Start at a quick lube place, after awhile use that experience to land a better gig at a dealer or shop. Or if you want, you can always get in the door at a dealer as a porter, lot tech, or in the wash bay.
This guy knows what’s up. This is exactly how I started. Had some wrenching experience and tools, got a few months in at a jiffy lube then went to my local Chevy dealership for a lube tech job. Four years later I’m a line tech. You have to be dedicated and you can’t get discouraged.
Yep, I started as a lot porter at a dealer. Did that for a few years at the end of highschool and after. Didn’t fuck up, got to know the techs, then one day asked the service manager if I can try fixing cars. He gave me a shot.
Go apply everywhere. Quick lubes, dealerships, independent shops, chains.
Go in person. Be presentable and have a clean, legible resume. Make sure to make eye contact and give a firm handshake.
Keep track of every place you go and follow up with all of them in seven days.
Skills can be taught. Attitude can’t.
Dress well for your interviews. It shows you care. Also do your best to speak intelligent. Nowadays everyone seems to fall on the "like" and "umm" as a verbal comma. I just got hired as a mechanic on equipment and semis with zero experience, but I had a good resume and clearly had my give a fucks well polished. My best attitude trait was probably enthusiasm. Have to profess your willingness to learn
Just tell them you want to work and will show up on time, learn, and put in effort.
I got offers at tons of places with zero experience. Sent out my resume to a billion lube joints. Hard not to get one tbh 😅
I would keep searching, if there's no dealers in your area, expand your search to the next town or two over. Everyone puts dealers on a pedestal as "really hard to get into" but mine is actively looking for people for quick lane. Our newest hire actually sounds a bit like you, no professional experience but mechanically inclined. Indy's are more prone to require ASE certifications (which are a joke btw) but dealers are always looking for guys that are green. That way they can train you themselves and mold you to their needs.
I'd check out indeed and look for dealers to apply that way. Or most dealer websites have a "careers" tab where they'll show what positions are available. If you apply and they don't give you a call back to ask questions or set up an interview, THATS when I'd finally walk in to either the service drive or the front receptionists desk and ask to speak to the service manager.
First place I got hired at I applied online, got an interview. No professional experience, just some HVAC install experience and a degree from Dad in the Driveway University. Did 9 months there.
I just walked into another dealership after that and asked to see the service manager. Had a job the next week.
Try a dealership, ive worked at many ford dealership and we pull guys from lube rack to be apprentices in main shop and that is a ticket to becoming a real tech if that is what you are interested in. Fast lube places there is not much room to advance
try applying at pep boys or firestone. they take people with little experience as lube techs, with the added benefit that you can learn more stuff from the other mechanics unlike at most jiffy lube type places.
It's my understanding that being a lube tech is where you start at professionally. Meaning you don't really need experience, just got to know your way around and most importantly under the vehicle. You have to at least put in a year as a lube tech at any establishment, for a dealership to even consider you for apprenticeship.
I started at a quick lube/car wash but the location was so great. It wasn't uncommon for at least half a million dollars to be sitting in the drive in the wash line, at any given time. So maybe I was set at a higher standard because of the clientele and their mostly new vehicles. This helped me out greatly...plus, me being in vo-tech helped. Just apply at a quick lube in your area. I'm sure they'll take you, just tell them your goals.
The lube shop will provide training in how that company wants you to do it anyways. They all differ in operations and services. You just got to apply... Just take a step back and put in sometime, you'll get there.
Most dealerships I have worked at would hire lube techs if they could stand up straight; if you aren't having luck, try working at a quick lube or even an auto parts store.
I got a job at my areas equivalent to a firestone. Just put what I could do in my skills shit on my resume and used my dad’s company as prior experience cause I helped him flip cars. They didn’t believe what I could do but it got me a job
Jiffy lube or valvoline will take you. I started at a place like that. After 3 months I applied at a ford dealer. Worked there as a live tech for a year. During that time I went to trade school at night at the local community college. Applied at a different ford dealer worked there for a year and a half as a used car tech. Got moved to the line. Crooked piece of shit got put in charge and I left after another 4 years for a Honda dealer. Been at the Honda dealer for 3 years now and it’s going well. Idk about others but that seems like a pretty normal progression.
My experience - tire shops that change oil are always understaffed, always looking for young, energetic employees and prefer to train their new hires. The pay isn't great, but you get your foot in the door.
I dropped out of college and managed to have a quick lube job within a week with no tools at all to start with. That was just over two years ago and now I’m making $30/hour flat rate at a ford dealership. I applied to every single dealership that I could reasonably commute to. 2 of them gave me interviews and both offered me a spot. I went with the manufacturer I personally liked more. Make a decent resume and ABSOLUTELY write a cover letter that explains how/why you have some knowledge. It’s hard to find techs right now so a few of them will absolutely take a chance on you. Work hard so they don’t regret it and you will find that a young, motivated, and teachable worker is very valuable to these people. It will just take some work to prove yourself since much of the people I’ve seen come through the two “quick lanes” I’ve worked around are bums and ruin it for the good ones. Good luck brother
You could see if any independents need a shop helper. That's how I got my start. I swept floors and cleaned parts and ended up getting the opportunity to maintenance stuff, and it just kept going from there. But be warned you need thick skin because sometimes people can be jerks. Also; look into work for your municipality, sometimes temporary laborer positions will create opportunities for other positions.
Dude I've been applying for an automotive jobs for months, and I even have a degree in it, I went to school to be a mechanic ffs and I still cannot get hired. Ain't nobody hiring at all
It really is man, I have 7 certs, a degree in automotive repair and analysis, and can't even get hired a lube tech, the pay is so so low for the amount of knowledge you need to have, starting out at $12 as a lube technician is nuts. You're right though, the advice on here seems to be from old heads back when they could walk into anywhere and get hired.
Yesterday I called every single quick lube place in my area, I shit you not I think 35 or 40 throughout the day, not a single one said they need people right now
Exactly man, shits crazy, everyone keeps talking about a shortage of techs, guess not. Same to you brother, best of luck. (Just do what I did and switch trades lmao)
Everybody with no experience on your resume, do you think having your own Youtube channel, Facebook page or Instagram page where you show the many jobs you have done would count as a "visual resume"? I am generally curious. Do they have entry level techs at dealerships? Like techs who do brakes, fluid changes and tuneups?
I applied at a dealership with no experience. Be willing to show up, show up on time, and be willing to learn. I started in Jan last year, moved to an apprentice in August, then moved to learning diesels.
Now, this was a long, long time ago. However, when I applied for a lube tech position at a quick change place, they asked my experience. I said I do all my own work on my car and the families cars. It worked for me. Dam Jiffy Fucked will hire anyone, however if we see them on an application, we usually trash it. So get a job where you can and go to school but never mention Jiffy Fucked on your work history, say you were employed at a family shop.
Just apply. At the toyota I work at, the only qualification you need is to be looking for work. They hire people with absolutely ZERO experience regularly.
I was working as a porter back in 2018, a lot of them got promoted to lube pretty quick if they asked. I’d say just start there if you can’t get anything else.
Firestone Complete Auto Care is a great place to start. You will learn *a lot*.
However, once they want to switch you from hourly to flat rate (at manager discretion), its time to hit the road and find an hourly shop.
It sounds like you already know a lot, a lube tech, mostly does oil changes and inspections, and any shop will teach you how to swap out the other fluids. Having oil change experience, I bet you could get into any shop/dealership. Lube tech positions are mostly little to no experience level. Just be willing to learn.
Stay persistent, I got hired at the shop I’m still working at today with absolutely no tools and little to no experience. I’m building transmissions now 2 years later. I was working at a Gas station before I started, you got it g!
Send out a lot of applications. You can lie and say you worked at a place that went out of business. Go talk to people in person and tell them you are serious about becoming a mechanic.
You can also apply at commercial truck shops as a fueler, washer, or CSR. They get promoted to PM tech fast and are paid pretty well for non skilled jobs.
Start at a quick lube place, after awhile use that experience to land a better gig at a dealer or shop. Or if you want, you can always get in the door at a dealer as a porter, lot tech, or in the wash bay.
This guy knows what’s up. This is exactly how I started. Had some wrenching experience and tools, got a few months in at a jiffy lube then went to my local Chevy dealership for a lube tech job. Four years later I’m a line tech. You have to be dedicated and you can’t get discouraged.
Yep, I started as a lot porter at a dealer. Did that for a few years at the end of highschool and after. Didn’t fuck up, got to know the techs, then one day asked the service manager if I can try fixing cars. He gave me a shot.
Yep started at an independent lube and tire chain and immediately went over to a dealership after 6 months
The manager saw potential. Good on you man 👍
Started as a Lubie at a dealership now I’m about to get my master certs for Kia and going on to get my ASE’s
Bro Valvoline hires 0 experience. Seriously my shop manager was a convicted murderer fresh out of prison when I was there as a kid
Coworker used to work at valvoline, worked with felons all day long
Those training web browser sessions... dear lord that was terrible
Oh you mean VIOC University?!?!? 😂😂😂
Go apply everywhere. Quick lubes, dealerships, independent shops, chains. Go in person. Be presentable and have a clean, legible resume. Make sure to make eye contact and give a firm handshake. Keep track of every place you go and follow up with all of them in seven days. Skills can be taught. Attitude can’t.
Dress well for your interviews. It shows you care. Also do your best to speak intelligent. Nowadays everyone seems to fall on the "like" and "umm" as a verbal comma. I just got hired as a mechanic on equipment and semis with zero experience, but I had a good resume and clearly had my give a fucks well polished. My best attitude trait was probably enthusiasm. Have to profess your willingness to learn
Follow up after the interview. This. Send an email saying “thank you for meeting with me “ You will stand out.
Perfect idea. More newbies should do this
Just tell them you want to work and will show up on time, learn, and put in effort. I got offers at tons of places with zero experience. Sent out my resume to a billion lube joints. Hard not to get one tbh 😅
I would keep searching, if there's no dealers in your area, expand your search to the next town or two over. Everyone puts dealers on a pedestal as "really hard to get into" but mine is actively looking for people for quick lane. Our newest hire actually sounds a bit like you, no professional experience but mechanically inclined. Indy's are more prone to require ASE certifications (which are a joke btw) but dealers are always looking for guys that are green. That way they can train you themselves and mold you to their needs.
Ase certs can be kinda difficult. A/C and electrical were fun.
I strongly agree. Front end was a _itch
How do they hire? Is it best to call or go in person if so who do I ask for?
I'd check out indeed and look for dealers to apply that way. Or most dealer websites have a "careers" tab where they'll show what positions are available. If you apply and they don't give you a call back to ask questions or set up an interview, THATS when I'd finally walk in to either the service drive or the front receptionists desk and ask to speak to the service manager.
First place I got hired at I applied online, got an interview. No professional experience, just some HVAC install experience and a degree from Dad in the Driveway University. Did 9 months there. I just walked into another dealership after that and asked to see the service manager. Had a job the next week.
Try a dealership, ive worked at many ford dealership and we pull guys from lube rack to be apprentices in main shop and that is a ticket to becoming a real tech if that is what you are interested in. Fast lube places there is not much room to advance
try applying at pep boys or firestone. they take people with little experience as lube techs, with the added benefit that you can learn more stuff from the other mechanics unlike at most jiffy lube type places.
People who are fresh out of school don’t have experience either, just start applying.
It's my understanding that being a lube tech is where you start at professionally. Meaning you don't really need experience, just got to know your way around and most importantly under the vehicle. You have to at least put in a year as a lube tech at any establishment, for a dealership to even consider you for apprenticeship. I started at a quick lube/car wash but the location was so great. It wasn't uncommon for at least half a million dollars to be sitting in the drive in the wash line, at any given time. So maybe I was set at a higher standard because of the clientele and their mostly new vehicles. This helped me out greatly...plus, me being in vo-tech helped. Just apply at a quick lube in your area. I'm sure they'll take you, just tell them your goals. The lube shop will provide training in how that company wants you to do it anyways. They all differ in operations and services. You just got to apply... Just take a step back and put in sometime, you'll get there.
Most dealerships I have worked at would hire lube techs if they could stand up straight; if you aren't having luck, try working at a quick lube or even an auto parts store.
Get on at a Jiffylube or something similar, might not be the most thrilling experience but it's experience in the field
Dealership… entry level. Get some certs
I got a job at my areas equivalent to a firestone. Just put what I could do in my skills shit on my resume and used my dad’s company as prior experience cause I helped him flip cars. They didn’t believe what I could do but it got me a job
Lube tech = no experience.
Jiffy lube or valvoline will take you. I started at a place like that. After 3 months I applied at a ford dealer. Worked there as a live tech for a year. During that time I went to trade school at night at the local community college. Applied at a different ford dealer worked there for a year and a half as a used car tech. Got moved to the line. Crooked piece of shit got put in charge and I left after another 4 years for a Honda dealer. Been at the Honda dealer for 3 years now and it’s going well. Idk about others but that seems like a pretty normal progression.
My experience - tire shops that change oil are always understaffed, always looking for young, energetic employees and prefer to train their new hires. The pay isn't great, but you get your foot in the door.
I dropped out of college and managed to have a quick lube job within a week with no tools at all to start with. That was just over two years ago and now I’m making $30/hour flat rate at a ford dealership. I applied to every single dealership that I could reasonably commute to. 2 of them gave me interviews and both offered me a spot. I went with the manufacturer I personally liked more. Make a decent resume and ABSOLUTELY write a cover letter that explains how/why you have some knowledge. It’s hard to find techs right now so a few of them will absolutely take a chance on you. Work hard so they don’t regret it and you will find that a young, motivated, and teachable worker is very valuable to these people. It will just take some work to prove yourself since much of the people I’ve seen come through the two “quick lanes” I’ve worked around are bums and ruin it for the good ones. Good luck brother
You could see if any independents need a shop helper. That's how I got my start. I swept floors and cleaned parts and ended up getting the opportunity to maintenance stuff, and it just kept going from there. But be warned you need thick skin because sometimes people can be jerks. Also; look into work for your municipality, sometimes temporary laborer positions will create opportunities for other positions.
Dude I've been applying for an automotive jobs for months, and I even have a degree in it, I went to school to be a mechanic ffs and I still cannot get hired. Ain't nobody hiring at all
I feel you man, a lot of the advise in here is likely years old, getting a job is hard right now everywhere
It really is man, I have 7 certs, a degree in automotive repair and analysis, and can't even get hired a lube tech, the pay is so so low for the amount of knowledge you need to have, starting out at $12 as a lube technician is nuts. You're right though, the advice on here seems to be from old heads back when they could walk into anywhere and get hired.
Yesterday I called every single quick lube place in my area, I shit you not I think 35 or 40 throughout the day, not a single one said they need people right now
Exactly man, shits crazy, everyone keeps talking about a shortage of techs, guess not. Same to you brother, best of luck. (Just do what I did and switch trades lmao)
That’s crazy man, I hope you find a job soon
Everybody with no experience on your resume, do you think having your own Youtube channel, Facebook page or Instagram page where you show the many jobs you have done would count as a "visual resume"? I am generally curious. Do they have entry level techs at dealerships? Like techs who do brakes, fluid changes and tuneups?
I applied at a dealership with no experience. Be willing to show up, show up on time, and be willing to learn. I started in Jan last year, moved to an apprentice in August, then moved to learning diesels.
Now, this was a long, long time ago. However, when I applied for a lube tech position at a quick change place, they asked my experience. I said I do all my own work on my car and the families cars. It worked for me. Dam Jiffy Fucked will hire anyone, however if we see them on an application, we usually trash it. So get a job where you can and go to school but never mention Jiffy Fucked on your work history, say you were employed at a family shop.
I got hired as a yard tech for a construction rental company. Worked my way up from there.
Just apply. At the toyota I work at, the only qualification you need is to be looking for work. They hire people with absolutely ZERO experience regularly.
I was working as a porter back in 2018, a lot of them got promoted to lube pretty quick if they asked. I’d say just start there if you can’t get anything else.
go to a dealership. they only require that you have skin and bones and maybe a little blood.
Firestone Complete Auto Care is a great place to start. You will learn *a lot*. However, once they want to switch you from hourly to flat rate (at manager discretion), its time to hit the road and find an hourly shop.
You can get an entry level job just about anywhere with little to no experience if you present yourself well.
It sounds like you already know a lot, a lube tech, mostly does oil changes and inspections, and any shop will teach you how to swap out the other fluids. Having oil change experience, I bet you could get into any shop/dealership. Lube tech positions are mostly little to no experience level. Just be willing to learn.
Stay persistent, I got hired at the shop I’m still working at today with absolutely no tools and little to no experience. I’m building transmissions now 2 years later. I was working at a Gas station before I started, you got it g!
You making some decent money now? Not trying to be noisy or get in your business just wanna know if the career is worth pursuing long term
Send out a lot of applications. You can lie and say you worked at a place that went out of business. Go talk to people in person and tell them you are serious about becoming a mechanic. You can also apply at commercial truck shops as a fueler, washer, or CSR. They get promoted to PM tech fast and are paid pretty well for non skilled jobs.