Finding qualified help

[check]

I always like to talk to the "floor" folks.. not the "chair" crowd..

That makes sense. Why listen to someone who makes a living by talking up the company?

My old boss walked a fella thru the shop.. introduced me to him.. he said I'v been there 20 years..
I looked at the kid & say.. DUDE, if McDonalds is hiring.. GO THERE.. seriously..
THAT was the last time I was introduced to an interviewee.. Lol

PRICELESS!

i yelled at boss yesterday ....and told him how the hell you expect me to do all that i have 3 things torn apart in the shop now

The best time for a mechanic to yell at the boss is when he has several machines torn down. Good timing!

 

[wornout wrench]

Oh man, I had to take my socks off to count up that high.

My wife calls me a gypsy, I have a bit of wanderlust when it comes to working.
I have dragged my family all over coastal BC working jobs.
It goes back to my youth, my father was a logging manager so we did lots of moving.

Out of all of the places i have worked, there is only one that I burned a bridge behind me, and I will never work for that A$$ again so no issues there.

I have found that I start to get tired of a job, working on the same equipment day after day. After several years I need a change in diet and move on. It might be the same kind of equipment, just belongs to someone else. Things will always be different at a new place.

The master mechanic that I did my apprenticeship under told me to move on once I got my TQ, go see how the rest of the world does it. I thought that it was pretty sage advice. Ten years later, I showed up on his door looking for work and I got hired just like that.

Now I am at the end of my working career and looking back I would do the same thing all over again, no regrets at all. I even give the same advice to the younger guys at work just starting off. My boss might not like it, but I think my old master mechanic that gave me that advice 40 plus years ago was onto the right idea.

 

[thepumpguysc]

TQ ???

 

[Ronsii]

Trade Qualification.... maybe....

 

[DMiller]

More pay, better(maybe) hours or benefits called me on more than one occasion, longest in any one shop 6 years. Then I got really greedy and worked side jobs for ten years. PM shift at the independent garage, late nights to early days contract mechanic for two quarries, that got too rough and demanding so set up a couple of guys with small fleet trucks for maintenance, they needed more than I could deliver so moved again to driver after midnight for first fuel hauls local tractor trailer then packaged milk in ref. van. Started ALL getting old, I was getting nowhere in any of it, tooling changes, updating service materials as equipment traded up, bad checks and poor payers that would pay but had to wait seemingly forever even poor pay from secondary employers. I then went to work for a Utility, SOOO Different a world, we had limits on physical loading on the men, had safety people crawling thru every aspect, got so bad EPA and Safety wise they removed below ground tanks and had a fueling service refill the trucks daily. All we ever had to do was chase repair tickets when the major management changed and the supervisor said flatly, 'Sign every bid out, and take the one you can get' as he saw the writing on the wall, became a Power Station laborer(Glorified Janitor) then up-bid into a Plant equipment operator job, stayed there the longest I EVER worked one job, 22 years.

 

[old-iron-habit]

Oh man, I had to take my socks off to count up that high.

My wife calls me a gypsy, I have a bit of wanderlust when it comes to working.
I have dragged my family all over coastal BC working jobs.
It goes back to my youth, my father was a logging manager so we did lots of moving.

Out of all of the places i have worked, there is only one that I burned a bridge behind me, and I will never work for that A$$ again so no issues there.

I have found that I start to get tired of a job, working on the same equipment day after day. After several years I need a change in diet and move on. It might be the same kind of equipment, just belongs to someone else. Things will always be different at a new place.

The master mechanic that I did my apprenticeship under told me to move on once I got my TQ, go see how the rest of the world does it. I thought that it was pretty sage advice. Ten years later, I showed up on his door looking for work and I got hired just like that.

Now I am at the end of my working career and looking back I would do the same thing all over again, no regrets at all. I even give the same advice to the younger guys at work just starting off. My boss might not like it, but I think my old master mechanic that gave me that advice 40 plus years ago was onto the right idea.

I agree with you philosophy completely. The first ten years of my career I moved on my own dime to work on projects that sounded interesting. I was not interested in school but by working these cool, complicated, different than normal building projects I got a field education I could never have bought for any money. It has served me well.

 

[wornout wrench]

Trade Qualification.... maybe....

Sorry, yes trade qualification.

 

[DMiller]

Scariest days in my total career, Starting as a mechanic first REAL job, getting laid off the first time, getting hurt first in '77 then again in '87 thinking my working days over both times, changing occupation in '97, retiring and then going back to driving what I had not set foot in for over twenty years.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I remember the "lay-off scare".. I was working in a corporate position in production.. I'v never seen, nor have I ever been, around a lay-off in my life..
After the sweep came thru, they NEVER gave a notice.. just a sweep of management came thru the factory w/ lists & they split off down the isles, like some sort of military exercise..
I went to my boss & asked him if I was safe?? He laughed & said, HE'D BE GONE before I would be.. & that I'd be the one holding the keys to the front gate..
THAT made me feel pretty good.. BUT.. I couldn't live my life not knowing if I was gonna have a job from 1 week to the next.. so I left shortly afterwards..
1 guy in my dept got layed-off & before he got home, they called him back to work.. the Gov't contract had gotten re-newed & they "needed" him..
So back to work he came..
He told me he was use to it.. its happened many times before.. just collect unemployment till they called you back.. cuz they ALWAYS called you back.. Kinda like a mini vacation..
Not THIS KID.. Lol

 

[walkerv]

i got layyed of once that how i ended up in nc from michigan , would not move back up north unless i was paid too including a free house as part of the deal lol , 3-4 years was my normal job duration before this gig of 8 years i dont mind working one place. only concerns i have rite now is my wife cant drive due to a recent foot surgery so im going to try and make this move in a month or so , that way she is back to driving hopefully , that is my only problem moving out of state we no longer have family that can help us out .
dmiller my scariest day was the first time i had to do a u-joint in a semi little did i know the bigger they are the easier they are I had huanting memories of watching my dad destroy them triing to change them he was a mechanic too, come to find out he just sucks at doing them go figure lol, luckily our second shift boss was awsome he was also our teacher all new people and young guys started out on 2nd under his rule he was an awsome teacher on everything truck related except for major engine repairs , only 2 engines he was involved with overhuals on both blew up so he said im done with that .

 

[DMiller]

My first 4WD CV joint rebuild was one of the U-joint days. Jockeying the crosses the center alignment ball and needles all with just two hands and a old vise almost got the better of me. Then found could exchange the damn things as cheap as buying the parts after the next one died. Live and learn.

 

[walkerv]

My first 4WD CV joint rebuild was one of the U-joint days. Jockeying the crosses the center alignment ball and needles all with just two hands and a old vise almost got the better of me. Then found could exchange the damn things as cheap as buying the parts after the next one died. Live and learn.

Never dealt with one of those before now that iknow what you know i wont lol, i woke up at midnight and started putting in online applications in ,one place local one is an hr away due to traffic will see what happens with those two, im expecting a phone call to come today for another place 2 different locations same company but i want a pre interview and to see how they do things first before i will fill an application out for them becuase its the same industry im in know and dont want to end up where and how i am rite now . I think i have my wife behind me becuase i have been complaining about work for over a year and she sees how unhappy i have become .

 

[thepumpguysc]

You "think" the wife is behind you?? You BETTER make sure.. NOTHING WORSE than an unhappy woman.
Unhappy coworkers & boss's you can put-up with..
a wife.. not so much..
My wife TOLD ME TO QUIT 10 years ago.. lol & the last 2 weeks of my employment, I'd call her up in the middle of the day & say> "ARE YOU SURE" I can quit?? Lol..
I did THAT more than once.. Just to MAKE SURE..
& remember.. that 1hr drive aint all its cracked up to be.. longer to get to work, longer to get home & more often than not.. it turns into a 2hr drive due to traffic & accidents.. Take it from someone who knows.
You BETTER have an understanding boss.. cuz your gonna be late ALOT.
When O/T is involved.. getting up at 4:30 instead of 7:00 is a killer on the mind & body.
& IF you have to work late.. same thing..
Good luck in your search.. I think we've all been there at 1 time or another.. not fun..

 

[walkerv]

You "think" the wife is behind you?? You BETTER make sure.. NOTHING WORSE than an unhappy woman.
Unhappy coworkers & boss's you can put-up with..
a wife.. not so much..
My wife TOLD ME TO QUIT 10 years ago.. lol & the last 2 weeks of my employment, I'd call her up in the middle of the day & say> "ARE YOU SURE" I can quit?? Lol..
I did THAT more than once.. Just to MAKE SURE..
& remember.. that 1hr drive aint all its cracked up to be.. longer to get to work, longer to get home & more often than not.. it turns into a 2hr drive due to traffic & accidents.. Take it from someone who knows.
You BETTER have an understanding boss.. cuz your gonna be late ALOT.
When O/T is involved.. getting up at 4:30 instead of 7:00 is a killer on the mind & body.
& IF you have to work late.. same thing..
Good luck in your search.. I think we've all been there at 1 time or another.. not fun..

This is only my second time voluntarily looking for a new job last time i did i thought i had my forever job but shop managment changed and i got laid off, i chatted with her about that last nite she u derstands she knows i have been unhappy and has prodded me along for the last year , if the hr away job happens its a feild service job and can bring truck home maybe not at first but it will happen so that saves wear and tear on my junk and i should be able to leave house and go straight to a jobsite . At least i hope thats how it will work .we shallsee what happens , the local one i applied for runs mostly cat stuff so that would be a bonus for me as that is what most of my expierence is in now i wait , if i want to be slammed with calls all i have to do is make a minor change to my resume on monstor and the phone calls will make it hard to get work done

 

[thepumpguysc]

I really hate to keep stompin on your ideas.. but the service truck idea "might not be" all its cracked up to be?? SURE it saves on fuel costs & wear & tear.. tires, oil changes.. all that crap.. [personal vehicle]
BUT, just wait till it becomes "the norm" to where you HAVE TO BE AT THE JOBSITE at 8:00am or 6:am..
because YOU have the service truck.. & not getting paid for your travel time..
That means your leaving your house at 6:00, driving for 2 hours to the jobsite & not getting paid until 8:00..
No more, coming into the shop, grabbing a coffee, clocking in at 8 & THEN jumping in the truck & going to work..
THOSE are the things that need to be discussed at an interview.. if not, you start to feel like your being taken advantage of & you end-up where you are now.. lookin for a new job..

 

[walkerv]

I really hate to keep stompin on your ideas.. but the service truck idea "might not be" all its cracked up to be?? SURE it saves on fuel costs & wear & tear.. tires, oil changes.. all that crap.. [personal vehicle]
BUT, just wait till it becomes "the norm" to where you HAVE TO BE AT THE JOBSITE at 8:00am or 6:am..
because YOU have the service truck.. & not getting paid for your travel time..
That means your leaving your house at 6:00, driving for 2 hours to the jobsite & not getting paid until 8:00..
No more, coming into the shop, grabbing a coffee, clocking in at 8 & THEN jumping in the truck & going to work..
THOSE are the things that need to be discussed at an interview.. if not, you start to feel like your being taken advantage of & you end-up where you are now.. lookin for a new job..

No your not stomping at all gives me more things to ask about when the time comes , i apreciate advice and ideas from people that have been there before me , with more experience on the subject at hand , in fact i just grabbed another lead this morning from an ex driver turned manager for another company .

 

[Birken Vogt]

Regarding the service truck at home, I have no idea how it is in NC but I had a co worker who knew these kinds of things tell me once that your clock starts at only one "duty station" so to speak. So if they had you go to work at a different location, the time it took to drive from your home location to the new location was paid time and possibly vehicle mileage paid also if using your own car.

So if this is true for your state, and you have the truck at home, if you are going in the opposite direction you should be getting paid from the start, if you are going past the main office the commute time may not be paid until you get past the main office but paid at some point.

Most smart companies are eager to comply with work regulations like this, and if they are not, trying to save a buck on you, then you know what to do.

 

[walkerv]

Another good question bv im making a list

 

[92U 3406]

My longest stint at a job was just over 3.5 years. I'm rolling up on 3 at my current job. It has its ups and downs but I'm not dissatisfied enough to want the hassle of changing jobs. It'll be the same BS at the new place.

We just voted to go union and I'm not happy about that so we'll see how that pans out. I was 2nd to last hired so I've kind of been cornholed. Can't rely on my work ethic to avoid any possible layoffs now.

 

[walkerv]

My longest stint at a job was just over 3.5 years. I'm rolling up on 3 at my current job. It has its ups and downs but I'm not dissatisfied enough to want the hassle of changing jobs. It'll be the same BS at the new place.

We just voted to go union and I'm not happy about that so we'll see how that pans out. I was 2nd to last hired so I've kind of been cornholed. Can't rely on my work ethic to avoid any possible layoffs now.

Always some kind of bs everywhere you go its just a matter if you can deal with that style of bs , im thru i made a few choices due to managment issues i shouldnt have and now it is compounding my issues making me want to start fresh i guess as i have gotten older i dont deal so well with the dumbness i have to deal with now , i need a faster paced less projects enviroment i grew up in the industry at truck dealers with certain customers having only me work on there trucks if i couldnt work on there trucks they would reschedule , same thung happened when i worked at a privately owned demo company , all the good truck drivers would wait till i could work on there trucks to write something up.