Why Is It So Hard To Find A Decent Paying Job?

Ok, I currently work at a car repair shop (goodyear gemini). The pay im receiving is fair, benefits are ok, overall its not a bad gig, but i feel i can do better.

My current position is an alignment specialist. I align 95% of the vehicles that are to be aligned, as well as do many oil changes, tire services, etc. what i dont get enough time doing is brakes, suspension repairs, engine diagnostics, etc.

Basically what im looking for is a job that will allow me to use the knowledge i have, and develop my skiils. Im very good at what i do now, and want to do more, but cannot in my current location, hence the job search..

You would think with decent qualifications, one could find a job willing to pay a fair wage. pfft.

qualifications
-6+ years experience
-A1-A6 ASE cert's
-2 year (graduating in may) college degree

what i ask for
-entry level technician position (hourly, not yet ready for flat rate)
-13 to 16 dollars per hour (depends on location, benefits)
-holiday/sick pay after 90 days
-vacation pay after 1 year (if i can get it at 90 days great, but i dont expect that.)

what i've been offered
- Lube tech (oil change/tire guy)
- tech assist (same as above, different title)
-10 to 12 dollars / hour
-no sick/holiday for 1 year, vacation same
-raises are up to the boss, no timeframe for raises (so its basically when they feel like it).

what i have now (current employment)
-2 weeks vacation.
-10 days sick time
- holidays (christmas/easter, open for rest)
- semi-structured raises (im maxed out, unless i transfer to a store further away)
- around $13/hr PLUS 10% of every align i do, which equals about $40-80 per week.

granted, i've only visited 3 dealers (all toyota, maybe thats it?), all of which i was referred to by my instructors at school. maybe the BS i deal with at my current job is worth it? I'd like to get an outsiders view here.

I still have more places to go and drop resumes. but every place i drop one, i get a call. (call me lucky?) my next approach is the chevy dealers, but i cant imagine the pay would be any better than toyota. I'm going to try 2 nissan dealers as well.

i understand i shoudnt bitch because alot of people dont even have jobss..im just frustrated.

After you finish your degree, you'll have a lot more to throw on the plate. Stick with it until may, then you'll have a considerable amount of more pull.

What will your degree be in?

goto school and get your ticket - thats all anyone looks at nowadays

Jay @ Feb 25 2010, 12:20 PM
After you finish your degree, you'll have a lot more to throw on the plate. Stick with it until may, then you'll have a considerable amount of more pull.

What will your degree be in?

Jsvob03 @ Feb 25 2010, 11:29 AM
I'll have an associates in..something something comprehensive automotive studies.

did you forget we're in a recession? i don't want to be rude but EVERYONE is having trouble finding a better job. the work isn't there. nobody is hiring. it'll get better. if you're OK where you're at, for crying out loud try to hold onto it!

Jay @ Feb 25 2010, 12:35 PM

The sad part is their charging 4 times your pay. sickening isn't it?

My advice... Get your P2 and become a parts specialist or get your A7 and A8, shoot for master mechanic.

a tin pan alley @ Feb 25 2010, 12:43 PM
did you forget we're in a recession? i don't want to be rude but EVERYONE is having trouble finding a better job. the work isn't there. nobody is hiring. it'll get better. if you're OK where you're at, for crying out loud try to hold onto it!

our techs start at roughly that rate, and thats in california...

what youre asking for might be reaching a bit

Seriously I would give a nut to be a tech. You're so lucky.

Maxpow @ Feb 25 2010, 02:14 PM
Seriously I would give a nut to be a tech. You're so lucky.

BoostedVG @ Feb 25 2010, 02:37 PM
Don't techs need about $40thou in tools to make some one else a pile of money when they get $13 an hr. themselves? My figures may be off but not that far.

I've been looking for the last 6 months for a job and I have loads of experience. Employers are looking for people with 10 years + experience everywhere and offering them peanuts for compensation.

I saw an ad the other day asking for a building superintendent with 20+ years experience who would be on-call 24/7 and they wanted to pay this poor jack-off 27K a year.

Dave @ Feb 25 2010, 12:26 PM
I've been looking for the last 6 months for a job and I have loads of experience. Employers are looking for people with 10 years + experience everywhere and offering them peanuts for compensation.

I saw an ad the other day asking for a building superintendent with 20+ years experience who would be on-call 24/7 and they wanted to pay this poor jack-off 27K a year.

its times like these that make me glad i joined the Navy when i did.

i commute 1.5 hrs to work, for $9/hr. hahah

i cant even get like a jiffy lube job here.

Nice to hear that you found a good job!

As for the initial question about why it is so hard to find a decent paying job, the answer isn't that hard. Offer and demand law! Find a domain that nobody think about that badly need new employees! I wanted to go in automotive mechanic when i graduated from highschool.

But after a quick look around in other engineering/mechanics department i realised that automotive is clearly one of the less paying one in general.

Elevator mechanic sound like a wicked job and is well payed. Same for aeronautic and marine mechanic, but yeah they need university degree (at least in canada). One of my buddy's job was to clean the sewage system from the pest that can live there (especially rats) in the city of montreal.. ewww you say? he was doing around 80 000$ a year. why? nobody wanna do that job!

I've been looking at the job market for awhile and just overall I've been seeing tons of jobs that want like 8+ years experience in the field, 5+ years specialized experience, Masters degree or more.. but they want to pay 13 bucks an hour, and often be on call..

I have been looking for a job in my career field for a year and a half now. I've had a few interviews but no job offers. Luckily I have a seasonal job in the summer that helps with the bills but I would much rather be working in my career job. I really feel sorry for the people that are just now getting out of school with bachelors or masters degrees and massive debt and can't find jobs. That must really suck.

Redneck @ Mar 25 2010, 10:14 PM
I have been looking for a job in my career field for a year and a half now. I've had a few interviews but no job offers. Luckily I have a seasonal job in the summer that helps with the bills but I would much rather be working in my career job. I really feel sorry for the people that are just now getting out of school with bachelors or masters degrees and massive debt and can't find jobs. That must really suck.

what is your career redneck? If you dont mind telling us...

your very question is why I don't work in the auto service field right now.

I can make the same money, indoors, air conditioned, working retail, and be at management level if I choose within a short time. Long term, auto service might do you better, but for the next few years anyhow....

not to mention, the investment in tools. I already have a decent set, but its a good deal more to have everything I'd need.

I have an associates in auto tech and repair (whatever they call it) as well. Really doesnt mean a whole lot, its all about experience.

you guys need to move to ny/nj

i got laid off when my dealer got sold.

was out of work for 7 months, decided to go back and got the first job i interviewed for, at 6 an hour more then the previous.

20 minute longer commute though. meh

a tin pan alley @ Feb 25 2010, 10:43 AM
did you forget we're in a recession? i don't want to be rude but EVERYONE is having trouble finding a better job. the work isn't there. nobody is hiring. it'll get better. if you're OK where you're at, for crying out loud try to hold onto it!

Jsvob03 @ Feb 25 2010, 11:08 AMpoint taken.

Arro @ Mar 28 2010, 12:36 AM...you'll have the advantage over all the n00bs in your profession.

Things are just as bleak here in Vegas. I'm an apprentice with IBEW 357. I did low voltage, mostly voice and data stuff. Been laid off since the begining of November. Still go to class once a week, but the hall isn't expected any work for at least a year. Money is starting to get real tight now. Luckilly my Mustang will be paid of next month, but I still have a mortgage to pay and a 1.5yo daughter to take care of. Also my insurance runs out next month, and I'll have to purchase COBRA for $150/month. I just want a job that pays half as much as what I was making before, and I can't even find that. So for now I'll just sit at home and collect unemployment (sounds great till you realize your budget is so tight you can't even go see a movie, and after 5 months you've run out of ways to entertain yourself at home. Leaving you bored and feeling useless

having a budget so tight where i cant see a movie, i do that too. is that bad?