I’m 37 been in the trade for 7 years in dealerships of 3 different makes, Maserati/Alfa, CDJRF and Volvo. same dealership tech exploiting bullshit at all 3. Corporate chains, franchise chains and one salary position (no benefits) in commercial fleet maintenance shop. I hate it. Long hours, working days off, stress of flag, moving toolboxes between jobs, extraordinary tool costs. I like electronic controls and computerization diag and generally the technical aspects of the work itself but the environment and employers and never ending financial catch-up game are sucking the life out of me. Nor do I want to be a self-employed mobile mechanic as working on broke peoples shitboxes in their driveways sucks even more.
What are the other options?
Try finding a Indy shop that specializes in a specific brand. Literally anything to get out of warranty work, that’s all you do in dealerships, and the brand doesn’t want to take the hit for making a mistake so they fuck you instead with terrible hours. Indy shops just get normal work and the occasional pain in the ass, but it’s cars that you can actually make money off of. Not, “CS carpet wet” at 8am…