choosing 1 of 2 jobs

[resinboy]

Lost a job of 10 years last week ( I am an auto tech.) 53 years old.
2 new jobs offered.
1) really old established independent shop, great bennies but crappy working conditions (attached body shop, lots of fumes all day, only 1 lift that goes only halfway up, due to low ceilings. Most work done on floor on jack stands).
or
2) newer shop, regular lifts, has another mechanic who does all the heavy stuff( engines and trannies). BUT no included health insurance.
equivalent pay offered from each. Travel time about the same.

Opinions?

Dave

 

[manimal]

Lost a job of 10 years last week ( I am an auto tech.) 53 years old.
2 new jobs offered.
1) really old established independent shop, great bennies but crappy working conditions (attached body shop, lots of fumes all day, only 1 lift that goes only halfway up, due to low ceilings. Most work done on floor on jack stands).
or
2) newer shop, regular lifts, has another mechanic who does all the heavy stuff( engines and trannies). BUT no included health insurance.
equivalent pay offered from each. Travel time about the same.

Opinions?

Dave

Depends. What state do you live in and what are your health care costs on the open market there and do you have a family and retirement savings or a 401K from the old job? I have been in automotive for a while and would probably tell you to go to the shop with the better reputation. Having a small shop where safety is an issue and not ventilated can cause serious health problems. If the body shop and specifically their paint work isnt filtered they wont be open for long in most states.

If your insurance costs on the open market arent too bad you should look into the second place first. Being the C tech to a A tech isnt bad if the A tech wants to teach you. Now at 53 you should be very experienced so you will end up just doing the bitch work the main tech doesnt want to do. Really a hard one.

Are either shops specialty shops?

 

[resinboy]

Im in NY, best individual policy through Obamacare is 350/ month with a large deductible.
I have a small policy with a few grand squirreled away, but not much ( long story).
Both shops have a decent rep. The one with a body shop has 4 big flatbeds, and do their own work on them. ( it seems the older I get, the heavier the work- shouldnt it go the other way?)
2nd shop has a smaller truck with cradle . And I would be doing mostly service work, check engine lights and assoc. diagnostics. ( I am an A tech).
I dont have a good back anymore and think the body shop will be hammering me with heavier stuff.
Body shop, constant supervision, other shop, few hours a day, I mostly will be doing my own thing.

 

[steve wilson]

I think you like the job at the body shop better, but know deep down you know you need to go for the newer shop with the easier conditions due to your back.

 

[olds]

Look for job number 3.

 

[resinboy]

ive only been out of work for a week, feels like 3 months. Seems like I'm deciding on the lesser of 2 evils . Job #3 sounds like a good idea, but slow time of the year for shops in my area, so not many independent shop jobs listed. If I want to work flat rate and work at a dealer I could, but it's really cut throat around here doing that.

 

[B-Riz]

Just from doing my own work, I would rather have the lifts that work and not inhale dangerous fumes all day...

 

[pauldun170]

How much is the deductible? Do you have a HSA?

 

[Gunslinger08]

Can you live on #2's net pay after health insurance costs? You may also qualify for some tax credits, depending on your income. If yes, I'd go with that one. Working conditions mean a lot more to your general happiness for most people, especially with potential health implications.

 

[gorcorps]

Working conditions in #1 sounds like a headache, but have you looked into the cost of getting your own insurance?

 

[resinboy]

getting my own insurance will run a minimum of $350/month. thats 85 a week from my check. Currently living with a great girlfriend, but her $ is tight as well. We were talking of tying the knot maybe this year: if so going on her policy will run #240/ mo.
And no, i do not have a HSA- just learned of them from your post.

 

[amdskip]

I hate working off jackstands!

Job #1 if you can convince them to upgrade their shop.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'd take the job with better benefits if the pay is the same.

 

[resinboy]

no convincing job#1 of anything: established for 70 years, doubt theyll listen to the new guy, also I would be working next to the owners 35 y.o. son the whole time. They seem like a nice family, heard a lot of good about them but the working conditions look like they kinda suck. Double whammy-body shop fumes and working on floor jacks.