Well GRM, what would you do? (life content)

So long story short we are moving from Baltimore to Richmond,va area.

My girlfriend and I are both excited to leave the insanity here, problem I'm having at the moment is there are more then plenty of jobs for a mechanic down the area, but I can't stand the industry or the lack of progression of being a mechanic.

Now I do have the GI bill to use and have every intention of doing that but I dont know if I can mentally handle another wrenching job to put food on the table, so do I just suck it up and do the best I can until a break down or do I start looking elsewhere and lose money but have sanity?

In reply to JtspellS:

Is there a niche in the biz you can feel good in? In my case, I found cylinder head work, but that can be a bit crazy. As you mentioned there are always places... just keep your head above the frey/politics and the crap shouldn't follow you if you chose to change employers.

As to the GI bill... What about a simple job like pzza delivery, or even oil change tech... something that allows you to persue more without being poor to do it

Life is too short to dislike work that much.

Move to VA.. Enroll in school. Find something you can do to make side money. Finish school. Get better job.

Money isn't everything. Make the jump, be happier.

The new GI bill should be pretty darned good. Look into it and see what all it pays for, then decide if a part time gig is required to make ends meet while you study.

Take a good hard look at what you want to do long term and talk to people in that field about what course of study you should pursue.

Life will continue to happen whether you prepare for it or not so might as well take all the advantage you've earned.

JtspellS wrote: do I just suck it up and do the best I can until a break down or do I start looking elsewhere and lose money but have sanity?

My opinion: It is better to do things by choice in a controlled and deliberate fashion than be forced into a corner. If a breakdown is a real possibility, you might not have as many choices or have the luxury of making them.

Can you, say, teach auto mechanics at a local community college? Something that involves a skill set you already have and enjoy, but eliminates the hassle of working book and dealing with customers and service advisors?

Crew Member For Richard Petty Racing Experience: Job Description Work outdoors in a customer focused, fast paced, team environment Assisting customers with check-in Outfitting customers with appropriate gear Assisting customers on and off pit road and in and out of cars Setting up and breaking down pit road area Cleaning cars

Requirements 1-2 years work experience Self motivated and dependable Excellent interpersonal communication skills Proven customer service skills Ability to multi-task Adheres to safety and attendance guidelines Attention to detail Computer literate Able to stand for 8-12 hrs per day Professional appearance

Crew Member positions may be available at any of the following locations: Richmond Int’l Speedway

Please fax resume to (704) 454-6275 or e-mail careers@drivepetty.com

What do you want to go back to school to study? What's a field that does interest you? Is the actual job of being a mechanic that you dislike or is it your employer?

Move, find a wrenching job to pay bills while you actively look for something new. Maybe try for a job on campus? Roller coaster tech at Kings Dominion?

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Life is too short to dislike work that much. Move to VA.. Enroll in school. Find something you can do to make side money. Finish school. Get better job. Money isn't everything. Make the jump, be happier.

Quoted for truth.

Get out of the rut. This sounds like a good time to do it.

VCU. Not using the GI bill is leaving so much money on the table. Both the cost of the education and potential pay gains.

It sounds like you're in a good spot to prioritize education for the next few years. Use the GI bill to it's fullest extent, study something interesting and useful, and work the whole rest of your life around that.

mazdeuce wrote: It sounds like you're in a good spot to prioritize education for the next few years. Use the GI bill to it's fullest extent, study something interesting and useful, and work the whole rest of your life around that.

This.

skierd wrote: What do you want to go back to school to study? What's a field that does interest you? Is the actual job of being a mechanic that you dislike or is it your employer? Move, find a wrenching job to pay bills while you actively look for something new. Maybe try for a job on campus? Roller coaster tech at Kings Dominion?

Personally I would like to go for something in engineering, and while I still love the automotive field idk how I feel about moving to Detroit (Yes I am leaving Baltimore but I don't really want a lateral move lol) or working on anyone's vehicle to put food on the table (side money is okay but that's always been rare for me anyway.)

And a roller coaster tech sounds interesting..... lol

captdownshift wrote: Crew Member For Richard Petty Racing Experience: Job Description Work outdoors in a customer focused, fast paced, team environment Assisting customers with check-in Outfitting customers with appropriate gear Assisting customers on and off pit road and in and out of cars Setting up and breaking down pit road area Cleaning cars Requirements 1-2 years work experience Self motivated and dependable Excellent interpersonal communication skills Proven customer service skills Ability to multi-task Adheres to safety and attendance guidelines Attention to detail Computer literate Able to stand for 8-12 hrs per day Professional appearance Crew Member positions may be available at any of the following locations: Richmond Int’l Speedway Please fax resume to (704) 454-6275 or e-mail careers@drivepetty.com

Noted, will check it out after I get off work tomorrow!

Again thank you everyone for the support, it is much needed and appreciated!

Use your earned benefit (GI Bill), but make sure you take advantage of it in a way that improves your life. Get a degree that is worth the investment in time, effort, and $ and will improve your long term employ-ability and pay. So many people "invest" in an education that qualifies them for a job that doesn't pay any more than if they didn't have a college degree or has a low percentage of grads that find jobs in their field. Take the opportunity to permanently make your life better...

Good news about having to move to Detroit, most of the OE's have already left (hence the state of Detroit currently) so you can move to South Carolina, Mexico, or California or anywhere where they still have plants.

Go back to school and flip cars on the side for extra coin?

JtspellS wrote:

skierd wrote: What do you want to go back to school to study? What's a field that does interest you? Is the actual job of being a mechanic that you dislike or is it your employer? Move, find a wrenching job to pay bills while you actively look for something new. Maybe try for a job on campus? Roller coaster tech at Kings Dominion?

Personally I would like to go for something in engineering, and while I still love the automotive field idk how I feel about moving to Detroit (Yes I am leaving Baltimore but I don't really want a lateral move lol) or working on anyone's vehicle to put food on the table (side money is okay but that's always been rare for me anyway.) And a roller coaster tech sounds interesting..... lol

Software engineering and focus on Cyber security, etc.

Damn. That Richard Petty gig sounds better than 90% of the jobs out there.

There's 2 other school/ride along experiences at RIR as well and their own staff as well. There's a few racing focused shops and builders just south of Richmond as well

skierd wrote: Good news about having to move to Detroit, most of the OE's have already left (hence the state of Detroit currently) so you can move to South Carolina, Mexico, or California or anywhere where they still have plants.

Other than Ford, GM, FCA, sure. Oh, and Toyota. Not to mention that many have sub-offices in the area for development. Or the suppliers like Delphi and Bosch. Or the many sub-contractors like Roush or ATI.. or the regulatory agencies. And the big research Universities..

So ignoring all of those thousands of jobs and billions of dollars, you are spot on. It's a ghost town around here.

KyAllroad wrote: The new GI bill should be pretty darned good. Look into it and see what all it pays for, then decide if a part time gig is required to make ends meet while you study. Take a good hard look at what you want to do long term and talk to people in that field about what course of study you should pursue. Life will continue to happen whether you prepare for it or not so might as well take all the advantage you've earned.

I want to make sure this post gets repeated- as it's really spot on, as I see the issue. If you hate wrenching, then you really need to look inside yourself so that the GI bill and your time is wisely used.

Most schools have a winter term, so find out what the timing requirements are so that you can work a pattern that fits your schedule.

If you want to work in the auto industry as an engineer- get good grades- like above 3.5/4.0 GPA, do some SAE competition- FSAE, F-Hybrid, etc. And make sure you do all of that before finishing your Jr year- so that you can get an intern job (which post the Sept the year before the summer that they are asking for). Doing a good intern job will pretty much get you a career. If not, then clean that up for the next year.

APPLY ON TIME. You want to fill the applications with quality material as early as you can. And try to find an alumni from your school to help get the job.

Still, the most important thing is to honestly look at yourself. Not that many enthusiests work in the industry.

Update; put in my 2 weeks here last week and actively looking for jobs in the Richmond/Chester area.

Girlfriend nailed an interview yesterday and starts next month so definitely a plus, I'm currently working with a job recruiting company (same one that got me this job) but their lack of communication has been deplorable, but I am on the positive side now and excited for this to happen!

Thank you again everyone for the advice, and once I get down there will definitely be in communication with the local VA college reps.

There is a significant need for travelling technical service engineers in the plastics industry. Companies I sell for have MANY open technical service positions for injection molding machines, robotics, material handling systems, etc. They are both for start-up of new systems as well as repair of existing systems. These positions typically require experience in industrial electrical systems, industrial control/electronic systems (PLC and PC based), mechanical, and hydraulic systems. One organization I sell for is based in York, PA but has service techs all over North America.
Something to consider. If you're interested in knowing more please let me know.

Todd