With the recent influx of layoffs and closings of dealers - Are you finding more people applying for jobs ? Im always on the lookout for triple threat guys for the shop (you know -that can weld damn near anything, great autobody and paint like glass)- are they out there now that there is a larger pool of unemployed? I havent had anyone yet come to my shop looking for a job from one of the closing businesses but just wondering if anyone is seeing great qualifications for autobody, metal and paint guys out there? Feedback ? Thoughts? My heart just goes out to all the guys and girls with Chrysler (and others)who are losing their jobs cuz of someone else's screw ups.
i have a restoration shop here in east tenn nobody beating my door either... just hired a guy last month 20+ yrs in restoration and late models seems nobody around here too crazy about working some dealerships closed and most everyshop is slow...you would think that there would be of an employee pool than there is !! i know the hot rod restoration shops around here are staying busy this has been a good area for that type of work. i think lots of guys are afraid of the comitment to work on old cars ...greazy hubcapz....mizerville kustoms...maryville,tn
Some of the shops I do work for have had issues with hiring the right people. Everyone wants to work on old cars, but not everyone has the skills to do the job right. On the other hand, the shops here tend to have good employees who stay put. Must be the Texas weather.
dealer guys are used to things like paychecks not bouncing and benefits you may run an above the board operation .but that is not always the case
yes, but the qualifications don't seem to have improved much. I'll take two thank you... and hurry with that... I hired a new paint and body guy, he's great but that is what he does paint and body. Been trying out mechanics and fabricators with no real luck yet. I prefer not to have to babysit, teach how to use a torque wrench or adjust a fan belt, let alone fabrication. Absolutely correct....
Truth. I left a dealership gig to work for an independent shop. After about a year of no insurance and bounced paychecks about every second or third week I finally decided enough's enough. Most if not all the guys who are truly skilled at fab or paint and body aren't looking to work for somebody else for ten or twelve bucks an hour, not when they can make that $50 / hour (or more) shop labor rate for themselves.
Everybody trying to save a buck has trickled down. The not working, talented guys I know have been beating away side work to the point their 9-5 job terms have not moved downward with the economy. Plus the economy has made them view small employers with extreme suspicion. They don't want to work 6 weeks for 4 weeks of pay & arrive to a locked and dark shop on the 7th monday.
I pay better than 10-12 if they deserve it, and then I have a lot invested in equipment, tools, lifts, welders, insurance, etc. to the tune of $75k+ If it was that easy everyone would step out on their own.
I am in the business and I think much of the talent in the collision repair industry is older and many of them are saying f### it and packing it in and maybe doing some small stuff at home or just getting out for good. It is sad how many people will be affested by this. The only hope is the remaining shops pick up the work and hire some of those techs. I will say this unemployment pays like 1500 a month here in Michigan and many Techs would do better collecting that right now rather than sit at an empty shop all day.
Don't need you to tell me, I already tried and failed at having my own shop. Now I work in the defense industry fixing other company's*****ups for $25 an hour. Not the best way to make a living but I doubt I could do any better working in a hot rod shop. Most kids don't want a job working hard, because they're not all about busting their****es for the same or less than they could make being a shift manager at Burger King (and I can't say I blame them). You want smart, skilled young guys in your shop, you need to be talking to the instructors at the local VoTech schools (if you're lucky enough to have one in your area).
we do, but the closest one teaches collision repair and late model diagnostics. Not really the same as working on old stuff.
Working on old stuff is a passion, not just a career choise. Most of these younger cats don't like the extra labor involved at reduced pay. Example: in a collision repair shop I can make 12-1500 a week. Doing custom and restorations I make a lot less per week. BUT, I love what I do and would rather work on cool***** and face a challenge than do the same old same old day in and out just to make more money.
see, ME, I am putting in the time to get into the Hotrod industry.. (maybe teaching but most likely hot rods.... ) Me, wyotech grad yeah I know.... put in 8 years on the collision side, done a few resto's (356 porsche c, 912, 56 tbird so on.) and consider myself to be fairly decent on both sides. Now I am in the GM****et program, at a Hummer Cadillac dealership, and wrenching. I'm going to night School at two different colleges. I am going for a certificate in Machining technologies this fall at HCC, and a certificate in Welding Tech this summer, At ACC, in the houston area. I grew up with a father as a machinist, so I have a good understanding of machineing, but I figure a different input of info would be nice. I am going to get into a hot rod shop, most likely entry level, which is ok with me. But being a newbie to that side of the industry I want to start out an****et not a Liability.
I work two days a week at a street rod shop and I see at least one guy a week come through looking for a job. Some are wyotech grads and some are layed off from the collision industry. The shop is on the edge of nowhere, so I imagine more visible shops on Main street USA get alot more resumes. I'm glad they like what I do because a couple of those guys were pretty talented. Dave
Talented guys rarely have issues finding work. Harsh reality for some to accept. I hear guys all the time SAYING they have the skills and can't find work, but the reality is, although slowed down the ENTIRE COUNTRY did not shut down. There is work out there, just more guys trying out for the same job. Cream rises to the top during busy times and slow times.
What most people dont understand is that just because you are a great mechanic/bodyman/welder or whatever doesnt mean you will be a good business person. We have the biggest body shop around this area and have had a lot of good body men, some have tried on their own, and sadly failed. It can happen that someone who is good at their craft can also do well on their own, but mostly the opposite. We havent had a lot of people looking for work, but the market is still pretty good around here. I mostly notice that everyone is always worried about their "side job." So most of the time if someone around here gets let go they have enough side work to get them thru for a while. It is funny that someone on their own could make $1200 a week or $800 working for someone else, but cant make a living working for themselves.
People in our area wouldnt even come to the door for $10-12. Our range around here for quality resto/custom is about $15-25 for an employee.
Same here, there are some that want that pay but don't have the skills or experience. I'd love to find two guys that deserved it...
I have paid guys $25 an hour and been very happy to do so, and we all made money. Those guys just don't exist. No one has spent the time getting to that level, but want the pay. It is like this, if the $25 an hour guy is worth $25 an hour, then why does the guy you pay $15 an hour make you lose money...... Or a guy with skills just wants to clock in and out, and not contribute to the shop. okay this is pointless... no one want to work, they want a job. They want to work on hot rods like it is a government job. Not a passion. Not something that consumes them. I can make money with anyone with almost any skill level if they have the passion and want to work. But that just does not exist. Sorry. just the truth. People don't want to work the extra nights and weekends to make it work. You have to have the passion, curiosity, and drive. NO 9 to 5 in the hot rod world. You have to tighten the shop up after 9 to 5, work on your skills on the weekend on your own car or just practicing... ok enough, pointless. I just want kid who likes computers, taking pictures, washing hot rods, and can do a little office work. Who wants to work or is not on drugs. IMPOSSIBLE to find. Oh, also you don't get $20 an hour with no specific skills. Impossible. I guess I love these cars and working on them so much, I just can't understand why other people don't. Why everyone doesn't want the chance to toil to the bone for their passion? Take Care Wil www.sakowskimotors.com p.s. I have talked to and met tons of great people over the years looking for work that have just not been the right people/right time. It has been great meeting everyone. Wil
Ill let u know when I have a week that is under 80 hours for myself. My own work starts at 5pm once the guys go home.
You know, I think Sakowski is on to something. From what I gather, working in a hot rod/resto shop is a lot like being in a band. Great people don't necessarily make great band mates, or co workers. Its tough to get everyone on "The same page" so to speak. That being said, I'm wondering if a lot of the people effected by auto industry lay offs are seeing it as an opportunity to change careers all together. I know I am . Its way too easy to get burned out in "The business".
There are good guys out there willing to put in the hours, and that are willing to learn. I'm 25 now and started at the shop I work at when I was out of high school. Pumping gas, running car wash and changing oil. I didn't go to school for auto mechanics. I just had a love of cars and learned from 2 old time techs. My hours are open 7:30 to when the work is done, usually 6:30 no lunch no breaks. I run the whole shop have one other tech working with me and A receptionist. I do the service writing, wrenching and still talk with all my customers. We are a very busy four bay shop and I have work lined up which not many other shops can say. I am not the owner, and don't see the owner too ofter. I take that as a complement. That he trust me with his shop. There are some skills to running a business that I feel that you just can't learn at school. I feel that some young guys that don't have the chance to go to school get over looked because of no degree.
This topic interests me quite a bit seeing as how I only 19 trying to find a job in the industry. I can say that its pretty discouraging to see all these job postings that require 5-10 years experience. It also*****s when you dont have too many of your own tools as well. plus a school setting can only get you so far in my opinion.
If you think finding good body guys and fabricators is tough, try finding a good custom polisher for custom brightwork restoration. So far, impossible. It is a rare skill, especially if you want them to be able to braze steel and solder pot metal, aluminum, brass, etc. I thought I might have one a couple months back, but then today he nearly destroyed a set of 58-62 Corvette grill halves, and they were really nice cores. Not the first mistake, but one of the biggest so far and caused by utter stupidity. I keep asking myself if it is worth keeping him, because sometimes he does good work (not great,) but I have spent many hours fixing his mess-ups when I could have been getting more work done. He doesn't do any welding, nor do I trust him to try it on anything of value. If someome with talent shows up, he is gone in a split second. I think a lot of guys get information overload. We have had no shortage of losers trying to get a job and proceeding to try to ruin parts when we give them a chance. They lie about what they have done to make it sound like it had something to do with this business, when actually they have no skills. We pay piece work, the polisher gets a percentage of what we charge the customer. If I were to work on strict piece work, I could get $20/hr. Someone with decent talent can get $15/hr. That is very good pay for no formal education required in eastern rural IN, but it's a lot of dirty and skilled work. I think the biggest problem is very few know what goes into these old rusty rotted out parts that we restore and rechrome. I love seeing the transformation though. If anyone nearby thinks they want to try it out, I would love to give you a shot. edit: BTW, I am 25 and have been around custom rechroming since I was about 10, and started polishing as soon as I was legally able to do so at 18. I took a 3 year break from it for college and worked full-time for a contrator building, modifying, and remodeling houses during that time. That was fun and I learned a boatload about working on houses, but I make more now and get to be with my family.
Im a sevice manager for a shop in Michigan,we dont do body work but we still have guys that can wrench or paint coming in all the time looking for work.About 5 per week.I really feel for these guys because I was unemployed for a year before I came here.I worked construction and decided to make a career change.I dont make the money I used to but money cant buy you happiness!
I'm over a dealership service dept.....what was about 13 techs is now 7. Yep we were one of the bankruptcy victims, but at least we didn't get closed down. I could use a few techs but nobody is knocking.....I guess most are just getting out of the business. I know a few that opted for less pay and better benefits...like local and state jobs. I even think about it too.
I have had no kids come to the shop during the slow down. They just dont seem interested in the old stuff and have no skills at all. Whats wrong? when I was there age I was building junkers at home and really did have some good skills and ideas. Business here is holding on and OK, seems people with money still want to build or buy toys. I am so lucky to get to make a living doing this old car thing why is there no intrest from the kids out there?
With all due respect: I think you need to consider the fact that most men (25-50 yrs) have a familly to support. The ever rising medical cost and the cost of insurance for the familly and the home/auto, are outragious. I spin wrenches for a chip bag plant for 22.00 to support a wife and two small kids. I would love to show the auto restoration world what I can do! But there is no way I can change jobs without insurance and a steedy income. I have worked for the small guy shop before. Now I cen fab, weld, cut, and am a certificed machinist. The point is the insurance and the money is what keeps me here, and not where I would Love to be.
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