Future Career Advice

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Current "career": Service Adviser for a Dealership. I never really planned to do this as a job, I took AST at SAIT and was on the path to become a tech, but when I was about to get my first lube kid job, I was also offered to start at the Service Desk in the dealership with my manager offering to advance me to a Service Adviser within about a year. I thought about it and was told I could choose which way to go on my start date, when I arrived on the first day I was going to choose the Service Desk position anyway but it was already chosen for me when I showed up for my first day. Things went well and I never really thought I was great at customer service but the manager obviously saw something in me and withing 5 months I was Service Advising. At this point I don't mind the job, the pay is "good" but the hours are annoying sometimes, and I don't really have a path of advancement from this position in the future. I don't think I want to do this forever and I need to plan something for the future.

I love the automotive business, I love cars and it is a HUGE chunk of my life to say the least. My other passion is skiing which is a bit harder to make a career out of in that industry. I am fairly bright, and did well enough in school, as well as in SAIT, but it was clear I prefer to work on my own stuff at my own pace then other peoples vehicles every day. I love tuning and aftermarket stuff, although I am not as knowledgeable as most people on this site.

I like business aspects of jobs, management, things that involve money as well, I don't mind customer service and i've been told I am good at it. I can't just drop everything at this point and go back to school, I need a somewhat stable source of income to continue living, but I have considered going back to school part time, but I just don't know what to do. I want to stay involved in the industry as its a huge passion.

What do you guys think I should do, I have a long life ahead of me and I want to make the most of it.

I have considered vehicle sales too, I know I could kick ass at it but im unsure as to if I would enjoy it.

[Type_S1]

What type of life do you want?

No offence but by the sounds of it (what you described) you don't have any tangible skills other than customer service and knowing about cars.

I always tell people to go back to school. Take something that will give you more options in life. Right now you work with cars and that is all employers will see.

I worked full time and went to school full time and made it through. Don't use working full time as an excuse.

Now I ask what type of life do you want because this will make a huge difference. To some people making 60k a year, going on a vacation once in awhile, skiing in the winter and having a wife providing double income is an okay thing. There is nothing wrong with this. Others want bigger things and need to plan their future out differently.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Basically I want to be in a career where I can keep advancing, I have a lot of great skills and my employers have always seen that I work hard for what I want whether its for me or a customer, I always come into work and do my best. I don't want to be stuck doing the same job forever, I want to be able to work up and up, I love advancing to new opportunities. I can take online university while still working but I don't know what to take that will benefit me in the industry, quitting work and only doing school is never an option for me, I worked two jobs while I was going to SAIT. I would love to end up working somewhere like Tunerworks or owning my own business down the road.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I should point out I also love financial and money and stuff like that, I was always good with my money.

[revelations]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo
I should point out I also love financial and money and stuff like that, I was always good with my money.

How do you feel about managing cranky peoples money?

Its not hard to get into the financial end of things, plenty of threads about that on Beyond.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I deal with cranky people at work all the time, Ive learned to brush them off and do my job.

[Type_S1]

Why not go get a finance degree?(and not tge SAIT bs) If you like money go manage money. Tons of room for advancement.

Getting a business degree is as easy as showing up and listening...any monkey could do it!

You could also get a job at a bank and start studying for your CFA, lots of things you could do with that.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I think I would like to get and actual degree from a university, but I would like to do it online so I can still work 30-40 hours a week.

[revelations]

Then take a look at getting started in the financial side of things. If its your love then youll do well.

Note that while I also love working on cars and bikes, I would never want to do it for a living. Different kind of love I guess :dunno:

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by revelations
Then take a look at getting started in the financial side of things. If its your love then youll do well.

Note that while I also love working on cars and bikes, I would never want to do it for a living. Different kind of love I guess :dunno:

For me its not so much a love of working on them, its a love of them. Can you recommend me a place to look into/website/university/degree that I should research?

[chibwack]

BComm Finance, operation management from U of A would be one to consider. Accounting is also good to have for management.

[revelations]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo


For me its not so much a love of working on them, its a love of them. Can you recommend me a place to look into/website/university/degree that I should research?

lots of good local info on Beyond. There have been many good threads about getting into finance the past few years.

[G]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo
I should point out I also love financial and money and stuff like that, I was always good with my money.

How can you say you are good with money when spent so much money on a car that you are basically tied down with payments and unable not to work to go back to school. And you are still living at home with mommy....good luck being on your own.

[mrsingh]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo
I think I would like to get and actual degree from a university, but I would like to do it online so I can still work 30-40 hours a week.

If you are set on working full time and not attending in person, look up Thompson Rivers University in BC, they offer a BComm in Finance online. But keep in mind that you miss out a lot on the networking which is a big part of any university experience.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by G


How can you say you are good with money when spent so much money on a car that you are basically tied down with payments and unable not to work to go back to school. And you are still living at home with mommy....good luck being on your own.

I could pay my car off outright but I have 0% financing. I could not work and go to school but I'm not thinking that's a goof plan financially, it will likely set me back as I burn through my savings.

[chibwack]

I'd avoid doing a degree online as well, especially business. Half the point of a BComm is to teach you business etiquette/how to give presentations/networking, things like that. I guess if you just want to know for your own sake thats fine, but if you ever want a job with a bank or doing corporate finance for big oil or something, you'll want something a little more "professional"

[Feruk]

If you live at Mom's place, who cares if you're burning through savings? You'll make a lot more when you graduate and can work summers in the mean time.

[mrsingh]

Originally posted by Feruk
If you live at Mom's place, who cares if you're burning through savings? You'll make a lot more when you graduate and can work summers in the mean time.

That is not necessarily true, a standard BComm is not going to guarantee he will make any more than he is making now. To be honest, the degree isn't the most important thing, it is really up to you and what you do with it. Unless we are talking about a professional degree (i.e. Engineering).

[FraserB]

Originally posted by mrsingh


That is not necessarily true, a standard BComm is not going to guarantee he will make any more than he is making now. To be honest, the degree isn't the most important thing, it is really up to you and what you do with it. Unless we are talking about a professional degree (i.e. Engineering).

And now we get to have THIS discussion again lol.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo


For me its not so much a love of working on them, its a love of them. Can you recommend me a place to look into/website/university/degree that I should research?

Sounds like you should go to Sales. If you have a love of cars but doesn't involve working with cars, then you'll have to love dealing with something else. You get those two traits in car sales.

'Being good with money' isn't really a good trait to brag about. If you were really good with money, you'd be vacationing right now.

I think you should figure out what you really want to do first and follow that. Some will find BComm a cakewalk while others will struggle on it; don't see it as an easy out.

I'm just providing what I've observed and don't take offense.

Random tidbit: It takes a strong person to be an accountant. Some of my friends have no lives for several months but then they go on vacations after. Fuckers. :rofl:

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by flipstah


Sounds like you should go to Sales. If you have a love of cars but doesn't involve working with cars, then you'll have to love dealing with something else. You get those two traits in car sales.

'Being good with money' isn't really a good trait to brag about. If you were really good with money, you'd be vacationing right now.

I think you should figure out what you really want to do first and follow that. Some will find BComm a cakewalk while others will struggle on it; don't see it as an easy out.

I'm just providing what I've observed and don't take offense.

Random tidbit: It takes a strong person to be an accountant. Some of my friends have no lives for several months but then they go on vacations after. Fuckers. :rofl:

I just got back from the Mediterranean two weeks ago :P I'd be super bored if I was on vacation all the time.

I don't know about finance, my passion is cars not really dealing with money.

[msommers]

Isn't there someone on here selling cars making well over 100K/yr?

I think you need to look at the options of loving cars as a career and what will it bring at the uppermost level.

- Owning a dealership
- Running a department at the dealership
- Working specifically for an automaker doing financing, accounting
- Being a Jman mechanic
- Design engines/cars - engineering
- Owning a mechanic/tuner shop
- Car rental company

I can't think of anything else but I'm sure there are more.

What attracts you to cars and is that passion/skill able to be transferable into other fields?

I thought the guys had you headed in the financing direction but it doesn't sound like you want to do any marketing, forecasting, accounting etc.

HR deals with people all the time; a very social job.

Some people might deem this to be bad advice but I would go to university for a year and try as many difference courses as you can. That's exactly how I found out how much I liked geology. Before then I didn't even know what the hell it was.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I mean to say just worrying about money and stuff doesn't overly interest me unless I can relate it to the automotive industry. Is there like managerial style of course? I was thinking the Automotive Business course at SAIT but I really want to go to university this time.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by msommers

Some people might deem this to be bad advice but I would go to university for a year and try as many difference courses as you can. That's exactly how I found out how much I liked geology. Before then I didn't even know what the hell it was.

There's a way cheaper option to do this. The internet isn't just for porn. :rofl:

But man, an automobile engineer would've been awesome!

[HO2S]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo
I mean to say just worrying about money and stuff doesn't overly interest me unless I can relate it to the automotive industry. Is there like managerial style of course? I was thinking the Automotive Business course at SAIT but I really want to go to university this time.
You work for GM, Do you have any idea how many corses you can take through your own dearlership? There are shit tonnes of management corses. There is even a core of proper etiquette on how to fire some one. There are pages and pages of on line ones along with the ones at the GM building off black foot.
Take a bunch of corses that your employer will pay for and figger out what you want to do.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by HO2S

You work for GM, Do you have any idea how many corses you can take through your own dearlership? There are shit tonnes of management corses. There is even a core of proper etiquette on how to fire some one. There are pages and pages of on line ones along with the ones at the GM building off black foot.
Take a bunch of corses that your employer will pay for and figger out what you want to do.

I actually have been doing a ton of the online training already, I should look into it more.

[Rat Fink]

.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

What do you think about a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in General Management through MRU? Sounds like it would fit me well.

[Disoblige]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo
What do you think about a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in General Management through MRU? Sounds like it would fit me well.
Sorry to break it to you, but the most useful thing in that degree is the title, which isn't all that useful.

Stay away from generalist degrees.

Truth hurts, but it's true.

In my eyes, I don't know why anyone would do those types of degrees.

[HO2S]

Originally posted by Rat Fink
Definately don't be a Jman mechanic if you want advancement. I've only been licensed 8 months and am already very topped out for pay......I have all my Ford courses done, am regarded as being a Master certified tech as soon as I finish one more classroom course and I am bored as shit. They have me on most of the biggest/challenging jobs that roll though the door (transmissions, diesel, electrical) and it's still boring. At this point the only thing keeping me is the ridiculous pay for what I do.

My girlfriend wants to kick my ass for wanting to switch careers again!!

Honestly, I don't think anything at the dealership level would be challenging (in any position). None of the career paths at the dealership level offer much advancement (unless you wait several years as a Sales manager and have enough money to take over the dealership when the dealer principal wants out). Most positions are just bitch jobs.

I could not dissagree more, Ive been licensed for a good few years now and im learning and advancing every day. Technology changes every year and so do the problems and ways to find them.
But I also don't work for a dealer. Independents are more wide and shallow, the dealer is narrow and deep.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I already started on the path to become a tech and I have decided I don't want to do that, I prefer working with my mind over my hands.

[Rat Fink]

.

[HO2S]

Originally posted by Rat Fink


Ya, the technology changes but the job is still the same.... "fix my piece of shit car, waaahhh". The problem with being a tech? If you want a promotion to shop foreman or service manager it usually comes with a pay cut. As a tech, I make more than my service manager, shop foreman, warranty clerk, parts manager. The only ones that are higher are the sales managers and the dealer principal. It makes no sense to try and "move up the ranks".....makes the most sense to move onto something else.
The automotive industry doese not relove around the dealership. Most dealerships are total shit to work at, I have lost count of how many pissed off dealer techs I've met. You make good money but at the cost of everything else.
Im shop forman at a fountain tire, I make good money, I get treated awesome and get tonnes of perks, Im very happy. It would take alot for me to go work at a dealer.

There is alot more to a job than money.
Do your self a favor and get out of the dealer.

[chibwack]

From the sounds of this thread, don't even bother with a degree. Just go be a new car salesman. A good one makes as much/more money than a graduate, and there's not many degrees you'll take at school that'll get you around cars the way that will.

[FraserB]

Originally posted by chibwack
Just go be a new car salesman. A good one makes as much/more money than a graduate

LOL:rofl:

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by chibwack
From the sounds of this thread, don't even bother with a degree. Just go be a new car salesman. A good one makes as much/more money than a graduate, and there's not many degrees you'll take at school that'll get you around cars the way that will.

I don't think that the average salesperson makes as much as the average University Graduate.

[max_boost]

What about business manager at the dealership? Don't they generally promote from within? I've been told by a few people that it's not uncommon to push $200k gross/year if you can sell a lot of warranties, 3M, rustproofing etc. :eek:

[msommers]

What does it matter who makes more - do something you like man. Keeping up with the Jones' is an exhausting race.

Look at the guys who make the most amount of money on this board. I bet half have a degree. We're pretty blessed here in Alberta where a degree can equate to high salaries, but that doesn't necessarily mean the people with those degrees are enjoying what they're doing.

[rizfarmer]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo


I don't think that the average salesperson makes as much as the average University Graduate.

Not out of the gate but the top income earners in auto/retail sales break into the low six figure's regularly (or better) if generating sales target bonuses however you're talking about dedicating your life to the job (putting in 20+ consecutive years)


It really sounds like you want to be on the business side of the automotive industry (employed at the corporate level of a manufacturer or OEM - not the dealership level). There are lots of opportunities out there with the manufacturers to help administer sales programs/strategic direction and sounds like given your understanding of the dealership you may be able to crack into this type of profession maybe even with your current level of combined education/experience. Also, plenty of room for advancement given you are employed by Ford and not "POS Ford stealerhip"


-just my advice to you given it sounds like you have absolutely no idea what you would want out of some type of general b.degree

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

rizfarmer kinda makes me think that's what I feel like, I want to move up the business side of the industry, if there's a way I can do it without dedicating four years of my life to school it would probably work better for me. I enjoy having the money I do now to own a newer vehicle, go on holidays, ski when I want etc, in the past I didn't get to do that and now I can, I don't really want to go back. Perhaps I can take some online degree down the road but for now I would feel better getting experience and trying to move up the ladder.