congrats Doba.....i just hope for your sake that cars are still around in 4 years that are running on gasoline.
i went to a tech school back in 1982...( yeah , around the same time all cars were going to onboard computers )....needless to say, they didnt teach us that in the school...and i never worked as a tech . kinda good in a way coz if i did that for a living, i more than likely would not love to turn wrenches for a hobby !.
best of luck and BONUSSSSSSSS having work 5 minutes away from home!
I have been at it almost 20 years professionally. Started in my early teens when I was introduced to mopars. Went to tech school right out of high school. Was hired on my 19th birthday for my first job as a mechanic. I remember hooking school to stay home and work on my car. I knew what I was going to do for the rest of my life.
You gotta have gas pumping through your veins to do this for a living now days. But, if i could go back and do things different I would still be a mechanic. Other aspects of my life I would change, but I would still fix cars. And you would think that doing this all day long would make me want to not do it on my own car but that is not the case. It makes it easier to do the hobby. It allows me to enjoy it that much more. Maybe its me, maybe Im just crazy. I don't know. But, i love working on cars. It does suck *** at times, but you plow through the hard times and that makes you appreciate the good times even more.
I still get giddy working on my old cars like i did when I was a teenager. Working all day is the bread and butter stuff. But the old stuff...... thats dessert! When you are in a groove, radio playing your favorite tunes, working on your car, everything is going perfect. Those are the moments man. Its like a religious experience. I used to call the garage church and mopar was my religion.
I will probably go to hell for worshipping false idols. So be it.
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Chrysler/Fiat is a good company to work for. Dealer connect is a great resource and the technical assitance center knows their stuff too. Once they start sending you to training and you get past the crawling stage and start walking you will see. The first 5 years will be the hardest. You know the least, and don't make much because of it. You have minimal tools, and buying more is tough since you don't make that much. Eventually you will learn more, make more and the tool man will be paid off.
The other guys in the shop will treat you similar to prospect for a motorcycle club, if you are lucky. They will give you a hard way to go at first to test your grit. This is a good thing. That means they like you and think you may have what it takes. I have a feeling you will be fine. roll with the punches, don't be a wuss and they will be more willing to help you along the way.
