Yeah I don't want to go to a school that just wants to push out students to help their numbers. I want to go to a school that cares about my education as much as I do and makes sure that I'm understanding and grasping what they're throwing at me. And from talking to a couple guys that I know, UTI/MMI does that.

 

I have had several of my students go to UTI upon graduation from my high school.
According to the last word from any of them, they were gainfully employed as mechanics and enjoying what they were doing.
There is great potential for the student that absolutely loves the idea of being a mechanic and has the ability to perform at or near the top of his/her class in whatever training program they attend.
UTI is connected with many of the major manufacturers and job placement, while not absolutely guaranteed, is still in the upper 90% range for their students. If you have the aptitude, the desire, and the work ethic required, you can pretty much write your own ticket in the technician job market.
The average age of technicians is rising and thus so is the demand for qualified and focused employees to replace retirees.

 

This is going to be long, but I have been through this whole deal myself, so maybe what I have to say can help you out.

I graduated highschool in 2002. My last 2 years of high school I went to the vo-tech school for auto tech. I learned a lot there. I got an Internship at a Mercedes-Benz dealer for summer of 01, and did that on co-op for the 02 school year. I liked it.

After highschool graduation, I went to a community college for an associates in automotive technology. Once again, learned a lot, great knowledgeable teachers. It aslo had a co-op program, and I worked at the Benz dealer in the winter and summer the 2 years I was in the program. I graduated that in May of 2004. After that I went back to the Benz dealer until late August 04, when I started Mercedes-Benz ELITE.

Now, Mercedes-Benz ELITE, like most manufacturer programs, are contracted out to UTI. Supposedly, when they first started it, you had to be good to complete it. I saw a big ol' cattle chute, just pump them through as fast as you can. I'm sure half of the people I graduated with there have not made it in the industry. The program wasn't bad, just they left too many people "slide by" in my opinion. Keep in mind I was the only on with any Mercedes experiance, and would be asked by the teacher to help out the ones who were struggling. Graduated ELITE in mid December of 2004.

Started at the Same dealer full time on Jan 1, 2005. Started at 17.50 per hour, flat rate, as soon as my box was in the door. The other guys out of ELITE, got 17 to start with NO experiance, so my boss was doing me a "Favor" at 17.50. 90 days came and went, no review. Keep in mind, now I was locked into a 18 month contract for the dealer to pay for ELITE. I was given all the crap work, because, my service advisor knew my work ethic, and if I say its fixed, you can be damn sure I did everything in my power to verify that. So, thats the work I got, and the cars got fixed. However, I got called into the office and told my hours were too low, and if I didn't get them up, they were going to cut my guarantee to 30 hours a week from 40. I tryed to explain the situation to him, but he just wants more hours, period, end of story. My hours always hovered around the 35-40 mark per week, but I was doing the jobs nobody else wanted to or would complain about doing (working with foreman on problem cars, problem customers, or factory reps.) They don't want to pay for diag time, and I always lost a lot in that. They don't realize how all of their complicated wiring/sensors/networking can be to diagnose, and only want to pay .9 for a generic "test". Everyone else around me would just make up fake problems on warranty jobs, or just flat out lie about what needed done just becasue they needed hours, well I'm an Eagle scout, and flat out I don't lie. If it doesn't need it, well then it doesn't and thats the end of it. Anyway about march 06 I got to completely tear down a V-8 engine under warranty, to clean up sludge that had formed in the oil. I mean I had to take it down to a bare block, and bare heads and clean every single part individually. A total nighmare. After it was all said and done, they screwed me on hours on it, and really pissed me off. At this point I started x'ing the days off on my calendar until I could quit. My commitment ended July 1 2006, and I gave my notice on July 14. My boss gave me the biggest guilt trip I've ever been given, but my mind was 100% made up, and I had my new job lined up and signed on the dotted line. My buddies were all waiting at my toolbox when I got out of the office, to hear if he tried some form of counter offer, but I never let him.

I started my new job July 31, working on heavy equipment. I now get treated like a human, not a piece of *****. I get paid more than I did after 5 years at the benz dealer. I work half the distance from home, and work from 7-3:30. I love it. I will never look back.

Bottom line. watch what you get into with some auto dealers. From what I hear, most are not as bad as where i was, but none are great. Every friend I had that left and went to another dealer says it's the same crap, just not as bad. Yes there may be a huge shortage of techs, but nobody wants to pay the techs the money that they are worth and deserve. 17.50 for fixing 100+ grand cars, Isn't a fair deal, belive me, I saw the owners new house before I left. Also their benefits flat out sucked. I now pay Union dues, but have geart benefits and still bring more home. I could go on and on here, but i'm going to stop. If you need more info, ask, and I will provide it if possible.

 

Thanks for the insight, Furg. Much appreciated. Anymore info you can provide would be great. I'm currently working at a Chevy dealer as a parts truck driver, I may go talk to some of the service techs to see how they like it at this particular dealership. Now if I go to UTI for the Ford training, there's a new dealership that just opened up near my house so I can try and get in there if I decide to go that route.

 

All I can say is talk to the techs!!!!! If they say run, listen. I didn't and wish I would have. Also, try to talk to the ones who you can see being honest with you, because some will say they are happy when they aren't. As to ford specific, I love Fords to death, our family has 5, but I don't think they pay real well. One of the guys I went to ELITE with had done the Ford program, and wasn't happy with the money, and it was low. Look for dealers that have some form of hour guarantee for when they get slow, or you'll really be in trouble, or looking for a second job. I still 100% stand by my saying that technicians are well underpaid for what we do. We keep the world up and running, but it's hard to keep our heads above the water, while the big pencil pushers eat all the profits from someone else's work. Another big tip I can offer, LOOK into the major tool manufacturer's votech purchase programs. Matco and MAC have the best in my opinion, because you can buy anything in their catalog(other than shop equipment, tire changers, etc) at up to a 52% discount. Strap on makes you purchase their pre-organized sets, and that sucks. The other stuff is just as good, and belive me, I can get rough with tools. As before, anything more specific, ask, and I'll do my best to answer.

I can't say the profession has been bad to me(look at my sig), but now that it's time to go out shopping for a house, boy do I wish I had some more cash coming in. Also, any technician job is going to be tough to make a lifetime carrer out of, just due to it's extremely physical nature. I'm not sure that I'll be able to keep it going for 40 more years.

 

The good paying jobs in aviation are hard to come by anymore. I've worked in commercial aviation for almost twenty years now. Corporate greed and deregulation have taken their toll. More major changes coming our way this year. Retirement, medical, etc getting bargained away more and more every year. No, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I've started working on boats during the day, work nights at the airport. My plan is to have my own business within the next five years and leave aviation behind(if the layoffs don't get me). My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. Good Luck

 

I got lucky. My high school had an automotive course. . I went to work for the local Chebby dealer, I stayed 2 years. Made a career change to Plasma spay for a avation overhaul company. 4 layoffs in 8 years made me make another decision of career change. Moved to H.V.A.C. and haven't looked back. I get to work with my hands all day. I am also the company wrench. A van needs work it's my job. so it keeps me wrenching.
I work weekends and some after regular job hours for my brother-n-law at his small tree cutting service. I am his Ground Trainer/Ground Formen/Mechanic.

My best friend went to the motorcycle school in florida. He is a certified motorcycle mechanic. After graduating he went to work for the local cable company as a service tech.

Basicly career choices change according to life. Aerospace is a roller coaster career.
Automotive is prety stable. No matter what you decide, keep learning. Life can toss a curve ball when you least expect it. Who knows you may find out from a curve ball a job you truely love.

 

Yeah my high school had an automotive course as well, I just couldn't take it. The teacher had to accept students into the program and him and I have never seen eye to eye to he would never accept me. I tried many times to get in it but kept getting rejected.

 

There is no limit on how much money a top mechanic can make , If you have the skills and drive go for it , dont settle for doing brake jobs at Pepboys.......

 

Alright, thanks for all the input guys! It's very much appreciated. I think what I need to do is sit down and write down the pros and cons to me of going with car mechanics and motorcycle mechanics, and see which I would enjoy the absolute most. While I enjoy working on both, even with my little knowledge on both, I need to be able to narrow it down to the one I want to do more. The other can be a hobby, though.