Re: Diesel Career Questions

Posted by NC Wayne on June 29, 2005 at 21:44:24 from (152.163.101.7):

In Reply to: Diesel Career Questions posted by Nathan in MN on June 29, 2005 at 15:59:33:

Being in the repair industry as an independent I've seen my share of guys with a "mechanics degree" and no real life field experience and to be honest they usually don't impress me all that much. Too many of them have the "education" but that's it. Basically the tech schools seem to turn out parts changers instead of true mechanics. By this I mean it's fine to know that if code 'A' flashes the book says to check/replace part 'B', and they can do this with no problem. The problem comes when you ask them why code 'A' flashed (say high eng temp)and they needed to replace part 'B' which was the thermostat the customer had taken out. Granted that's a simplified scenario but the point is they know how to read codes and change parts but have no idea how the parts/systems function together. In my opinion that's what a true tech school is supposed to teach. It should teach you how to use your biggest troubleshooting asset, in other words your brain, and not just how to read a computer and change a part with no understanding of why your doing it.... Don't get me wrong, I've never been one to down an education because the more you know the better off you are, but based on experience nothing beats good old OJT. As far as your question, most of the guys I know personally that run independant repair shops, as well as a few dealerships couldn't care less if you have a degree or not. What they want is somebody that has enough experience to do the job on their own or, at the very least, have the basic knowledge along with the common sense to learn. Finally, and most importantly the want somebody that will at least show up every day and be willing to work. Now you get above their heads into the corprate offices and a degree means everything...of course then your typically talking about a guy with a degree and no other experience to speek of, so of course the degree means alot to him or, by extension, his would mean nothing.... There are exceptions to every rule but I see way more of what my Great Grandma used to call educated idiots (ie-technicians) out there than I do true mechanics. So my advice, learn all you can where ever you can, but never forget that nothing beats OJT and using your head, and please don't become a "technician", learn to be a real mechanic....true it may not sound as high tech, but to me the title of Mechanic is way more prestigious....

Follow Ups:

• Re: Diesel Career Questions Brokenwrench 09:00:45 06/30/05 (0)
• Re: Diesel Career Questions buickanddeere 21:49:35 06/29/05 (0)

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