I've been really taking a close look at what i do for a living. I've been working on cars for only about 10 years. I've always had a passion for them, but the longer i "fix" them for other people, the less i enjoy what i'm doing. I'm 26. Is it too late to consider changing careers? I know people always say "it's never too late". But, jobs are real thin in this area. I could maybe go back to school, but i have no clue what for. I'm in such a groove, that nothing seems to make sense. I've even been considering military. Am i too old for that too?
I just don't see myself fixing cars and breaking my back for the next 39 years.

Just wait a few more months and things will turn around and you can decide then what you would rather do than turning wrenches..
There will be more diversity in the job market and if you get into somthing you dont like then you will be able to bail and check out another ,,but right now you best stay at what you know best and wait for a brighter day to make the change ..
I honestly believe that there will be a whole lot of new jobs a comming ,,this country needs a lot of things and that makes for a lot of jobs.

its never to late at 34 i got burned out on working on cars and quit and went and worked full time as an emt for 5 years got tired of that and went back to cars no problems.know thinking about what to do next no fear.

39 years is the typical cutoff age for fresh recruits in the military --- so still have a long way to go there ---- if you went to college full time, you would be out with a bachelor's in business adminastration in 4 years --- you would only be 30.

A lot of 30 year old still have no clue what they are going to do with the rest of their lives

http://www.perrytech.edu/
look into the instrumentation program. I went there from '98 to '00.

39 years is the typical cutoff age for fresh recruits in the military --- so still have a long way to go there ---- if you went to college full time, you would be out with a bachelor's in business adminastration in 4 years --- you would only be 30.

A lot of 30 year old still have no clue what they are going to do with the rest of their lives

This makes me feel a little better. I thought it wasn't "normal" for me to feel this way about my career choice. Auto Body has always been a tradition for the guys in my family. I'd like to do that, but the school is kinda far from here. I'd like to still have something to do with cars, but not repairing the nasty broke down piles of..... That customers bring in. Auto "Repair"... just doesn't feel like "my thing".

http://www.perrytech.edu/
look into the instrumentation program. I went there from '98 to '00.
What is instrumentation?

Tuff decision. You know where you are now , where do you want to go.What are your means to get there. Phewwweee! Geter done.

my brother in law faced the same thing about 3 years ago...but then again he was working on Furds...he quit there, worked building specialized machines, got laid off, when to work in heavy machinery repair, hated that. the Furd dealership almost begged him to go back, and he did with a minor pay increase.
i guess it can get monotonous, so a break is good, my brother in law was lucky that he was a good employee that they wanted back, but honestly, if you're not happy with your work, you're usually not very happy

I've had many friends and myself didn't get settled in to their life-long careers until they were 35 or older. Don't feel like you're the only one that has felt that way. Change is not bad. As already been said, be cautious as long as you have a steady pay check, but maybe dabble in other things in your off time 'til the job market settles down.
Good Luck with your decisions.

My 02,
Cayoterun

I suppose that's correct. The right thing to do here is to tough it out as long as i can. Keep looking for something else. Maybe look into some schools and how it'd fit my schedule. I'm really banking on the job market to improve more sooner than later.

What is instrumentation?

If you like working on things but staying fairly clean instrumentation is for you. Almost every industry has instrument techs. You will learn how to calibrate instruments, basicly you will work on stuff that measures something.
level, presure, temp, flow, etc...
I work at a pharmacutical co. but jobs are everywhere.

http://www.perrytech.edu/instrument.html

the more things you try the more rounded you are.by trying other carrer choices the more you'll have to fall back on
i completely understand the way you feel about cars, i found that out too that a hobby and profession so closely linked didnt work for me either

Monkeypunk, as an example, i was in the Army from age 17(2 days after i graduated HS) until i was 23. Then i went to college for 3 years (ipicked up a few credit hrs in the Army and was able to graduate in 3 instead of 4) -- at 26 i started working as an A&P mechanic (airplanes), and by age 30 , i was through with it and started my career as an insurance adjuster, which i am still doing 8 years later and probably will be in the insurance industry until i retire.

I walked away from a very good aviation job to enter a field that i was intrigued with but uncertain about and it worked out.
If you are passionate about the activity, good things usually happen (well, legal activities that is)

At age 50, I walked away from the oil industry (refining) in search of something else.
I'll admit I got my butt kicked when it came to wages, but my stress factor dropped to nearly zero.

But, given how things are nowadays, I'd suggest just "toughing it out" for a while. Jobs aren't as plentiful when I made the career change.

And, at your age, the military is a very viable option.
Remember, "Uncle Sam needs you!"

Just my .02.

P.S. I was once told, "If you find a job you love, you'll never have to work another day in your life."

I'm really banking on the job market to improve more sooner than later.


Why not find something that you WANT to do and see how it fits... I joined the military @ 18 and it has opened a lot of doors for me (free college, flight school, money, retirement and now free grad school) and might help you jump start a great career...

If you don't have a family yet then take a chance on education or the military before your obligations outweigh your means (house, kids, cars, wife etc...)

I joined the Army when I was 24. It sucked having punks younger than me, that wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell in anything other than the military telling me what to do, but if you stick it out and bust yer nuts, you can move up pretty quick, and then it isn't so bad. I see older and older people coming in everyday because of the job market. A lot of prior service coming back too. You don't erally have to worry about getting fired, either.;)

I agree with some others on here. My cars and trucks are a hobby and something I enjoy working on in spare time. I would hate it if I had to do it everyday for a living. I don't see the fun in working on cars all day and having to come home and 'enjoy' working on personal cars. Find your knack (I guess thats a word?) that your good at and enjoy and leave the hobbies as just that...hobbies. And as far as something being stressful...i was once told that stress is a choice. Its up to you if something is going to stress you out. You can only control so much. The world's not going to end because you couldn't get to something, or everyones needing you. You can only do what you can do. Just my .01. Hope it helps.

I went into an army recruiter office when i was 18. I talked to a guy, did a couple computer test things, then i left and never heard from them again. I've sent for a couple information packets over the coarse of a few years, and i never receive anything. I don't know if that's a sign to stay away from the military, or if they just don't want anything to do with me.

I went into an army recruiter office when i was 18. I talked to a guy, did a couple computer test things, then i left and never heard from them again. I've sent for a couple information packets over the coarse of a few years, and i never receive anything. I don't know if that's a sign to stay away from the military, or if they just don't want anything to do with me.

Could have been a lazy recruiter, never know...

Don't worry about what they "offer" you. If you have a GT score of 110 or higher then you can get almost any job you want. If they don't offer what you want then walk away. I wish I knew that info when I enlisted... I wouldn't have been pounding in 6 foot ground rods into the ground while doing my "computer related" job!

If you want to jump out of airplanes then do it, if you want to cook grits then do it, if you want to fly helicopters then do it... see where i'm going with this?

see the world, have fun and serve your country... just my 2 cents! :lol:

keep in mind the current stability of the independant auto repair industry right now. we are kind of buffered from the recession so to speak. when things blow over then make your move. but in the mean time it would be a good idea to peek behind a few doors, just dont walk through them and close it behind you.
back in the fall/winter of '01 the industry took a nose dive with all the super deals on new cars. I moved over to medium duty fleet truck work and hated it. but it kept food on the table for 4 years.
it sounds also like you need a vacation. not necessarily going somewhere, just a break. then you could think about things and re-boot your system.

A guy I once knew wanted to go back to school to become a doctor, but he wouldn't get out of school until he was 50.
When I asked how it was he decided to take the plunge he looked at me and said, "I asked myself, would I rather be 50 and still doing what I am doing now, or be 50 and be a doctor?"

At 26 you have enough time to do whatever you want! I joined the Army at 18 and stayed 7 years. After working a few years of crappy jobs I enrolled at DeVry. Three years later I had a B.S. degree. It changed my life! I now make 100k per year.

It sounds like you just need a break.take some time off and see how you feel about things.

It can be done, it just takes some drive. I do agree with the others about the job market pool right now, so if you are on your own and making money it may be best to stick it out a while.
My Father did it at 30 something. He was a machinist since getting out of high school, and managed to support the family until my Mother started making money. Then he quit and went to school full time for years, I dunno how many but long story short he is a doctor now.
Funny side note. Dad burned out on the Doctor gig and went back to work as a machinist, his old buddy started his own business in the screw machine industry. Back when my Dad was working on machines, everything was done with micrometers and by feel. Now a days everything is computorized. His buddy had kept a section in the shop for the old schoolers, where all the machines were 1970's vintage. That's where he worked for 3 years getting his head back in order, then quit and went back to working as a doctor. Pretty cool to have alternate skills to fall back on!

It can be done, it just takes some drive. I do agree with the others about the job market pool right now, so if you are on your own and making money it may be best to stick it out a while.
My Father did it at 30 something. He was a machinist since getting out of high school, and managed to support the family until my Mother started making money. Then he quit and went to school full time for years, I dunno how many but long story short he is a doctor now.
Funny side note. Dad burned out on the Doctor gig and went back to work as a machinist, his old buddy started his own business in the screw machine industry. Back when my Dad was working on machines, everything was done with micrometers and by feel. Now a days everything is computorized. His buddy had kept a section in the shop for the old schoolers, where all the machines were 1970's vintage. That's where he worked for 3 years getting his head back in order, then quit and went back to working as a doctor. Pretty cool to have alternate skills to fall back on!

That's a story.
Talk about divergent skills!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not trying to be nosy, but I'd love to know more, if I could.

Didn't bother to read all the replies, so I hope I'm not repeating something.

I've always heard that most people who really accomplish something in life, I mean REALLY accomplish something, don't do it until they are in their 50's. So, no, you're not too old to change what you're doing.

When I got out of the military, I got a job at the local Chevy house. I worked there for about 3 months and decided working on cars all day was killing my hobby. Went into communications and been doing it ever since (37 yrs). It turned out to be not as hard (physically) and the pay and benefits are OK. I envy those whose work is their hobby! I'd like to retire and go to work, part time, in a auto custom fab shop. Good luck! Lots of life, learning and adventures ahead for you.

That's a story.
Talk about divergent skills!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not trying to be nosy, but I'd love to know more, if I could.

Well, El Jay. I am not sure where to start on what you'd like to know more on. I am happy to share, so I will give a little more detail on it.

I'm not really sure what motivated my Father to do what he did and the direction he chose, so I am just guessing it was mainly money and quality of life were the biggest factors.
I do know that he is the first in my family to get away from the machine tool trade. I know that he took the job out of high school since it was available, and his Father got him in as an apprentice at the shop. My Mothers family was also all about fine machine tooling, and that two generations were watch makers for Bolluva.
So needless to say it was a shoe in for him in the early 1960's, and I think he just grew out of it knowing that it wasn't what he truely wanted to do the rest of his life.
I am sure he wouldn't be able to make such a dramatic change with out the help of my Mother, who by the time I was maybe 5 years old was on her way to a career in nursing. So her salary was able to support a family, and my Dad became a full time student. I then grew up with the sound of a typewriter, and my Mother always telling my sister and I to go play outside before we disturb our Father. (Not fun)...
By the time the late 1980's my Father became a Dr., opened a private practice and began making money. My sister moves out, and I am 19 ready to bounce out of the house. My Father decides that he wants to leave my Mother, which to this day I am still a bit sore about but then such is life but crappy none the less.
He remarries to some nut job who basically used my Father as her personal status symbol, and then they divorced and she out of crazy spite robbs him of everything including his practice.
My sister and I take care of him for a year or so, and he moved in with me with nothing but a arm full of clothes and a car. While at my place, his car is repo'd, and now he had no transportation and basically living in a sad state of depression for another year.
I found a really nice 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlas and bought it, cleaned it up really nice and gave it to him to be able to get around.
Then out of the blue I get a phone call at my house while we were watching TV and having a few beers, and I answer it with some guy I didn't know asking for if my Father was there - "This is Roy, tell him and he will know" (I was screening all calls, since everyone was hunting him down for money).
I tell my Dad who it is, and he runs to the phone and then he later gets cleaned up and runs out to be picked up by him. Turns out that Roy was his old friend from High School, and his coworker in the machine tool business days. Roy was in town to attend a machinist convention at the LA convention center, and asked my Dad if he wanted to come with...
The next day my Father is packing up the Olds, and he is heading to Southern Utah with 13 dollars and my gas card to work for his old friend.
He lived in Huricane Utah for I dunno 3 or 4 years working at the machine shop, trying to get his life back into perspective and deciding what he needed to do with the rest of his life.
He then persued a job opportunity working in Idaho for the USAF as a resident civilian doctor, moved to Boise and did that for quite a few years while he saved money again. Then started to rebuild a new practice in Boise, and to this day is doing very well now. (Still single to this day LOL).

Personally... I think it was pure devine intervention when Roy called, since I was unlisted in the phone book. Plus the last time my Father even spoke to Roy was the day he left the machine shop some 20 years prior.

Well, that's about it. If you or anyone wants me to fill any gaps I may have left, then feel free to ask since this whole real life story has shaped my life in many ways.

Oh, by the way. He still has the Oldsmobile, and says it meens to much to him to get rid of it...

Chris

We have a friend in the family that was a Kansas wheat farmer and decided to become a dentist... talk about a career change!

Wow. I go to work today, come home and read two pages of awesome replies. I read every one of em, even Vectorit's amazingly detailed story about his father. Keep em coming everyone. These are all extremely inspiring to me right now. I really appreciate all of the support. This forum is the best.

When I got out of the military, I got a job at the local Chevy house. I worked there for about 3 months and decided working on cars all day was killing my hobby. Went into communications and been doing it ever since (37 yrs). It turned out to be not as hard (physically) and the pay and benefits are OK. I envy those whose work is their hobby! I'd like to retire and go to work, part time, in a auto custom fab shop. Good luck! Lots of life, learning and adventures ahead for you.

Killy my hobby..... That's exactly what it's doing. Fixing other peoples cars 7 days a week. 50 paid hours. roughly 25 hours saturday and sunday in the driveway. I haven't had a vacation since........ i don't know if i've ever really taken one..... not since i was a kid and didn't work. Since i've started working, my vacation consists of repairs around the home and fixing friends or families cars i couldn't get to while i was at work. I've always wanted to go somewhere for a vacation, but i live paycheck to paycheck. I don't even have a bank account. I survive off a few hundred bucks paid every Wednesday. Any "real" vacation is kinda outta the question. The Dells are a couple hours away. I think they have Cabins for rent there. That'd be awesome..... Peace and Quiet. That's all i ever want, but never can achieve. lol. i'm too young to complain like an old man. I feel old though. I guess i got swept up in the work habit. My girlfriend and I haven't gone "Out" in at least 3 years. We drive to Missouri every fourth of July. That's kinda work though too, cuz i'm fixing cars down there and helping with yard work alot of the time. Plus, it's so freaky hot there in July, and they don't believe in air conditioning. PHewwwww, That is no vacation... lol..... I'd rather go stay in a cabin in the middle of nowhere during the dead of winter with no electricity. Keep warm off a fireplace and fish or hunt for food. I've never done it before, But that just sounds sweet. I've fished and hunted, just not while staying in a cabin. I've never stayed in a cabin. Wow. I'm done.

I was a mechanic until I was 28, both A&P on airplanes, and ASE Master (dealerships, independent, post office). I got fed up with it and became a fireman. It's a great career, recession proof, and no worry about ever being laid off.

Reading your posts. You sound worn out and tired. Consider taking your girlfriend, go hide from all your friends and family, take your fishing pole and rest---for a whole week or so.

Might be the best money you ever spent.
Good luck,
Cayoterun

Well, El Jay. I am not sure where to start on what you'd like to know more on. I am happy to share, so I will give a little more detail on it.

I'm not really sure what motivated my Father to do what he did and the direction he chose, so I am just guessing it was mainly money and quality of life were the biggest factors.
I do know that he is the first in my family to get away from the machine tool trade. I know that he took the job out of high school since it was available, and his Father got him in as an apprentice at the shop. My Mothers family was also all about fine machine tooling, and that two generations were watch makers for Bolluva.
So needless to say it was a shoe in for him in the early 1960's, and I think he just grew out of it knowing that it wasn't what he truely wanted to do the rest of his life.
I am sure he wouldn't be able to make such a dramatic change with out the help of my Mother, who by the time I was maybe 5 years old was on her way to a career in nursing. So her salary was able to support a family, and my Dad became a full time student. I then grew up with the sound of a typewriter, and my Mother always telling my sister and I to go play outside before we disturb our Father. (Not fun)...
By the time the late 1980's my Father became a Dr., opened a private practice and began making money. My sister moves out, and I am 19 ready to bounce out of the house. My Father decides that he wants to leave my Mother, which to this day I am still a bit sore about but then such is life but crappy none the less.
He remarries to some nut job who basically used my Father as her personal status symbol, and then they divorced and she out of crazy spite robbs him of everything including his practice.
My sister and I take care of him for a year or so, and he moved in with me with nothing but a arm full of clothes and a car. While at my place, his car is repo'd, and now he had no transportation and basically living in a sad state of depression for another year.
I found a really nice 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlas and bought it, cleaned it up really nice and gave it to him to be able to get around.
Then out of the blue I get a phone call at my house while we were watching TV and having a few beers, and I answer it with some guy I didn't know asking for if my Father was there - "This is Roy, tell him and he will know" (I was screening all calls, since everyone was hunting him down for money).
I tell my Dad who it is, and he runs to the phone and then he later gets cleaned up and runs out to be picked up by him. Turns out that Roy was his old friend from High School, and his coworker in the machine tool business days. Roy was in town to attend a machinist convention at the LA convention center, and asked my Dad if he wanted to come with...
The next day my Father is packing up the Olds, and he is heading to Southern Utah with 13 dollars and my gas card to work for his old friend.
He lived in Huricane Utah for I dunno 3 or 4 years working at the machine shop, trying to get his life back into perspective and deciding what he needed to do with the rest of his life.
He then persued a job opportunity working in Idaho for the USAF as a resident civilian doctor, moved to Boise and did that for quite a few years while he saved money again. Then started to rebuild a new practice in Boise, and to this day is doing very well now. (Still single to this day LOL).

Personally... I think it was pure devine intervention when Roy called, since I was unlisted in the phone book. Plus the last time my Father even spoke to Roy was the day he left the machine shop some 20 years prior.

Well, that's about it. If you or anyone wants me to fill any gaps I may have left, then feel free to ask since this whole real life story has shaped my life in many ways.

Oh, by the way. He still has the Oldsmobile, and says it meens to much to him to get rid of it...

Chris

I sure as heck didn't expect such an intimate family story.
But I have to say it was very interesting reading.

I thank you for sharing!

I was a mechanic until I was 28, both A&P on airplanes, and ASE Master (dealerships, independent, post office). I got fed up with it and became a fireman. It's a great career, recession proof, and no worry about ever being laid off.

That more than explains the beautiful work that you put out!

I was thinking about fire fighter. My girlfriend doesn't think my back could make it through the training, but, it's all about wanting it. Don't you have to volunteer for a while first?

No volunteering needed. You complete a fire academy and get hired by a city. Some larger cities have their own fire academies and will hire you off the street with zero experience.

huh. I live about a block away from the fire station in town. How conveinient. i suppose it's worth a shot to at least go down and talk to someone.

I would have been a firefighter if I hadn't gotten my flying job... great mix with the National Guard schedule...

very cool story Vector. (the last part, not about your dad divorcing twice and losing his 1st practice)

I am sure he is very proud and thankful of you to this day. talk about going full circle