'm just not sure what direction to head. I'm not sure what's out there. I definitely need to set some goals though because I'm getting burnt out at the dealership. I'm in a rut and just frustrated with it. I want to stay in the field but find something I love. I have a lot to think about haha. Thank you guys!!

 

[Tim37]

Your in a rut at 19?
There are way too many young folks that think they should be the CEO after a year or two. Ya got to pay your dues.

Custom electrical? Are you talking car audio/video? If so I would suggest finding a new career that is a cutthroat business and unless the 90's come back its not gonna get better.
Now if you can learn to diagnosis and repair automotive electrical you can make a pretty nice living but I would hate that headach.