Motivate me and make me feel better
Today I called up 27 local garages/services/dealerships, asking if they require an apprentice or trainee mechanic. Two of those said call back in one month. One took my details. A further two said drop in a C.V (resume). Overall, a disheartening experience. I feel like i'm a decent mechanic with a lot of potential, but nobody will let me get my foot in the door.
Fuck my life. I am woe. Etc, etc.
Um, this thread is pretty bitch. But. Keep it up, and like, support and stuff.
Originally Posted by BMV
Calling up garages ain't gonna do shit bruv. Your best bet is to actually go to them in person, hope you get some kind of conversation going with the manager and maybe they'll take a shot on you based on that. No garage is really going to give someone an apprenticeship over the phone, they'll have no idea whether you actually know your shit or not.
If you know enough about working on a car to be able to fix anything on yours, you'll be someone they'll be interested in for sure. Keep going! Just do it in person and try and build a rapport with some owners.
Yeah you're right, a few were more positive than others, and I noted that fact next to their name in my notebook. Think i'll drop in to thsoe guys on my next day off.
Thank you.
You phoned up 27 places and got 5 "positive" responses, that's a fairly successful day considering what you did. Phoning up places and asking if they have a position isnt going to work, 1. The position isnt advertised 2. You phoned up (not only might show youre lazy and couldnt be bothered to walk in but also face-to-face contact will win people over more) 3.You asked if they required a trainee, instead you need to suggest why they need you; especially for the position you want you could create that role within a company if you sell yourself enough. A lot of places may be too busy to take on a trainee or apprentice, the time spent training you and the fuck ups you make in the learning process may not be what they need when times are tough and they need to be extra competitive.
A 1 in 5 hit rate from cold calling sounds about right, deal with rejection homie.....the days of finding a job within a day for most are gone. People spend weeks and months everyday looking for work before they get anything.
I also live next to a college and judging the number of kids milling around in mechanic overalls at lunch makes me think it's oversubscribed as a profession but good luck anyway.
You come see me, I get you pair of skates- Ramell Knight
OP, That left you beat up and feeling disheartened? Welcome to the real world bro, shit is a lot harder than you want. You basically sound like a bitch, you need to man the fuck up and just keep pushing with a smile AND NEVER ADMIT THAT YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED! Not to yourself or anyone else.
Fucking LOL. I did the math after a few months of being laid off. I called about 450 different contractors and got shot down at every one of them. But this was a few years ago right at the height of the "economic collapse". Luckily I had enough of a customer base and unemployment compensation to not worry about it. It took me almost 3 years, well after my unemployment comp had run out, to find a decent paying job that was worth me adjusting my schedule with my customers.
And so, in closing, you'll be alright kid.
especially if you already have a valuable, marketable skill.
yo do you got your own tools G? work for yourself. work on other shit besides cars too. fuck doing cars. put up flyers all over the place. think...wheres there lots of engines?????? MARINAS for one. Go there n put your shit up everywhere. Locker rooms,bath houses,the front office, the post right next to the front gate, etc. someone will call you on it. start small and dont take on anything you dont think u can handle. youll be fine. if theres no water near you, again, where's there lots of engines at? even if your not familiar with the thing your working on, learn the specifics as you go. get out the manual if you need to! fuck it M.O.B.! all engines need spit, spin and spark. ALL OF THEM. once you understand that you can work on anything. do you due dilligance and never work for anyone again. make straight cash, claim what you want to the government and collect unemployment while your at it if you can. works good for me, probably you too mang.
Definitely go in person. I'm far from an expert on the business, but put yourself in their position. The phone rings while you're working, so you answer it and it's some guy asking about a job. You have shit to do, so you just want to get him off the phone. Now if that same dude were to walk in, you aren't being annoyed by the ringing of the phone and you can tell him to hang on while you finish something real quick leaving yourself free for a few minutes to have an actual conversation.
In other words, they're busy working and you're interrupting them. They're more likely to make time for you if you come to them and politely wait.
Or you could just get a police scanner and listen in for accidents and hope to beat anyone to the scene and just start fixing shit.
Seriously though, go to the places IN PERSON and ask to see the MANAGER. That way they get to see who you are, and if you're not a total douche the possibility of them hiring you are like 6 times bigger (moderate estimate). Do not talk to anyone but the MANAGER, this is actually kind of important, ask to see him and convince him to hire you.
My personal experience with this; one "interview", took me 3,5 minutes of chitchat then he asked me when I'd like to start. (When I'd LIKE to start, actually I took a long fucking weekend to chill first, just to show I am my own boss)
Last edited by Espen; 05.03.2012 at 19:23.
Winning
There's actually some really sound advice in this thread. Thanks for not being dickheads, at all.
nb, espen, rider, and everyone here, you all make a lot of sense. I should definitely go and see them in person, and make them see why I am a good investment. Monday, my next day off, I am going to do that. I will force myself to. Thinking about it now, it must seem like i'm being lazy by just calling up, and it doesn't matter how enthusiastic you try and sound on the phone. I have to get myself out there.
Fanti, good point, I do a little freelance work but might be a good time to change gear.
Yeah, maybe 5 positive responses is actually a good hit rateNow those five places I will follow up by visiting face to face.
"What are you doing for April Fool's?"
http://vimeo.com/34267416
All the MOTIVATION you shall ever need.
daaaaaaaaang sup blondie
go to school and get your ASE's. fuck aprenticeships
^you dont need to go to school for that.
I work at a car shop. Everyone that was hired there were hired because they knew someone that already worked there.
make friends, ask around. Word of mouth is gonna help almost as much as an impressive resume.
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