wow- it's like I posted this myself, spooky My bro and I work at the same job- it's a sweet looking gig from the outside, decent benefits, good pay (about 75% over the median here), and vacation days, etc. We've been here 10 years, doing graphic designers job for intern pay, we get bumped every year but we are stuck, no way we will ever be anything but the sign boys. In fact we're still called "the boys". I'm a man dammit! The politics and interoffice backstabbing has grown so bad the past few years that we are bailing ship. We want to start our own business, but KNOW we will take a huge financial hit. But, it's worth it in our opinion. This job is killing us, we come home so stressed out, ready for a nice weekend, only to get called back to work or called on our holiday to harass us. It's just not worth the physical and mental toll it is taking. And that's where you decide what is right for YOU. Do you want to be a worker bee, KNOWING you'll never advance? Do you want to end up taking your frustration out on your family? Do you want to DEPEND on this job to make ends meet? Nothing worse than HAVING to go to work. It's obvious we all have to work, but you have made it clear this is not the right job for you. If the job is consuming you, take a step back and ask whether all the "stuff" you have is worth it? For many years, I said, "I need all this stuff to make me happy." Then I realized I was only buying the stuff to make me happy, because the job made me so unhappy. A vicious cycle! If you look at your hot rod(s) and know that you need a to make a lot to drive them, then keep working, tough it out. If not, maybe take a few years off with NO extraneous expenses liek cars, and work at a low-stress, low pay job. I worked temp in a warehouse for a stint, and the pay was low, no benefits, but damned if it was not easy and low stress. You don't have to quit right away- my bro and I hatched a plan a couple years ago with a clear quit date in mind, and that makes a HUGE difference in our attitude. Every day now when some BS jumps up, we just have to say, only x more months, no need to get stressed. It gives you time to get your affairs in order, seek out another job, plan a move, save up for schooling, etc. Sounds like you already have the skills though, so why don't you apply as a full-fledged photgrapher at another company? What's the worst that could happen? Life is too short to coast through with the sure thing, you have to be happy while you're here. I understand having a family is a priority, but at what point will the job take over? "Jobs" are everywhere, and if you don't want this to be your career, leave and try a new one. If that doesn't work, keep moving. Another major factor we want to leave is that though we make over $20 an hour, we still can't afford a house here! All that pay means nothing, it just gets wasted on non-necessities. If you've got a mortgage, well, take that into account, it makes a huge difference and I'd probably tough it out even longer if I could afford one. Sorry to ramble, but I know exactly where you're coming from. It's SCARY to think about quitting a sure thing, but you have to try it, even if you do fail. If you want to make an omelette, you've got to break some eggs. Good luck.
The first thing you have going for you is that you HAVE a job and you are able to make ends meet. Like someone else said, family first, don't do anything to jeopardize the job you have. You are in a better position to look for other jobs when you already have one, you are more desirable by prospective employers if you are employed. Secondarily you won't have to jump at the first*****py job that comes along, you can take your time and do the right thing. You have access to a computer, get on-line and search for resume and cover letter samples. Build a resume and a couple different cover letters, have someone that you trust read both and make sure your grammar and spelling is correct and the resume is clear. Don't lie in you resume. Buy some envelops and send out your resumes with a cover letter that is personalized to the person or company you are sending it. Send your resume to companies that you think you might want to work for even if you are not sure you have the proper skills or experience. They can only say no. If you want to get into Rod building or car related fields, go to the local shops, ask for the manager, if he is willing set-up an appointment to INTERVIEW HIM. Don't ask him for a job or job interview, but tell him you want to get into this field and that you want to talk to him to find out what type of skills you require to work for him. If he agrees, go and ask a zillion questions, you will learn what you have to do to get a job and oh by the way you just got an interview without asking for an interview. NETWORK... be discrete but ask your neighbors, friends, family members, if you go to a church or are member of a club ask people there, ask around, make it known you are looking for a job, get the word out but be discrete. I am sorry to say it, but it takes work and time to find a good job, just like it takes work and time to get anything good in life. If you can swing it, be flexible to taking a cut in pay to get into a field you really want to pursue. My $0.2 Good Luck!
So you think you might want to go into the automotive field? Really, you will need to be more specific. Do you want to build, design, fabricate, or repair? Do you want to do auto body, mechanical, electrical, or management? Do you have tools? Speciality tools? Equipment? Background, education, hands on experance, techanical knowlege? Self employed or working for someone else? Small shop or large shop? There are more questions, but these are enough for now. Lets talk about you and your health. Right off the top of my head, there is nothing to be done with automobiles that is not hard on your body. There is always fumes, cuts, bruses, broken bones, burns, sore backs, sore knees, sore hands, carpole tunnel, hearing loss, and eye injury/strain. Lets talk about education. No one will hire you without a proven, documented education unless they are going to pay squat. No one wants to pay you to learn. The old days of learning on the job were over in the 70s. Once you have the formal education then they want on the job experance, but some may hire you as a bottom level entry until you get the experance (you already know how that works). Once you get the formal education and about 10 years of on the job, if you have kept you education up to date you can go to a dealer and maybe make some real money, if your fast enough and bust your*****. Or you could open your own shop, invest a huge amount of money in equpiment, and spend a small fortune on keeping you education up to date, and pay through the nose for health insurance and lability insurance, work long hours, do the stress of paying your bills before they are past due, collecting from all the dead beats that think since you are self employed your rich so they don't need to pay you. About the time you start to make a little money your body starts to fall apart, and you discover you have no retirement money left. I'm 50. I suggest you find some other kind of work then automotive related. Gene
Heres my .02 cents as well. You already have the ability to take photos,and you like cars{or you wouldnt be on this website} start going to local runs and take pic's of peoples cars! Start out doing some freelance photojournalism and send in articles to magazines.Start your own website with your work on it.And dont be afraid to sell your stuff for a big buck or three! Under selling yourself is more fatal than over selling it. Cheap price? must be cheap stuff!High price?{for the same thing!} MUST be ART!!! Thats how artsy- pants people think!My neighbor lady is a talented artist, but couldnt sell anything untill she cranked the price to what she thought was stupidly high. Do the same with automotive photography. But the most important thing is to take care of your family first. The next thing is to to TAKE ACTION and do SOMETHING! Make a change in what you do.If nothing changes{you}nothing changes{your life} okay!!! enough zen stuff! what do you really want?and are you ready to go after it? BEST of luck to you! R.R.
stay where you are and hustle your**** off on the side keeping an eye out for somthing better. If your employer can pay you as an****istant while you do the photogs work hes not going to change unless you speak up!. keep your job man! take care of the family. your happiness is secondary. find side work you enjoy to fill the areas of your life you feel that is in need. That way your gettin paid and enjoying it!!
There's lots of good advice here already - and here are a few more bullet points: 1. NEVER leave one job until you've found another. 2. Try to figure out what you want to do; where you wish to be in five years - and manage to that goal. 3. To Groucho's point - be willing to retrench so as to meet your five year goal. here's a secret which has served me well (and an extension of crazy's point) Bosses are NOT omnipotent - they don't always see you slavin' away. if you want to be noticed, then: a) Tell the bosses what you're going to do b) Tell them that you're doing it c) Tell them when you've finished the task. Do this; ignore the backstabbing that a job well done generates - in time (and this sometimes takes years) your efforts will be recognized and you'll receive rewards. Just don't expect quick results - or specific results. I'm doing a job now that I never expected I'd be doing 20 years ago - it's fun - yet it's not all that far off of my original aspirations.
I've worked in 3 shops that built rods... never made***** for money, but I learned a lot. Mostly I learned that you can't make much money building rods for a living. It's a lot of fun, and a few guys DO make good money, but that is definately not the norm. I worked in engineering for over 10 years and made well over $20 an hour. I hated the job the last two years but I loved the money (the auto industry is no fun anymore). 5 years ago I quit to pursue a dream and have spent over 90 grand to pursue it. I have no regrets at all, and hopefully we will make ends meet again someday. I love what I do now, but I so far I can't seem to make enough money at it. In fact, we have nearly gone bankrupt three times. That was my choice and I am not complaining about it. My point is, if you are going to make a change - count the cost, and make sure your wife is totally on board with you. Do it with your eyes WIDE open. If you are not willing to risk it all, then find ways to be content where you are.
crazy, I am in the same situation myself. I am not about to quit and go build hot rods, but I am looking to get the hell out of this company. They are the worse co. to work for and dont give a damn about their employees. (DONT support Specialized Bicycles)..*****s, I wish I could just quit but the family is first. I am out of here as soon as I can find another job. Family first is all I can say for advise.
I totally agree with the "Family First" advice. That's how I get through my rough times at work. By the way, work is called "work" for a reason. If it was fun or fair or exciting or _________ all the time, then that's what it would be called, and we'd spend all our time off doing it. If you've got a job you enjoy then great. If not, find another that makes you happy. Until then, find your happiness in the things you enjoy outside of work – like family and hot rods. Bdierks, In times before the material fixation that has overcome this culture we live in, in a time when we didn't attempt to satisfy spiritual needs with material objects, most folks found their calling by listening to their heart. (this tradition has its basis in tribal lore) If you can find time to quiet the "din" of this world, the effort you spend on reflecting...and by this I mean writing down where your musings take you, will yield the answers you seek. Take confidence that you are seeing the days unfold just as they are intended. Your bosses, and too often this is the case, are clever but they are not wise. If they were wise, they would see that you are barely tapping the potential that exists. I began to think of this "state" as one where my shoes were tied, but tied together! If we each arrive with skilled "hands"...and by this I mean a purpose. And a stomach...personal needs, then some are fortunate and find their craft early...and some take longer. To trust that the community and providence are part of your team here does require a certain "leap", but learning discernment asks our all, because until you know when and why you feel fulfilled, you may blame the world, or others for your unhappiness. Each of us has a reponsibilty to nurture our own dreams. I appreciate your offering these questions to our group. You have given a significant gift, in a way already serving others by asking these questions...
The Jalopy Journal
