Leaving the motor trade...

[TRUENOSAM]

Evening all

I have spent the last 9 years as a technician in 3 dealerships now and due to things that I have seen of late I feel that its time to call it a day and just stick to car tinkering as a hobby.

I would like to do something like vehicle inspection (not MOT tester) but not really sure where to look. I have tried the obvious job sites etc to no avail. With several qualifications including an advanced apprenteship and advanced electrical and mechanical qualifications on light vehicles under my belt and also have a very wide range of experience wich includes, Jaguar, LandRover,Aston Martin, Ford, Volvo, PSA and Fiat group (currently with Alfa Romeo).

Only problem is that I recently changed my job (aug 2011) and fear it will look bad on my CV?

Can anybody give me any advice as it would be greatly welcome?

[T-bagger]

Could have been me 3 years ago! The retail motor industry isn't easy to get out of is it? Probably explains the high number of wasters that work in dealers who make those doing a good job look bad. I was a BMW senior tech for 10 years and getting pretty fed-up with the usual dealer bullst, I decided that I had to get out and do something still connected with cars but just no fixing them everyday. Like you I was well qualified and had an HNC in Engineering. I applied for a job with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at their plant in Goodwood, went for an interview and was offered the job the next day. I promptly turned in down due to a substantial paycut and it would mean relocating as I lived 90 miles away from the plant. So I took a job at another BMW dealer, which provided a nice change of scenery. But ultimately was the same job. After about 9 months of being there RR called me up and asked if I would reconsider as they wanted me to work for them, "yeah ok" I replied "but only if you reconsider your offer"!
To cut an already long story short I was offered full relocation expenses and a little extra money - but still a good 25% paycut taking into account a techs performance bonus in a dealer.
A little undecided I posted up on this very forum and recieved the fairly unanimous reply of "don't do it! Never take a pay cut" etc etc. hmmmm
It come down to a pretty simple piece of reasoning in the end; I had been with the 2nd dealer for 9 months and risen to the top of the workshop, so where next? I wanted out so I figured get into a company the size of RR and climb the ladder, get that job you've always wanted.
And you know what? I have that job, i love it everyday a bit too good to be true really! The downside? Well only in the last year have I started to earn more than I did as a dealer tech, definititely one step back to take two steps forward....
Sorry for the essay and good luck!

[New POD]

What about trying to get into Vehicle Development. Most Car companies need technicians to put together the vast numbers of prototypes and test cars.

[TRUENOSAM]

T-bagger said:

Could have been me 3 years ago! The retail motor industry isn't easy to get out of is it? Probably explains the high number of wasters that work in dealers who make those doing a good job look bad. I was a BMW senior tech for 10 years and getting pretty fed-up with the usual dealer bullst, I decided that I had to get out and do something still connected with cars but just no fixing them everyday. Like you I was well qualified and had an HNC in Engineering. I applied for a job with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at their plant in Goodwood, went for an interview and was offered the job the next day. I promptly turned in down due to a substantial paycut and it would mean relocating as I lived 90 miles away from the plant. So I took a job at another BMW dealer, which provided a nice change of scenery. But ultimately was the same job. After about 9 months of being there RR called me up and asked if I would reconsider as they wanted me to work for them, "yeah ok" I replied "but only if you reconsider your offer"!
To cut an already long story short I was offered full relocation expenses and a little extra money - but still a good 25% paycut taking into account a techs performance bonus in a dealer.
A little undecided I posted up on this very forum and recieved the fairly unanimous reply of "don't do it! Never take a pay cut" etc etc. hmmmm
It come down to a pretty simple piece of reasoning in the end; I had been with the 2nd dealer for 9 months and risen to the top of the workshop, so where next? I wanted out so I figured get into a company the size of RR and climb the ladder, get that job you've always wanted.
And you know what? I have that job, i love it everyday a bit too good to be true really! The downside? Well only in the last year have I started to earn more than I did as a dealer tech, definititely one step back to take two steps forward....
Sorry for the essay and good luck!

Thanks, thats something to think about. I dont need to tell you the type of employee that dealers attract. The sort of thing that makes you wonder why you bother tyring to do a good job. Pay cut isnt a problem as I dont have any major out goings.

[TRUENOSAM]

New POD said:

What about trying to get into Vehicle Development. Most Car companies need technicians to put together the vast numbers of prototypes and test cars.

Noted, Thanks

[Cyder]

TRUENOSAM said:

New POD said:

What about trying to get into Vehicle Development. Most Car companies need technicians to put together the vast numbers of prototypes and test cars.

Noted, Thanks

We have loads of techies at work who do the testing on new cars and new parts, build initial prototypes and do the hands on stuff. It seems really interesting too.

If you want some contact details for HR let me know. We're based just outside MK.

[TRUENOSAM]

Thanks for that although Mk is a bit far away from me (west mids)

[Cyder]

I dunno, we've got guys that commute down from West Brom, Birmingham and Coventry!

What about MG or JLR, they're closer to you I guess?

[TRUENOSAM]

Cyder said:

I dunno, we've got guys that commute down from West Brom, Birmingham and Coventry!

What about MG or JLR, they're closer to you I guess?

Well all my qaulifications are with jlr and I have 8 years experience with both so that's going to be my best shot I would think.

[singlecoil]

With that much experience I would be thinking about start a workshop of my own, as a specialist independant.

[Lotus98T]

Cyder said:

We have loads of techies at work who do the testing on new cars and new parts, build initial prototypes and do the hands on stuff. It seems really interesting too.

If you want some contact details for HR let me know. We're based just outside MK.

PM sent

[Cyder]

Replied!

[prg123]

TRUENOSAM said:

Evening all

I have spent the last 9 years as a technician in 3 dealerships now and due to things that I have seen of late I feel that its time to call it a day and just stick to car tinkering as a hobby.

I would like to do something like vehicle inspection (not MOT tester) but not really sure where to look. I have tried the obvious job sites etc to no avail. With several qualifications including an advanced apprenteship and advanced electrical and mechanical qualifications on light vehicles under my belt and also have a very wide range of experience wich includes, Jaguar, LandRover,Aston Martin, Ford, Volvo, PSA and Fiat group (currently with Alfa Romeo).

Only problem is that I recently changed my job (aug 2011) and fear it will look bad on my CV?

Can anybody give me any advice as it would be greatly welcome?

What about getting into motor racing......

Pete

[TRUENOSAM]

prg123 said:

What about getting into motor racing......

Pete

Yeah that's something that I would have a keen interest in but not sure where to look to find the opportunity.

[JontyR]

TRUENOSAM said:

Yeah that's something that I would have a keen interest in but not sure where to look to find the opportunity.

I dropped you an email about this...email me

[D34NO87]

New POD said:

What about trying to get into Vehicle Development. Most Car companies need technicians to put together the vast numbers of prototypes and test cars.

That's the sort of thing I am looking for, any pointers on where to look?

[Cyder]

Vauxhall - Luton
Nissan - Cranfield
JLR - Coventry (?)
MG - Longbridge
Honda - Swindon
Toyota - Derby (?)
BMW MINI - Oxford
Aston Martin - Gaydon
Lotus - Hethel (?)
RR - Goodwood (?)

More I've probably missed out.

Most of these companies will have R+D and vehicle development/testing going on.

[tiffx19]

I was in pretty much the same place, and after 20 years in the trade as a tech and MOT tester, I started as a garage instructor for a charity, which helps young folks get a bit of work experience, and hopefully on to an apprenticeship. I get to play with old cars and bikes all day, hopefully pass on a bit of experience, and work 9-4 5 days a week for the same money I used to get for 8-6 Mon-Fri and Sat mornings. Might be worth seeing if your local tech college has a mechanics department?

[texasjohn]

TRUENOSAM said:

Only problem is that I recently changed my job (aug 2011) and fear it will look bad on my CV?

It's not uncommon for people to not 'fit' into a new job, it not be what was expected (and/or promised) etc, or people's circumstances to change in some way necessitating departure. Sometimes it is a case of "wait ages for a bus and three come around the corner" but the trouble is the second or third bus is the one you really wanted and you've just boarded bus number one!

It's my opinion that you can have one or possibly two short terms of employment on your CV as long as there is a reasonable explanation. Of course it wouldn't look good to have two or three in a row though!

In future interviews you'll need to be prepared to explain why you didn't stay. If at all possible, despite the fact you have joined and then left in a short space of time, leave on very good terms with your line manager (obviously don't go out guns blazing for any reason) and you may even be able to leave with a written testimonial that you can then keep to show in a future interview if needed to.

[mondeoman]

JLR are recruting heavily at the moment, check their website and see if there is anything you fancy. There is always MIRA in Nuneaton, Prodrive in Banbury, the F1 teams etc...

No harm in firing off a bunch of CVs with good cover letters, you never know what might happen