What Was Your First Job?

We just held the first Webinar for our Future Leaders group and had over 500 people on the call.

Our hope was to show the students the various opportunities our industry has and the steps needed to achieve those goals.

So, what was your first job in our industry?

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Permalink Reply by Rachel Johnson-Gulbrandson on March 5, 2010 at 11:05am

I was born into the industry as well. I remember being a little girl and being at the shop working w/ my dad on cars and my mom did the books. Over time... mom got a job as a teacher in a school and I grew up. Dad still owned the shop and I went off to college. One day I was thrown into the craziness that I love so much.... dad got sick and I was the oldest and only one in the family who knew what to do w/ the shop. I ran the shop and worked on cars.. wether it was detailing, buffing helping restores cars.. whatever I needed to do to get the work done. About 2 years later, after we closed the shop because dad wanted to build lake homes up north... I found my way to Tousley Ford-Autonation Inc..... Here I am 14 years later, looking at cars, utilizing my teaching experience and Instructing I-CAR. I couldnt be happier. This job and this industry is rewarding. I look forward to many more years in this industry. Wether it will be teaching or writing estimates.... I love it. I hope that everyone else has found as much fullfillment as I have.

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Permalink Reply by Jordan Dale on March 6, 2010 at 4:57pm

I bagged groceries at a supermarket.

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Permalink Reply by Kristen R. Felder on March 6, 2010 at 5:19pm

Paper or Plastic? Just kidding :-)

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Permalink Reply by John Hogue on March 10, 2010 at 11:07am

I started as janitor scrubbing floors (and toilets) at age 13. When of age, I worked at McDonald's...great experience and learned alot about business, inventory, processes, etc. Then caught the whiff of lacquer thinner and haven't been the same since!

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Permalink Reply by Kristen R. Felder on March 10, 2010 at 2:19pm

I hear ya... before respirators were cool :-)

It's been my excuse for years... I actually find some odd comfort in the traditional smells of the paint booth, it's like going home. I'm not sure what I'll do when waterborne takes over :-(

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Permalink Reply by David Henderson on March 12, 2010 at 9:49am

My first job was at a Tuxedo shop. It was a fun place to work, we were a wholesale rental company, we would go through the pockets of the tuxedos when they were returned and see what we could find. Usually there would be some cash, it was kind of like a tip.
Then went to the collision shop and started learning the trade. I loved every minute of it. Always said I would die a body tech, and still am in my heart. I loved this industry!!
10 years ago I got the idea to start AutoWatch, and wow what an experence it has been. I love the friends I have made through the customers we service. What a fun time.
Dave Henderson

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Permalink Reply by Richard Sauro on March 14, 2010 at 1:41pm

It really is a trade of passion, I teach Automotive Collision in Boston and still love to fix cars.
I have run shop for people, work as an insurance appraiser, and after thirty years in this industry I am still most proud of all the time I spent on the floor actually doing the repair, I will likely repair cars untill
they stick me in the ground. (smile) Rich Sauro