Who would you hire?

[383 240z]

I'm thinking about changing careers. I was a automotive line tech for 12 years, ran a transmission shop for 3 years, built custom hot rods for 4 years. after my time in the custom, and tranny shop I decided that I just could not go back to flat rate auto repair. I was offered an aftermarket automotive sales position, (off road Jeep stuff) I seemed like a good fit because I am an avid off-roader. I have been here for 4 years, went from phone sales to retail store manager in 2 years, and like I said in my first sentence, I'm thinking of leaving.

My reasons are selfish, I'm making decent cash for what I do, I'm in an air conditioned office most of the day, and I don't get dirty, how ever I am not producing anything. All I do is move papers from one pile to another, and put out fires when UPS damages a shipment, or we send the customer a wrong part.

My soul needs my body to produce something. I bought a mill and a lathe, just so I could make parts for my hobby, (hot rods, and Jeeps). I taught myself to weld and use these machines with a decent amount of precision.

Now to the good bits. I live right in the center of the Marcelles shale formation, and the oil and gas industry is BOOMING here. All the local machine shops are busy. One near me, that I have been buying drops from for awhile is hiring. I have been on the main floor several times, nice and clean, well maintained machines. They are hiring. I do NOT consider my self a machinist, however I have an excellent work ethic, ability to work un supervised and smart enough to stop before I get in over my head.

My question to all of you, who run shops, if you your hiring, would you consider somebody like me? The help wanted sign has been hanging for a while, and good skilled workers are hard to find. Let me know your thoughts, and if you would get into this line of work at this time? Thank you Keith

[flylo]

I don't run a machine shop but I've hired a lot of people & I'll take a good attitude & work ethic over a skillset anytime. You can't teach the 2 things I mentioned. Sounds like you have most of the skill set needed. Good luck!

[fjk]

As flylo said "I don't run a machine shop but I've hired a lot of people" --
software engineers in my case.

Generally, attitude, ethic, willingness (and demonstrated ability in
an interview) to learn new stuff quickly, ability to think on one's
feet, etc, count for about 80%, and specific knowledge of
a specific technology/programming language/OS/... is about 20%.

Sometimes, though, I've needed someone who knows something
very specific. When that happens, the other factors get pushed
aside.

[garagemark]

I too do not run a machine shop, but I do hire people. While attitude and work ethics would be tops on the list, the skillset is also paramount. If a resume comes across my desk and the guy doesn't have (in my case, electrical) experience, he will not get a shot to even talk to me. Sounds cold, but when I am hiring, I need craftsmen who can at least hit the ground running. They may not know my specific plant, but with prior experience in the field, they will pick up the nuances of my operation quickly. Someone who WANTS to be a craftsman just can't start here.

On the other hand, if you can do a "walk in", you might impress someone to give you a position doing at least something. And once your foot is in the door, you can probably prove yourself quickly. It's getting the shot that is tough.

By the way, the above may make me sound like an asss, but I work for a rather large company. Their policies are not set by me; I simply must follow what they set when I need to hire. Some of the smaller shops may have some leeway to "try" someone out. Sometimes I wish I could. I've been looking for an electrician for a while now.

[Alistair Hosie]

Jobs are very hard to find please watch what you are doing. Couldn't you do the paper pushing day job and do your hobby at night and at weekends etc to satisfy your manufacturing need?.Alistair

[flylo]

Talk to the shop you want to work for, be honest about your ability, desire to do something new, etc & if he agrees take all your vacation to try the new job to make sure it works for you & them before you quit your current job. Offer to do it for free if it opens the door.
When I was in high school I always wanted to be a mechanic, worked on everyones car all the time, took the 3 year auto shop class to get certified. When I got a real job as a mechanic I hated it. Diirty work fixing junk, everyones mad the lift truck broke, It sucked. I had planned to take a 2 year college diesel coarse. Try it before you burn the bridge! Nothing ventured nothing gained & if you don't give it a shot you'll always wish you had.
Even if it doesn't work you'll gain knowlege & know if it's the right move for you & consider it an adventure.

[Tait]

The machine shop work depends on the oil work, and the oil business may boom for a while and may die out eventually - it is fickle. Then again, off roading could change too. Your call. Do you have a wife and family to take care of?

I also have an urge to make things - I'm making things at home for me and for my friends and family and suspect it is much more satisfying than making things for money would be.

Have you considered making things to meet people's needs in the offroad business? There's a cottage industry for off-roading stuff (see swagoffroad.com for an example).

I'm planning to pick up a JK Unlimited later this year. Here are a couple of things I'll be interested in (assuming they could be made safely):
- Lower driver's seat mounts (I am 6'5" and hit my head on the roof going over bumps)
- Some kind of collapsing ramp to help my dog climb into the back as he ages
- Decent bracket for ham radio (haven't looked for these recently, they may exist now)
- Much better coathanger for those big trips to the dry cleaners (again, haven't looked)
- Secure spare key storage (for when you lock the keys in the car, or are hiking and split up and the wrong person has the keys, or skiing and drop them in the snow (ask me how I know...)).

Gotta go for now, but that's just off the top of my head...

[MetalMunger]

383,
Remember if you do get a job in the oil patch not to tell your friends or mother that way they can still believe that you are a piano player in house for independent female contractors.

[Clevelander]

Working at what was your hobby is a perfectly effective way to ruin it.

The other thing is that in that businsess everything is real money when it comes to time. Having the knowledge to do the job can be key.

That said the point of talking to them is a good one. Not every employee needs to be an expert on every aspect of the job.

[Black_Moons]

Consider yourself lucky.. I live within 7 machine shops. Every single one I went to didn't even have anyone working when I droped in. Everyone just standing around costing money blabing about there day. *sigh*

Nobody makes anything around here anymore..