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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / May 2007Need opinion about working as an auto mechanic in U.S.
Hello there, I plan to move U.S for working as an auto mechanic. I'd like to know what is the average wage and working condition. I'm working as an mechanic apprentice in Canada since I graduated from a community college having degree of Automotive Service Technician which was 2 year program. I was the top student at the program. In Canada, mechanic candidate must work as an apprentice and collect the hours to qualified the mechanic license. It takes average 4 to 5 years to get the work hours and takes 8 months of appentice training for the apprentceship period. I'm in dead end now. I've worked for a Honda dealer 1 year ago. Before I worked few independent repair shops. I feel like I'm getting dumber and dumber everyday. The worst part is most employers take advantage of apprentice. They use apprentices like a dog nothing more than. I used to repair cars around minimum wage. In Candada, government controls the mechanic license and it's life- time license unless a mechanic keep making serious mistakes. Most mechanics I've worked with are nice people, kind of lazy, don't like to upgrade their skills often. "21'st century grease monkey" I don't wanna be a grease monkey. I'll get all the hours to challenge the ASE mechanic exam by May 2008. I gonna challenge it. Automotive trade in U.S is same as Canada? or better. Many mechanics move to other trades. My foreman who have 25 years of work experience keep saying "You better leave this trade. It's dead end." I know what he means. Well, I'm kind of goal getter. Once I set a goal, I've always get it whatever it takes. debiannabi <k2.mountain@gmail.com> wrote in news:1177594161.645092.61900 @c18g2000prb.googlegroups.com: > Hello there, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > a community college having degree of Automotive Service Technician > which was 2 year program. I was the top student at the program. I think you will find it impossible to get a permit to work in the US. You must have a job BEFORE you move down there, and your employer must be able to prove to the USCIS that he could not find a comparably qualified US citizen to fill the job. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis  SignatureTegger > Hello there, > > I plan to move U.S for working as an auto mechanic. > I'd like to know what is the average wage and working condition. My $.02 worth..... Just starting as a tech out of school can be somewhat tough. The high paying jobs go to the veteran techs and you will be left with the crumbs. Remember that any dealership or shop would rather have a veteran working for them than somebody right out of school and the foreman will do what it takes to keep the veterans. You will also be getting minimal wages and you will probably need $7K-$10K worth of tools. The customers will be somewhat suspicious of a kid right out of school (again, the shop foreman knows this) and he will be reluctant to give the big jobs to a rookie. Remember also, that you may have to wash cars and do the oil changes or some janitorial work. The owner of the shop might be reluctant to do much to keep you around thinking you will be gone shortly. If you are a good learner, willing to do some schooling and have a decent attitude, the foreman/owner will change his attitude toward you within a few years or less. 'Course, you could get one *sshole of an owner/foreman also. BTW, why do you want to leave Canada? Do cars not break down there? Bad business pratices. I'd like to see how automotive repair business in U.S both business operation and skills of mechanics. i've seen so many "good" mechanics do cut corners, stopped learning. And they are paid good because they got 20 some years experiences under belt. When it comes to electronics, they are in same boat as newbie. How can they fix electronic problems without understanding Ohm's law? I wonder I would see a mechanic who does torque calibration every year. > BTW, why do you want to leave Canada? Do cars not break down there? Many businesses go slow down for the winter. Average length of winter in Canada is 6 months. You guess. I plan to run a repair business. If U.S auto service is nothing more than Canada, I rather go to one of developed countries - Japan, Germany after learning language. Kruse 작성: > > Hello there, > > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > BTW, why do you want to leave Canada? Do cars not break down there? >BTW, why do you want to leave Canada? Do cars not break down there? They rust out first. --scott Signature"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." stay in Canada. you're better off. Lots of Hondas there for you to work on > I plan to move U.S for working as an auto mechanic. > I'd like to know what is the average wage and working condition. You are going the wrong way. The conditions and pay for mechanics in Canada are far better then the US overall. The training is better, Canada actually has an "apprenticeship" period...etc. I've worked in the trade in Canada since 78. Yes, there are techs who don't want to learn, don't want to progress...but that will be more true down in the States overall. You also have better labour laws "overall" up in Canada. I would suggest that you get involved on a website called "IATN" International Automotive Technician Network. Most of the guys on this network are from the States. Very sharp techs and owners populate this network. You can find it at www.iatn.net. If you want to move to the States, IATN is where you will find the quality shops and owners that you will want to work with/for. Ian > You are going the wrong way. The conditions and pay for mechanics > in Canada are far better then the US overall. The training is better, > Canada actually has an "apprenticeship" period...etc. Plus, doesn't Canada have a national health insurance plan? I'm not wanting to start a thread on a completely different subject, but I've yet to see a car dealer in the states who will pay for 100% of your health care. In the states, that's another chunk of your paycheck that you will never see. Kruse <kruse@kansas.net> wrote in article <1177756948.262018.262210@e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>... > Plus, doesn't Canada have a national health insurance plan? Oh, it's a great health plan...... My cousin's wife has to travel from Moncton, NB to Montreal, Que. - a 10-hour drive one-way - to have a coronary procedure done that my wife had done six miles from home. There is a three-month wait for this procedure in Canada while my wife waited one week. And, if my wife were so inclined, she could have gone to the next place which is 45 miles from home, or several other places within a 100 mile radius. Often Canadians cross over to the US side just to get needed services that are either unavailable in Canada, or require a long waiting period - long enough to allow the condition and the person's health to deteriorate substantially. And, when Canadians travel outside the country, they must buy additional coverage at the cost of $16.00 per week.....that's MORE than I pay for full BC/BS coverage - including prescriptions. Also, the Canadian health plan doesn't include prescription medicines, so you need to find an employer who offers that particular coverage. The grass looks pretty green from this side of the border, but not once you get up there and start walking around in it. Since I have relatives up there, I gave serious thought to retiring there, but the entire medical situation caused me to re-think things. >Since I have relatives up there, I gave serious thought to retiring there, >but the entire medical situation caused me to re-think things. Basic summary: 1. In Canada you can get whatever health care you need if you are able and willing to wait for it. 2. In the US you can get whatever health care you need if you are able and willing to pay for it. Neither one of these are particularly good situations. --scott Signature"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." Back in the 1960's,when he got out of the Army,a guy built his own auto repair shop,about two miles from where I live.He was getting a lot of auto repair business because he was a very good mechanic and he never cheated anybody and he always charged fair prices for his work.When his son got old enough,he taught him about auto repair,his son worked with his dad,repairing autos/trucks/vans/suvs.He passed away a few years ago and now his son owns the shop and he has another guy working in the shop with him.They are getting all the business they can handle all year around,except on the weekends,they are closed. cuhulin Scott Dorsey <kludge@panix.com> wrote in article <f0vurf$pog$1@panix2.panix.com>... > >Since I have relatives up there, I gave serious thought to retiring there, > >but the entire medical situation caused me to re-think things. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 2. In the US you can get whatever health care you need if you are able and > willing to pay for it. I don't know where you live, but the hospitals in my area of the US (Northeast) all have signs in the public areas stating that you have the right to be treated - regardless of your ability to pay - and that the hospital WILL treat you - regardless of your ability to pay. > I don't know where you live, but the hospitals in my area of the US > (Northeast) all have signs in the public areas stating that you have the > right to be treated - regardless of your ability to pay - and that the > hospital WILL treat you - regardless of your ability to pay. I thought that this right was for emergency care. Maybe Im wrong. I am a Vietnam Veteran,(Vietnam,1964) I can go to the V.A.Center if I need to.I also have medical health insurance with Physicans Mutual of Omaha. cuhulin >> I don't know where you live, but the hospitals in my area of the US >> (Northeast) all have signs in the public areas stating that you have the >> right to be treated - regardless of your ability to pay - and that the >> hospital WILL treat you - regardless of your ability to pay. > >I thought that this right was for emergency care. Maybe Im wrong. Yes, legally it is only for emergency care, and they attempt to get you out of there as quickly as possible once you are stabilized. Twenty years ago it wasn't even true for emergency care; I injured myself once in Atlanta and was taken to the local hospital, which checked me over and sent me to another hospital downtown. --scott Signature"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." Honestly, I work like a dog because I'm an apprentice and will have worked to finish the damn apprenticeship for 3 more years. My productivity is almost same as mechanic. Sometimes, I'm helping them out for brand new cars or diagnostic tools. The public educational institute is far behind compared to manufactuers training. Honda runs its own training programs and qualifications. I'll finish all of them if possible. I finished about 20 modules last year but the empoyer haven't sent me a class room. I don't know why. :( I'm lucky that I found this place. The owner is a cheap business man. But, the service manager and other coworkers including my mentor are nice. shiden_kai 작성: > You are going the wrong way. The conditions and pay for mechanics > in Canada are far better then the US overall. The training is better, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Ian If auto mechanic trade in U.S is not worse than Canada, I'll move down when I'm ready. Winter in Canada is so long. Most businesses go slow in Winter. Newbies like me laid off first. I wanna work year round, enjoy the long summer days. LOL debiannabi 작성: > Hello there, > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Well, I'm kind of goal getter. Once I set a goal, I've always get it > whatever it takes. ===== ===== debiannabi <k2.mount...@gmail.com> wrote in his diary..... and left on the table for the room to read this....... ------------------------- > Hello there, > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Well, I'm kind of goal getter. Once I set a goal, I've always get it > whatever it takes. ======== ======== Same in the US as in Canada....or better..???? Well.....here's the facts...only the facts....a partial listing of a decades long study of the Automotive Service Industry personally performed by myself, at great expense to my own well being and with great sacrifice by my family....... please read slow.....so you can reflect later, judge at will, and absorb the wisdom that I will offer to you as "welcome mat" into OUR industry.......and into our Country. here goes........ First, of course it's better HERE. The USA lays claim to being the forerunner and skulpter of the automotive service industry..and bears on it's banner, not a picture of Henry Ford, but rather, an inlet of the "Model T" Ford. Unless....someone else's country would like to lay claim to this......in which case......we'd like to see your banner. (because it's unknow to us) . (that's the only fact you get for free) (you gotta be in the secret society to know the rest) Now, for the ONLY bit of advice I care to give you for free...... Move to California, find a Dealership, go to work for what they offer you, do everything they tell you to do without question, listen and don't talk, demand access to EVERY training tool that they have.....when they can no longer offer you the challenge of further knowledge and access to it for free in order for you to grow as a technician........then find a dealership that can. After YOU have sucked THEM for all they're worth in knowledge and access to it..... you won't need anymore advice........you'll be quite capable of getting paid your worth....anywhere ...YOU decide. do a ping, in here.....in 35 years let a feller know how that worked out for you aye. ~:~ MarshMonster ~sips his mushroom tea....wonders if you'de rather go to college for several years, intern for several, become a high paid lawyer ....so's you could afford to pay HIM...what he's worth~ ======== ======== |
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