As much as I hate to think about it, I only have one year of school left and I'm having second thoughts about my plans. Ever since I can remember all I wanted to do was go to Wyotech for bodywork, but my mind has quickly changed. I've spent the past 2 weeks with a friend of mine spending every spare hour of everyday doing bodywork on my truck. We finally got it painted last night and I got it put back together today and it looks near perfect. I'm really proud of what we accomplished but after all that work I'm not sure I want to do that for the rest of my life, especially on someone else's vehicle that doesn't mean anything to me. I need to make up my mind pretty quick but I'd hate to make the wrong one. I don't really have a second career option since I never thought I'd need one. Should I stick with what I've always wanted to do and hope for the best or do you think I need to start thinking of a new career? Thanks

 

Expand on your dreams...

Ever considered engineering?

Other people have gone there before you - you can do it....

 

You have done well in getting your hands on experience with auto body work, to find out what it is like. Many people have inspirations to do what they love as a hobby, like auto paint /engine work on their own car, but will find out when they do it on a customers car day in and day out for a living , it gets old real fast...


In the real world, autobody shops are not the glorious places that the tv shows portray them to be. A person has to start on bottom when they enter that vocation, doing all the prep, stripping the car, sanding, body repair, masking, etc. which as you have found out is 98 % of the work. Very dirty and tiresome work, that is done all so the painter can look good. If the body guy is bad, the painter cant make up for it. The highest paid person in the shop is the painter, and they do the least amount of physical work. But you will find most of them had to start on the bottom, only a few shops hire just "paint only" people, except for the high volume shops. ..


Finding a career should have two criteria. The first one will be, making it one that you will have at least some passion for. It is hard for a person to go to the top in a career they dont like. Second, when that career goal is set, get all the education one can for it. Yes, degrees are just paper, but that paper will put you way ahead of all the others standing in the human resources office. Only you know what you will want to do for a living, talk to your teachers, get on the net and do a lot of research in to career building, it is FULL of free info....


It is a global economy you are entering in to the next two years. The semi skilled trades and even skilled trades are becoming saturated with the immigrant work force. A person will need a edge for a ace in the hole. That edge will be a degree in a specialized industry that will not be outsourced later. Hopefully you have college in your plans, because it will give you a great foundation to build your career from. Best of luck to you... all jmo.

 

Greg's 79 said it right on. I always thought I'd want to do stuff that I had enjoyed as a hobby as well, till I did it. It does get old quick.


Kind of like professional fisherman, yeah I like to fish and hunt alot, but to do it day in and day out for a living woudl get old quick. I love to quail hunt and be in the feild with my Brittany's, but as a quail hunting guide through the winter (on top of my other job) when mid February rolls around my dogs and I don't want to see each other for a while and we still have another month ahead of us. But by the time October/November rolls aroudn we are both ready to hunt again. Oh yeah, I quail hunted about 6 days a week often, actually had a stretch of 17 days straight of hunting (on top of work). Yeah by the time day #18 rolled around, and it was pouring down rain the dogs and i were ready for a break.

 

Boss50, maybe keep your bodywork/painting as a hobby.

Bodymen/painters are on the clock. They're required to fix this or paint that in a certain amount of time.

I used to work at an auto dealership (parts department) and our bodymen looked pretty dog gone beat and old for their age.

Most of them were alcoholics; not saying that it'll happen to you.

I agree with Greywolf, engineering. Keep your finger nails clean, for a living.

You'll last longer.

Just my (2 cents)

 

A bodyman that worked at the dealership when I worked there once told me that cigarette smoke was nothing compared to the toxins they breathed daily in the shop.

They all looked broke down like they had been drug hard through the mud and water and then rode hard and put up wet.

 

Put it this way boss50,

My friend, who is a landscape gardener, is putting his kids threw college, so they can hire what he does for a living.

 

Be something professional. You will live longer, and probably make more too.

 

Never underestimate (or overestimate) the power of your degree. So many jobs now want a degree... even the managers at Starbucks! And as an engineer, especially if you work for a small company, you will have plenty of opportunity to get your hands dirty. Not to mention, there is a lot of room to grow with regards to salary and responsibility. I have a job in the engineering field in CAD work and before I started, I really, really wanted to work on engines. I still want to build one and I'd still like to work in that department, but as far as my job now I couldn't be happier. It's not one I really thought I'd enjoy too much, but I learn something new every day, I work daily with different engineers, and I get to wear nice clothes... Even if I never moved, I think I could work here for a long time without getting sick of it. And it pays well, too. So someday when I've paid off all my student loans, I'll build a nice, big garage and do all the things I've wanted to do on my own terms.

 

If you have an aptitude for engineering, you might want to see what oportunities exist in the military. That way you won't have D-ranged's student loans to re-pay.
If the engineering end isn't what you're gifted at, you'll find it very frustrating. I worked in an engineering department for 4+ years at a small factory. It was NOT something I should have been doing, but it was a job and I needed one. As I found out, to them I was a warm body. BUT, if I'd been good at the work (had studied that in college) there would have no end to the possibilities.

 

Go to the Univirsity. Look at all the Bulliten boards in each College at the U. Engineering, Fisheries, Education, Medical, business.....etc etc.
You have an aptitude to make things work out correctly, which is the engineer's dream. Engineering has the most opportunities of all fields.(my opinion)
Engineering opens doors you never dreamed of, your life's career may change frequently.
That 'Great Welfare society' AKA: the Military, had some pretty lucritave offerings for a kid who cant afford College. Go see the Recruiter nearest the college.
As an officer, the military's not bad.

 

If your still in HS and know what you want to do in life your way ahead of the 95% that don't have a clue. Most don't find their direction until they have lived a little and experienced life to some degree.

I wonder how many people actually spend their lives doing what they thought they would be doing, while in high school.

 

i was the same way dude.... i was going to wyotech to be a mechanic and i had already signed up, until i became a mechanic my senior year of high school.... then i found i hated it.. so i came to the state university and i have been through 3 majors and am on my 4th and i really dont know what i want to do yet... but im taking classes that will help me decide... id suggest the same to you

Matt

 

Yup, check out the military, I personally suggest the navy only
because if you get called over sees, your on a boat miles away
from the fighting. I went in as a jet engine mechanic loved it
and almost wish i stayed in, but, bigger pastures where calling.
If you dont mind taking orders for a couple years before you get
to give them, it's a great place to start.

 

If College is not in your interest. It's tough, but you can do it, but if not....2 more suggestions here.

My son was a Jet Engine guy in the AF. Left the AF, with the training and experience, passed all the FAA tests and became a Mechanic on a Flying Truck.
Good Job, Good company to work for and he loves it. Another service related success story

I made (after I left engineering school) the Blocks of Seattle. I parked my car at the corner of a Four City Block square.
I went to every door, of every floor, in every building in that square. Applied everywhere, and finally found a great job. Stayed at it 35 years.

You'd be surprised at how many jobs you will find doing that, but most of them are like your interest in Body work. Interesting at first, but by the end of the month it's become a dead end street. However there are some really good jobs and the employers will train the right guy.