Is it worth goint to school to become a small engine mechainc?

[ZL50068]

Hey guys, this fall I want to attend Alexandria Tech college to take their marine and small engine mechanic course. What I want to know is, is there a demand for this type of mechanic? It would seem if I get an education in all small engines,(lawnmower,outboard, snowmobile, fourwheeler, etc) that I should be able to find some work. What is your honest opinions on this? I dont want to invest all that time and money into a carrer that there isnt a demand for. Thanks guys.....

 

[Blu Du]

be a nurse.

 

[pernikm]

Yes, education never hurts. Whether one used the education is another story. Make some phone calls to shops in the area that might use your new skills and gage their interest. If all else fails, ANY employer is looking for those that set goals and have a demonstrated history of achievement and growth. Even if you apply at Walmart, a DEMONSTRATED, history will look better...always. A trained technician will also have real world problem solving skills. This will also look good on a "change of career" resume since the employer will have evidence that you can be trained.

Karl

 

[shadesofidaho]

Mechanic

Pay is poor.

 

[yammadog]

be a nurse.

Pretty much guaranteed to work and make good money.....then play with engines for fun....

 

[ptofnortn]

If you want to turn wrenches for a living I would be an auto mechanic before a small engine mechanic. The pay is far better and if you know the fundamentals of autos the small engines are pretty simple. Alex tech is a great school, went for tool die and mold making.

 

[John]

What's a goint?

 

[Headrush]

Hey guys, this fall I want to attend Alexandria Tech college to take their marine and small engine mechanic course. What I want to know is, is there a demand for this type of mechanic? It would seem if I get an education in all small engines,(lawnmower,outboard, snowmobile, fourwheeler, etc) that I should be able to find some work. What is your honest opinions on this? I dont want to invest all that time and money into a carrer that there isnt a demand for. Thanks guys.....

I wouldn't. The ceiling for $$ is kind of low, unless you own your business - I would look into healthcare. The "baby boomers" are getting older, and people are always getting sick, which means work.

 

[Greg B.]

I was going to get into swinging wreches for a living get into diesel repair. I was a small engine tech in high school and that job does not pay much

 

[Blu Du]

my wifes a nurse good money and benefits. a male nurse are minorities so you will get hired and good pay. blackduck already has a small engine mechanic on the scenic highway i can't belive they need 2 in that town

 

[xrated]

be a nurse.

F that if your gonna go through learning to wipe sick peoples aces do the extra 3 or 4 years and Nurse Anthestatist.

HUGE PAY HUGE.

If I knew at 18 what I know now at 25 as an xray tech I would have sucked it up and done nursing and then gone for CNRA.

 

[xrated]

I wouldn't. The ceiling for $$ is kind of low, unless you own your business - I would look into healthcare. The "baby boomers" are getting older, and people are always getting sick, which means work.

Just be aware that health care is changing. I work at a very big medical place and even we are seeing budget issues. Some of them are made up, but still the boomers who should be our boon, well medicare doesn't want to pay like they used to for stuff.

Still I'd say healthcare is a excellent choice. Like I've said before, I started full time work at 20, could maybe retire at 50 or so depending on how things turn around. I don't have huge student loans. I may not have a turbo truck, sled and back up sled and a new boat, etc and my sled maybe a piece meal Gen II and my car a 90 Probe, like you can get pulling construction work...BUT I KNOW HOW MUCH EACH CHECK WILL BE AND THAT I GET 26 A YEAR. No worries on if I will get bids, etc.

 

[MN_Nole]

Not knowing much about this industry, but seeing the responses and the current state of the economy, I would not go for a shortened time in school tech degree. Look longer term, a 4 yr degree in another area of your strengths, even though the loan debt will be higher on the outset of completion(but the almighty seems to be giving money away and education was one of his points of interest, may be able to get a great federal student loan), but in general the long term benefits/salary could out way the short term start in pay.
Don't be in a rush to get payed, poverty in school s**ks but 4 yr degrees, can't be taken away from you and can top out higher, unless you are a highly driven person.
My .1 cent, based upon the dollar today.

 

[xrated]

Nole has good points.

in my field of x-ray there is a push to make it a 4 year degree vs 2 like I have.
It's a fact that even with my current 5 years at the Mayo Clinic if I put in at another hospital and someone else with 1 year of work at an average hospital and a 4 year degree, I would be lucky to make it past HR and too the department supervisors as far as applications go. That's the way things are going, HR doesn't know what is needed and goes off education. So don't F around get the 4 year. It's worth being broke aced and not riding for a short time.

Course my home area of McGregor, a good small engines guy would do a bang up job. The local marine/sled shop I'm fairly certain the wrench in the back never went past small engines in high school.

 

[Headrush]

Just be aware that health care is changing. I work at a very big medical place and even we are seeing budget issues. Some of them are made up, but still the boomers who should be our boon, well medicare doesn't want to pay like they used to for stuff.

Still I'd say healthcare is a excellent choice. Like I've said before, I started full time work at 20, could maybe retire at 50 or so depending on how things turn around. I don't have huge student loans. I may not have a turbo truck, sled and back up sled and a new boat, etc and my sled maybe a piece meal Gen II and my car a 90 Probe, like you can get pulling construction work...BUT I KNOW HOW MUCH EACH CHECK WILL BE AND THAT I GET 26 A YEAR. No worries on if I will get bids, etc.

I work in healthcare, I know its changed and is changing. What hospital do you work at? I see you live in MN....

 

[Ox]

Wants to turn a wrench and you pointing him to health care?

You guys all have bi-polar?

While I understand that you need a money launderer to be in the trade, those two are at opposite ends of the spectrum eh?

If you wunna go to git some eddycashun in wrenching - at least go for auto. You could still git the small engine job with that I would Shirley think.

Werd of caution - DOO NOT git a job in the same field as your hobby! Do you wunna sled in the winter - or be stuck wrenching on others during your busy season? Also - you can git sick to death of even your hobby if you are in that field every day. Best to find a job that makes some $ and you can git some time off now and aggin.


.

 

[xrated]

I work in healthcare, I know its changed and is changing. What hospital do you work at? I see you live in MN....

Mayo

 

[attak06]

small engine tech.

no matter what mechanics field you go into you need to be the best that you can. the trucking industry has a hard time getting quality techs. there are all kinds of i am a mechanic but very few that are quality techs. i know our local yamaha dealer is good to his techs, he has had some very long term employees. i work as a heavy truck dealer tech and i was the shop foreman for over 13 years. i seen a lot of wanna be techs come and go. you need to have a strong work ethic to show that you care about your choice of career. good luck in your decision.

 

[Rprecision]

Find something that makes you happy................

The money will follow......................

 

[ZL50068]

See this is why I asked you guys, you all really opened my eyes up. Starting with I would have no spare time to go sledding if i was working on other peoples sleds all winter. And true, there isn't a whole lot of need for just small engine mechanics, but if I got an auto education I could work on small engines too. Wow, this is a big and hard decision. I have grown up working carpentry with my dad and that wouldn't be an all bad route to take either....I gotta do some serious planning and thinking. Thanks for all your help guys........any other info you come up with is great