Know the price of following your dreams: Every person I have met, who has "followed their dreams" has given up a lot to get there. If you have visions of being a rock star, or a race engine mechanic in a awesome speed shop, whatever it might be, realize that you would have to give up the nice house, and the fancy cars at home in the garage to get there. Some of the Rock stars do make it big, just know that is such a small percentage. If you feel like you truly need to do something specific to be able to live with yourself, by all means do it! Just realize the price you will pay to get there.
In the same vein, the more glamorous the field, the more people are willing to accept less just to be there. I can't speak to whether the auto tech field is like this, though I suspect the "enthusiasts" might be flooding the market there. I certainly have heard from some people I know that made it through engineering school and on to Detroit. It is a big deal to work for the automakers, such that they skim the top students right off the best schools, and set them to work designing alternator brackets and stuff.
I work in a field that most people don't care what I do, other than can I fix their computer. But I get paid more to do it because it is not glamorous to work for a mid-size MSP like it is to work for Ford ;-)
Do not underestimate the economic factors: Many of us are ingrained with this "do what you love and the money will follow" philosophy when we are young, such that so many get bogged down with debt and dubiously marketable degrees. Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do! But do think about the life you want and what it will take to finance that. Or just what it will take to pay back college loans.
Think about the day to day reality of the careers: Most cops never pull their guns, most murders are solved by direct eye witness, the detective is just taking statements and filling out forms. Your doctor is parading people through his rooms and perscribing some drugs or writing a referral. A lawyer is burried in research or dealing with some red tape. I imagine an auto tech is banging out the 3rd alternator swap this week on a Belchfire XL.
Don't let that be discouraging, it is just life. Think about the type of tasks you like to do, on a daily basis. For example I have an affinity for computers just the same as I do with cars. I like solving problems, interacting with people, and working on things that I am building something that will be finished, something I can step back and say "it is done." For me computer systems engineering has worked out great in that regard. I didn't really know that when I got into the field but I figured it out later.
Think about the culture of the career: I used to have disrespect for the careers where time on the job, or other seniority is what matters. I like a career where I am judged and promoted based on my ability. It is one reason why I discounted a law enforcement, or an airline pilot career. I have been happy this way. My own ability is my only limit for advancement. But I have gained an appreciation for a seniority based systems, it is nice to have a career where you are much less likely to be fired or let go, because of that seniority, once you have it. My employer could decide to lay off and can me at anytime, though I make sure I am valuable enough they probably won't do that. By the same token I can pick up and leave if they piss me off, and get another job doing similar work at a similar salary. If I was a laid off pilot, I would start at the bottom again at another airline.
Whatever you make, it will never be enough: There will be retirement to save for, if you get married you'll have a wedding and other future needs to save for, then you will want a house...it never ends. You will probably never feel like you can buy a GT-R, even if you do make that sort of coin, until you are old and the kids are off at (paid for) college. That is why you see mostly old guys driving GT-Rs.
Do not work in food service: Need I say more? 10 years ago I was cooking food in a restaurant (I started there as a dishwasher when I dropped out of school) getting all the hours I could, making $12k/yr. I got some computer training and never looked back. Now I make just a little bit more than that. I guess it was a wake-up call to what the rest of my life would be like if I just did whatever.
Well just some things to think about. I think the overriding theme for me is that your career is as much about your desired lifestyle as it is about your passions.
In the same vein, the more glamorous the field, the more people are willing to accept less just to be there. I can't speak to whether the auto tech field is like this, though I suspect the "enthusiasts" might be flooding the market there. I certainly have heard from some people I know that made it through engineering school and on to Detroit. It is a big deal to work for the automakers, such that they skim the top students right off the best schools, and set them to work designing alternator brackets and stuff.
I work in a field that most people don't care what I do, other than can I fix their computer. But I get paid more to do it because it is not glamorous to work for a mid-size MSP like it is to work for Ford ;-)
Do not underestimate the economic factors: Many of us are ingrained with this "do what you love and the money will follow" philosophy when we are young, such that so many get bogged down with debt and dubiously marketable degrees. Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do! But do think about the life you want and what it will take to finance that. Or just what it will take to pay back college loans.
Think about the day to day reality of the careers: Most cops never pull their guns, most murders are solved by direct eye witness, the detective is just taking statements and filling out forms. Your doctor is parading people through his rooms and perscribing some drugs or writing a referral. A lawyer is burried in research or dealing with some red tape. I imagine an auto tech is banging out the 3rd alternator swap this week on a Belchfire XL.
Don't let that be discouraging, it is just life. Think about the type of tasks you like to do, on a daily basis. For example I have an affinity for computers just the same as I do with cars. I like solving problems, interacting with people, and working on things that I am building something that will be finished, something I can step back and say "it is done." For me computer systems engineering has worked out great in that regard. I didn't really know that when I got into the field but I figured it out later.
Think about the culture of the career: I used to have disrespect for the careers where time on the job, or other seniority is what matters. I like a career where I am judged and promoted based on my ability. It is one reason why I discounted a law enforcement, or an airline pilot career. I have been happy this way. My own ability is my only limit for advancement. But I have gained an appreciation for a seniority based systems, it is nice to have a career where you are much less likely to be fired or let go, because of that seniority, once you have it. My employer could decide to lay off and can me at anytime, though I make sure I am valuable enough they probably won't do that. By the same token I can pick up and leave if they piss me off, and get another job doing similar work at a similar salary. If I was a laid off pilot, I would start at the bottom again at another airline.
Whatever you make, it will never be enough: There will be retirement to save for, if you get married you'll have a wedding and other future needs to save for, then you will want a house...it never ends. You will probably never feel like you can buy a GT-R, even if you do make that sort of coin, until you are old and the kids are off at (paid for) college. That is why you see mostly old guys driving GT-Rs.
Do not work in food service: Need I say more? 10 years ago I was cooking food in a restaurant (I started there as a dishwasher when I dropped out of school) getting all the hours I could, making $12k/yr. I got some computer training and never looked back. Now I make just a little bit more than that. I guess it was a wake-up call to what the rest of my life would be like if I just did whatever.
Well just some things to think about. I think the overriding theme for me is that your career is as much about your desired lifestyle as it is about your passions.
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