Hey guys I am 17 years old and just finished my junior year of high school. I've loved cars for as long as I can remember and now that I'm thinking about colleges, I'm looking for a job that involves cars. I'm attending an Auto Tech program offered in my school district that is half a day, 5 days a week that is basically working on and learning about cars. I just finished my first year of that and will be doing it again next year. I thought I wanted to be a mechanic and that is why I entered that program but now after trying it out, I think I would rather keep working on cars as a hobby rather than a job. I've also looked into being an automotive journalist but it seems that you really have to know someone to get into that line of work. I've also considered a detail shop which is still an option. I make up excuses to drive my car all the time and enjoy all kinds of cars so I'm just looking for some possible job options that I haven't considered. Thanks!

 

There's also body work, and installations too.

 

like any job it all comes down to whether you want to work with your head, or your hands. you might be able to write well about how to use a ratchet, but in reality not like to or not really have the feel for knowing when a bolt or nut is tight enough. and conversely you might have the midas touch, but not know how to explain how you did it.



ive been a lot jockey for a honda dealership, worked in the prep area delivering new cars to owners, worked in an exhaust shop doing all sorts of maintenance and custom welding exhausts. the pros and cons, i could go on with for a while.



your still young ! dont decide on one job, and end up hating it ! do a little bit of it all ! be an independent writer for a website, ask the local shade tree mechanic if he could use an extra set of hands mounting tires, go to a dealership and fill out an application for working in the shop, or the detailing area.



do it all man ! be a jack of all trades and master of none... like me !

 

tireshop will let you work with and be around cars without the headaches of actually doing work to the vehicle. its one thing to get pissed at your own car and walk away for awhile. when your in a shop you dont really have the option of coming back to it in the morning.

 

Oil/Fluid Service places always hire, dunno if u'd like that

Oil/Fluid Service places always hire, dunno if u'd like that

 

Oil/Fluid Service places always hire, dunno if u'd like that

 

^^^haha I clicked post twice on accident...

 

Detail/Tire Shop, or a Performance Automotive/Tuner Shop, as a technician.



OR a Valet

 

why'd you suddenly think of working on cars as a hobby rather than a career or a regular job? i think there might be some hidden factors in your decision.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've never been to a performance shop cause there are none around me but maybe this summer I will go check one out. And I think I might write a few articles and send them to a few automotive websites. Thanks again!



And I started to think of it as a hobby rather than a career just because I don't like diagnosing problems. If there was a shop where someone told me what the problem was and then I actually did the work, I would be fine with that. But i just don't enjoy having to find the problem when there is so much to know about the car.