3 ms·

There should be a continuous pool of young kids, in theory. Similar to your story I went from around 2x minimum wage at a grocery store as night shift manager

by VLM 10y ago

There should be a continuous pool of young kids, in theory. Similar to your story I went from around 2x minimum wage at a grocery store as night shift manager and going to class during the day, to around about 8x doing software stuff, but the school I attended while working night shift hasn't exactly closed. So where's the kids? There should be another CS department senior student making what would now be $15/hr at that store. Note that $15/hr is more than the steelworks pays new hires. If you can show up on time and sober, there's no point in working at a dirty exhausting dangerous loud steelworks for $12/hr if you can boss high school kids around for $15/hr in a suit and tie.

Balgair 10y ago
In CA, minimum wage for a mechanic without tools is 2x the state minimum; that's ~$20/hr now, right? In auto-repair there are no young guns anymore, the High Schools got rid of shop, let alone auto-shop, about 30 years ago. Besides, chicks don't dig grease under the fingernails. Almost no HS grads have the chops to become mechanics, they really need to go to Tech Schools beforehand. Some of those Tech Schools are really bad, but some can be good (Las Modanas in the East Bay). In the end, the pay is shit because the owners can't charge the customers enough. Most shops, like restaurants, close quickly because people won't pay. Also, ~90% of my uncle's business is in credit cards. Pre-2008 it was ~30%. The economy has really never recovered for most people.
- HeyLaughingBoy 10y ago
  the High Schools got rid of shop, let alone auto-shop As someone who values the ability to build and repair things, I'm sure glad I live where I do. HS around here still has multiple shop classes. My kid just finished basic fabrication (mostly bending brake work and riveting) and is now enjoying Welding.

3 ms·

There should be a continuous pool of young kids, in theory. Similar to your story I went from around 2x minimum wage at a grocery store as night shift manager

by VLM 10y ago

Balgair 10y ago
In CA, minimum wage for a mechanic without tools is 2x the state minimum; that's ~$20/hr now, right? In auto-repair there are no young guns anymore, the High Schools got rid of shop, let alone auto-shop, about 30 years ago. Besides, chicks don't dig grease under the fingernails. Almost no HS grads have the chops to become mechanics, they really need to go to Tech Schools beforehand. Some of those Tech Schools are really bad, but some can be good (Las Modanas in the East Bay). In the end, the pay is shit because the owners can't charge the customers enough. Most shops, like restaurants, close quickly because people won't pay. Also, ~90% of my uncle's business is in credit cards. Pre-2008 it was ~30%. The economy has really never recovered for most people.
- HeyLaughingBoy 10y ago
  the High Schools got rid of shop, let alone auto-shop As someone who values the ability to build and repair things, I'm sure glad I live where I do. HS around here still has multiple shop classes. My kid just finished basic fabrication (mostly bending brake work and riveting) and is now enjoying Welding.