What are Good Jobs for an Enthusiast in College?

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 03/10/2018 at 20:36 • Filed to: Job Oppo

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I’m still working on my degree but I’m looking for extra income, for totally reasonable automotive expenditures. What’s a good place to apply my best skills in a setting with decent pay?

I consider the following to be areas of competence for me:

Mathematics

Writing

Public Speaking

Driving cool cars fast

The last one is more of a reach, unless any SoCal-based car companies hire test drivers with zero professional race wins...

An automotive setting for a job would be cool, but I’m sure there are other industries that could be a good fit too. What do y’all think?

Big Italian Toyota MR2 with ALL THE VENTS for your time.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 20:42

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washing cars at a dealership?? I dunno

Under_Score > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 20:55

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Driving? You could become a merchandiser for Coke or Pepsi; that’s the guy that drives to Ralph’s (thinking CA for you) and other stores in a region, stocks only the pre-delivered sodas, and leaves.

pip bip - choose Corrour > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 20:58

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Drug dealer? 

Jk

No idea tbh

ToyotaFamily > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 21:00

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Photographer for a dealership?

AM3R, lost another burner > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 21:09

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Get a job at a local dealership. Preferably something more enthusiast oriented like BMW. Get to drive lots of cars, and the hourly pay is usually pretty good.

OPPOsaurus WRX > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 21:10

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Valet at a fancy hotel. My buddy did that and tips were good

Nick Has an Exocet > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 21:14

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You got writing samples? If you can actually write, there are a number of ways to get freelance writing gigs. Including working on papers/spec sheets that may require some math.

RacinBob > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 21:20

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Whatever your degree is in, get a part time gig in that field. It will be a huge leg up in your future job related decisions and in interviewing.

What degree are you working on?

boxrocket > way2blu does a rev update 03/10/2018 at 23:29

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Marketing/P.R.

You’re young, have time & energy, and you’re good with public speaking. It may be simple gigs like auto shows, but it allows for a foot in the door and potential upwards mobility. Build a career early if you can.

way2blu does a rev update > boxrocket 03/11/2018 at 09:16

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That’s a really good point, thank you! Relevant to my degree too.

way2blu does a rev update > RacinBob 03/11/2018 at 09:17

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Currently in a pre-business program and I get to specialize once I attain business status. I’m thinking marketing or entrepreneurship.

way2blu does a rev update > ToyotaFamily 03/11/2018 at 09:18

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Some dealerships could definitely use better photography. Thank you for the idea!

way2blu does a rev update > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 03/11/2018 at 09:19

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That could actually be pretty fun if it were a higher-end brand. Washing a Lamborghini could be dangerous though with all those wedges and edges...

way2blu does a rev update > Nick Has an Exocet 03/11/2018 at 09:20

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I have been working on writing for a while, the research aspect is also pretty fun so I’ll look into that too. What would you recommend as a starting point for finding freelance gigs?

f86sabre > way2blu does a rev update 03/11/2018 at 10:06

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You can work part time as a gate agent or bag handler for an airline. Plus there are flight benefits. We’ve got spots open at LAX.

You can try and get on at the Porsche Experience Center out there as well. It’s mostly contractors, but who knows?

Under_Score > way2blu does a rev update 03/11/2018 at 10:35

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Unfortunately, a lot of the chains have companies to take photos for them. I found this out a couple years ago. Sucks, I know.

RacinBob > way2blu does a rev update 03/11/2018 at 10:52

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This is a really good dialog. My opinion is if you want a high value career, you need to be where the action is, doing a core responsibility. For a business degree, the most valuable employees are those that can close orders and/or work with valued customers. Pick a business you really like and I would say get a job in sales or customer support.

Ask your profs for ideas of the best business they know of that you could get a sales or customer support internship. Note, a car dealership is cool, but if they say that an industrial equipment company is a really great company, go there as you want a quality experience.

Making money should not be the primary objective. What the objective should be is getting a chance to look behind the curtain and find out what you are talented at and/or what you are not.

If I were to suggest, some kind of industrial equipment distributor or rental is a pretty good place to be. Tends to be a more ethical place than the car business and provides a better chance on developing a sustainable career. Don’t worry that pumps are not as neat as cars. If you are the owner of one of these, you’ll have plenty of money to buy sports cars with.....

I like your thinking. Go get it.

Nick Has an Exocet > way2blu does a rev update 03/11/2018 at 12:23

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I would start scouring the web. Freelance writing jobs get posted all over the place. You could also try sites like Upwork.

RacinBob > RacinBob 03/11/2018 at 15:59

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One other comment, if you are going for a business degree, you should spend your time in school like a businessman. You are forgoing working for a living and spending serious money to hopefully improve your future employment. When you add the money you could make from a full time job instead of college to what you pay for your tuition, you are spending at least $30k per year, $120k total. So everything you should be doing at this time is maximizing your return on investment. If that ain’t your priority, you may not have such a fun time at business.

As such, if you want to be successful, your focus right now should be figuring out what role you want and what business is your best opportunity. Ask lots of people for advice and go for it. I do not envy graduates today as companies are very selective.

I have see from others, if you don’t get a good start, you may never catch up. You are not spending all your time and money right now to be a manager at a coffee shop.

Sooo, it’s time to make your own luck. Spend your time in school figuring out where the best opportunities are and how to get an inside track on getting that best first job after graduation. You are spending a lot to get a business degree, you need to be working right now to make the most of it.

Do it right, and you will be racing 3 years out of school, just like me! Remember, you make your own luck.

Here’s a pic from the last glacial era when I first started racing.

way2blu does a rev update > RacinBob 03/13/2018 at 15:30

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Thank you for the advice, that’s excellent to know. My school has lots of good faculty that I’ll definitely be talking to. Also that looks like some super fun racing :D

RacinBob > way2blu does a rev update 03/13/2018 at 15:39

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Unfortunately it was my shortest lived racecar.... We bought a used street LeCar, built it and drove it to the track. And in about 4 laps in the first session, my co driver had two cars pile up in front of him leaving nowhere to go. I never even got to race it....

We sold it for $100 and hitched a ride home with another team. Sometimes you win.....