What job for a petrolhead?
Discussion
Hi everyone,
This is my first post on this forum but I've been a lurker for a while now.
I'm 17 and currently doing A levels: Maths, Physics, Geography and Economics, and trying to think of a suitable career.
I'm planning on going to a decent uni to study Geog/Economics as I've realized how terrible I am at maths. And seeing as I'm not taking maths next year I can't get into engineering (the original plan).
Thing is I'm a massive petrolhead (or pistonhead should I say!?) and really only want a "car-related" job.
So to get to the point can any think of any car centric job I could do with a fairly irrelevant degree (probs Geography based)?
I'd like to being earning over £50k+ by the time I'm about 40 and would like a starting salary of £25k+ to fund said passion for cars!
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.
James
This is my first post on this forum but I've been a lurker for a while now.
I'm 17 and currently doing A levels: Maths, Physics, Geography and Economics, and trying to think of a suitable career.
I'm planning on going to a decent uni to study Geog/Economics as I've realized how terrible I am at maths. And seeing as I'm not taking maths next year I can't get into engineering (the original plan).
Thing is I'm a massive petrolhead (or pistonhead should I say!?) and really only want a "car-related" job.
So to get to the point can any think of any car centric job I could do with a fairly irrelevant degree (probs Geography based)?
I'd like to being earning over £50k+ by the time I'm about 40 and would like a starting salary of £25k+ to fund said passion for cars!
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.
James
Syncromesh said:
...
So to get to the point can any think of any car centric job I could do with a fairly irrelevant degree (probs Geography based)?
I'd like to being earning over £50k+ by the time I'm about 40 and would like a starting salary of £25k+ to fund said passion for cars!
Good luckSo to get to the point can any think of any car centric job I could do with a fairly irrelevant degree (probs Geography based)?
I'd like to being earning over £50k+ by the time I'm about 40 and would like a starting salary of £25k+ to fund said passion for cars!
The ignorance of youth (says he at 22).
I'd like to be earning £100k to fund my passion for food, cars, watches, holidays and all the rest of it. But it doesn't work like that chap.
I should imagine there are few jobs with a starting salary of £25k in the motor sector, they will exist, but there won't be many.
I'd like to be earning £100k to fund my passion for food, cars, watches, holidays and all the rest of it. But it doesn't work like that chap.
I should imagine there are few jobs with a starting salary of £25k in the motor sector, they will exist, but there won't be many.
TBH, if its something you really want to do I'd brush up on your Maths skills and try to get onto some kind of engineering/technical role. This is the best way to get exposure to cars etc and get to play around with other peoples money! As a (decent) engineer out of Uni 25k is pretty realistic - theres a big shortage of young blood who have half a clue and are willing to put some effort in.
As for going from a Geography based degree... You may have trouble. You may be able to find your way into some kind of logistics types role, but chances of finding the right role for you when you want it will be pretty slim I'm afraid.
You could always look into a foundation year at Uni to catch up on the Maths, Maths within engineering isn't really that tricky so I wouldn't worry too much about it.
otolith said:
Best bet is to forget about working with cars and just aim to make enough money to play with them.
This.Unless you go quite high up in a manufacturer, or become a tech at a prestige manufacturer (Even this isn't that good!).. I can't see the Motor Trade as being that good money.
I was told when I first started to get out as soon as I could..
Obviously there are ways to make it, you see some on here.. Buying and selling and working up to the exotic metal, and then you can make money.
IT, get into IT.. Or football, they seem to have money in them.
ETA: Get into something not motor trade related if you can, working with cars all day, and having them as your hobby can also turn your lust to loath quite easily. Where as having a job you aren't always with cars, you'll appreciate getting to drive your P&J home more, and getting to work at the weekends on your car will become more of a fun thing to do.
Edited by Jonny671 on Friday 11th June 12:20
As said above, logistics isn't a bad option. For instance, a transport dispatcher. Ok, it's not working with cars, but it involves trucks, trailers and other vehicles (or buses, coaches etc, depending on the employer). Tends to be very fast paced, you'd need to be on the ball pretty much all day (despite appearances of some of the guys I've met). Salary wouldn't be too bad to start with, although you don't particularly need a degree. Work your way up the ladder over 10 to 20 years and it's just possible you could make it into middle or senior management where the money is actually pretty good. Depending on where you live, there are a good number of big logistics firms and depots scattered around the country.
The downside is that it tends to be based around shift work and weekends, but then most jobs these days seem to have some degree of unsociable hours anyway. The other downside is that recruits for these jobs often come from within the existing pool of staff, for instance, drivers wanting a change of role, ex-warehouse staff, etc. It's by no means impossible to get into from the outside though, but it might mean taking on a menial job with them for a year or two.
Alternatively, you could try the motortrade directly. Sales maybe, mechanic, service reception.
How about being a racing driver? I've no idea how you get into that (you probably don't without rich family and strong contacts), but you'd probably need to be racing already at some level to be taken seriously.
Other than that, without a technical degree (ie engineering), you're going to struggle to find anything relevant. The maths involved in an engineering degree is roughly similar to A-Level standard (or it was back in my day....), although it depends on which engineering discipline of course (some are more complex than others).
The options for finding a 'Car Related' job are, I think, somewhat limited. You might be better figuring out what you're good at, and enjoy, and go and do that, using the proceeds to fund your hobby/passion outside of work. There's always the possibility that you'd get sick of working around cars all day. For instance, much as I enjoy driving, doing it for a living can be painful, almost soul destroying at times.
Good luck though.
The downside is that it tends to be based around shift work and weekends, but then most jobs these days seem to have some degree of unsociable hours anyway. The other downside is that recruits for these jobs often come from within the existing pool of staff, for instance, drivers wanting a change of role, ex-warehouse staff, etc. It's by no means impossible to get into from the outside though, but it might mean taking on a menial job with them for a year or two.
Alternatively, you could try the motortrade directly. Sales maybe, mechanic, service reception.
How about being a racing driver? I've no idea how you get into that (you probably don't without rich family and strong contacts), but you'd probably need to be racing already at some level to be taken seriously.
Other than that, without a technical degree (ie engineering), you're going to struggle to find anything relevant. The maths involved in an engineering degree is roughly similar to A-Level standard (or it was back in my day....), although it depends on which engineering discipline of course (some are more complex than others).
The options for finding a 'Car Related' job are, I think, somewhat limited. You might be better figuring out what you're good at, and enjoy, and go and do that, using the proceeds to fund your hobby/passion outside of work. There's always the possibility that you'd get sick of working around cars all day. For instance, much as I enjoy driving, doing it for a living can be painful, almost soul destroying at times.
Good luck though.
Syncromesh said:
Oh and can anyone give me a link to any threads with a list of PHers jobs as I know therea re some but can't find any.
Thanks
Are you good at art? Or CAD drawings?Thanks
If you want to do a more hands-on type role consider learning all about CF composites, or data acquisition and try for a job in F1 or WRC or something?
http://www.f1motor-racing.com/acr_motorsport.htm
http://www.the-mia.com/Motorsports-Careers
etc etc
itsnotarace said:
cheers i've just applied for one 
Edited by trix-a-belle on Friday 11th June 14:13
TVRWazzock said:
Can't recommend engineering to you cos it's s
te in this country
+1 Engineering is a bit of a ste in this countryt here, there are firms hiring but unless you are top few percent of graduates with a good project etc then you are likely to end up in a small firm being seen as a cost. Firms can see the engineering department as a cost rather than as a revenue earner.Jonny671 said:
otolith said:
Best bet is to forget about working with cars and just aim to make enough money to play with them.
IT, get into IT.. Or football, they seem to have money in them.Edited by Jonny671 on Friday 11th June 12:20
I've been doing a BTEC National Diploma in Computing at College, and originally saw it how you said in terms of the money.
However, when it came to applying to University my thoughts changed and I realised I was only doing this for the money that I was going to be potentially paid and not for my own enjoyment. So I have decided after the end of the College I am going to study Automotive Engineering as I have an interest in it and aren't interested in figures.
Sure, money would help me buy me a Dax Cobra, a Ford RS200 or even a SuperPeformance Ford GT40 but I'd rather spend my life enjoying work and not make Monday to Friday a choir.
Edited by RetroCosworth on Saturday 12th June 17:16
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