Welcome to the real world, where experienced techs are being laid off and new grad's are not in demand.

 

Sad to hear that. I went there in the late 80's and had several job offers before I even finished the school. Times have changed.

You might have to relocate but I'd get ahold of a copy of that travel book/road atlas that HOG puts out with all the dealerships listed in it and just start dialing the phone. Check with indy's as well. I'm sure you will find something.

If you are considering starting your own shop I would suggest getting someone to work for you or go into business with you that has some experience in both the business end and the wrenching end as you will find out..........They only taught you the basics and you will need someone with real world experience to mentor you the first several months you are out there.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

this is what I'd like to do

 

Ever go to the HD dealers or Indy shops and look at the Thunder Press magazine they got out.

Check it out online man. They got job offers

http://www.thunderpress.net/Director...ssifieds.shtml

 

How many dealers have closed their doors in the past three years and dumped their mechanics into the mix?

I think the fast food industry has made us impatient. I'd like to order a hamburger and fries, where are they?

I'd like a job, where is it?

 

Everywhere does that . I went to a computer school that boasted a good placement and I bombed out also. They just want your money. They dont really care what happens too you once you leave. But keep trying. What else can you do in life.

 

I didn't go to MMI, but a tech school that boasted high employment rates also. Went online and did a ton of searches and resumes', did get a job after a month and did have to relocate from Dallas to Hartford. Really hated leaving the warm weather. The bottom line is it's a numbers game, put yourself out there to as many companies that you can, helps if you're willing to relocate. my .02. Good luck!

 

Yes. Any for profit school is going to make whatever claims they have to in order to keep students enrolling so the profits keep coming.

 

Tech school for wrenching doesn't help at all. I went to UTI for auto, diesel and industrial. 3 ASEs, graduated Alpha Beta Kappa, 3.89 GPA, 7 Student of The Course certs and 6 Directors Honors List. Where do I work? Midas making 9.50 an hour. Shops don't care what titles or certs you have, they want to hire someone to change oil and do basic work for cheap. Did I mention they want to hire you for peanuts? Classroom training vs real world wrenching are two different things - to what level of half-***-ing you'll stoop to is up to you. The shop has to make a profit at the expense of the customer, with you being the collector. Good luck!

 

What the trade schools give you is called "Entry Level Skills".
That 94% number will include you if you take any job even remotely related to the mobile vehicle industry. BTW driving a truck counts!
There are a lot of good and experienced technicians looking for work these days.
I started working for minimum wage and now work as the National Training Manager for an international company.
Find a job, any job, at any pay, work hard, have patience . . . everyone has opportunities, but the folks who get to take advantage of them are those who are already prepared to take advantage of them when they come up . . . not those who wait for them and then try and prepare . . .