this is for yall who own or work at a place for 4x4s. im looking to do something in the automotive field and i would love to eventually own my own shop. i would like to know what type of education you had and what you did to get to the point you are at now. i would love to work with 4x4s but anything automotive im into. if you can give me an idea on where i need to start that would be nice.
CK5
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how did you get to be where you are?
- Thread starter jbowers
- Start date
I busted tires in a 4wheelparts for 3 years when I was in college. They offered me a manager gig right after I graduated in '05, but I turned it down for a more professional opportunity that utilized my degree.
My roommate, however, never finished college, never got certified etc, but he's a head fabricator for an armored car company. He made a settlement in a car crash a while back and was going to invest the capital into a shop, but decided against it for the time being. He saw an ad for the company one day when he was watching powerblock tv and told the guys there he wanted in, and they hired him. He started out making glass in the autoclave, but now he does design and fabrication.
My roommate, however, never finished college, never got certified etc, but he's a head fabricator for an armored car company. He made a settlement in a car crash a while back and was going to invest the capital into a shop, but decided against it for the time being. He saw an ad for the company one day when he was watching powerblock tv and told the guys there he wanted in, and they hired him. He started out making glass in the autoclave, but now he does design and fabrication.
sope
1/2 ton status
I started out at a service station pumping gas and washing cars and moved on to tire repairs and oil changes. As soon as I was done high school I moved in to the shop full time and started my apprenticeship. Four years later I was liscenced. I worked there for another two years, then took a chance and applied for a 4 month posting as a mechanic at a municipality. Shortly after this posting was done I got a job at another municipality. That was 10 years ago and I'm now a shift Lead hand and make more money than I ever thought I could as a mechanic. Not really 4x4 related but automotive and heavy truck related. A lot less hours and stress than owning your own shop.
I would do one of two things to start. Either take an entry level automotive trades course in college or get a job somewhere where mechanics work and try to move in to the shop. Start out by tire repairs, washing cars or whatever you can do to start in that environment.
For 4x4 stuff you might want to go in to Welding/ Fabrication as a trade instead of automotive.
Just my thoughts.
I would do one of two things to start. Either take an entry level automotive trades course in college or get a job somewhere where mechanics work and try to move in to the shop. Start out by tire repairs, washing cars or whatever you can do to start in that environment.
For 4x4 stuff you might want to go in to Welding/ Fabrication as a trade instead of automotive.
Just my thoughts.
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