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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » My experience fixing cars got me a promotion

June 18, 2009 7:51 p.m. Twin_Cam Dork

Indirectly, but still. I was recently asked at work if I wanted to learn how to operate the filler, a giant, expensive, German piece of machinery (like an SL65 AMG but with beer and warning signs with cartoon hands being flattened in between cogs), which is big step up.

After getting over being surprised/flattered, I asked "Why would you want to promote me?" And the answer came back, "You're reliable, and know how to use a wrench, and this job is a lot of that."

See kids, working on cars actually gets you somewhere besides into trouble trying to replace clutches and thermostats and hubs yourself.

Long story short, go wrench on your car. You'll never know when a hobby can turn into something awesome.
June 18, 2009 8:03 p.m. suprf1y Reader

It worked for me, too.
June 18, 2009 8:05 p.m. Rangeball Reader

Congrats! That's great news.
June 18, 2009 8:17 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

Rock on!
June 18, 2009 8:34 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

A professor knew I worked on cars and brainstormed designs and stuff a lot. Hence he gathered from that that I am good with my hands.

well that amongst other things has led to a undergraduate internship where I am assisting with nanotechnology research. I spent the last week learning to operate an atomic force microscope and the imaging/analysis software. Next week we start making samples of gallium nitride nanowires with chemical vapor deposition.

I am having a VERY interesting summer (on top of that I am starting a differential equations class in a week or 2)
June 18, 2009 9:39 p.m. motomoron New Reader

About 100% of what I've done for a living since 1977 has directly resulted form things I've done as hobbies, pastimes or obsessions. And it all adds up.
June 18, 2009 9:53 p.m. nderwater Reader

Ditto that - Most of my professional skills are self-taught from things I've done as hobbies, then honed by on the job experience and schooling.
June 18, 2009 10:49 p.m. TJ Reader

I got a giggle out of the idea of someone being so good with their hands that they are a shoo in for a job in nanotechnology.

That my friend is some seriously fine fine motor skills.
June 18, 2009 11:08 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

For some reason I am actually good at replacing tips on the AFM... (little buggers are about the size of a pinhead, gotta be precisely placed, and are expensive)

It was probably more about my enthusiasm about applying what I was learning (took statics, mechanics of materials, and materials manufacturing from this prof) and the internship is research at the university with said professor.

That all said, I'm not getting paid much at all (know people working fast food making much more over the summer), but I would have taken this internship if it was unpaid. (main reasons, fascinating, cutting edge, and GREAT for the resume when all I have in the past is food service and retail sales)
June 18, 2009 11:14 p.m. gamby SuperDork

So basically, all my years as a bicycle mechanic might get me somewhere way outside the box. One can hope.

My abysmal auto mechanic skills certainly won't.
June 18, 2009 11:17 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

gamby wrote:

So basically, all my years as a bicycle mechanic might get me somewhere way outside the box. One can hope.

My abysmal auto mechanic skills certainly won't.

been known to happen before....
June 18, 2009 11:20 p.m. carguy123 Dork

My wrenching skills directly got my daughter a husband. I had a requirement of my kids that they had to build a car before they could have a car. My daughter was an "Oooo I broke a nail girl" but ended up being able to swap out a starter on a 53 MGTD in minutes.

She got a full mechanics set of tools for Christmas (her request) and was known around the college dorm as the go-to person to get things fixed. One day her future husband came to her room to borrow some tools. I don't know whether to smile or cry sometimes.
June 19, 2009 1:19 a.m. friedgreencorrado HalfDork

Apexcarver wrote:

gamby wrote:

So basically, all my years as a bicycle mechanic might get me somewhere way outside the box. One can hope.

My abysmal auto mechanic skills certainly won't.

been known to happen before....

I grew up on NC OBX, I'm also an aviation fan...and must applaud your choice of the glider photo over the usual pic of the `03 Flyer. IMO, the 01 &02 gliders were probably the most significant aircraft in the history of flight..

http://tinyurl.com/l68bsx

Wilbur & Orville were smart enough to learn how to fly before they got crazy enough to put a motor on it..
June 19, 2009 7:22 a.m. Rangeball Reader

[soapbox] I think what working on you cars shows to people, is your ability to get it done (yourself) and an ability to learn/adapt on the fly. The attitude that things are understandable and you-can-learn-how-to-do-it will go a long ways in life. [/soapbox]

Again, congrats. Its great to hear good news in these times.
June 19, 2009 7:35 a.m. 924guy HalfDork

Rangeball wrote:

[soapbox] I think what working on you cars shows to people, is your ability to get it done (yourself) and an ability to learn/adapt on the fly. The attitude that things are understandable and you-can-learn-how-to-do-it will go a long ways in life. [/soapbox]

Again, congrats. Its great to hear good news in these times.

well said!

I know without doubt, the skills I learned early on by working on motorcycles and cars definitely helped me get promotions many times (especially the electrical troubleshooting). the ability to improvise, and trouble shoot went a long way for me, and still does....

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