Trying to get a job at This Caraudio shop (tips?)

[twisztdauthorit 10+ year member]

haha thanks for all the replies guys... so well the guy never called so i showed up a bit early. I came in and at the counter stand three chumps //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif they said the manager wasn't there today so to come back saturday...

I don't know if there testing me or if its just a mishap that one of the managers didn't show up today. The manager i talked to yesterday was polite and listened to what i had to say so i don't think there trying to get me to go away.

as to hooking up alarms/starters, If i have a proper diagrams, i can do it. I installed my own alarm w/out any other help except for the internet and it was quite rewarding. I tried hooking up an autostart on my friends Chevy but it was quite difficult to find the proper wiring diagram and certain things seemed outta place.

anyways, Im not sure if i should go back during the week just to drop by and see if the manager is there or just show up like saturday like the guys at the counter told me to. I don't wanna be a nag about it but i want to show im committed.

Thank you to all of you guys, you are all being very helpful.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

The biggest thing about everyday car audio places... is that day-to-day installs are their bread an butter. Labor + accessories is how they make their money.

You need to be quick and accurate. You will be slow at first, but just pay attention to how long it takes you to do things and try to always improve your time. DO NOT sacrifice quality though, it doesn't matter if you can slam&jam a deck in 10minutes if it comes back a week later for problems/warranty/trouble-shooting.

Also, take pride in your work... make things tidy. Plan on being shop bitch if you get hired. You have to earn respect, don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking a question is better than fucking something up and having to pay for warranty work.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

nG

 

[1991Brougham 10+ year member]

The first week is the worst. If you make it past that, you'll be in a comfort zone since you'll know what's expected, who's around and the opportunities available to score bonus points by doing extra work, staying late, doing the scut stuff and such. Hustle your butt off, listen up, don't talk back and do the best you can. If they are reasonable intelligent organized people, you'll do fine. If they're POS's and more problems crop up like the manager not being there, just soldier on, get the experience, then go look for another shop to work at before you tick people off at this one so you build up a good recommend.

I've worked for good and bad places. As long as the check doesn't bounce come payday, I'm happy...LOL! Good luck to you.

Rick

 

[twisztdauthorit 10+ year member]

The first week is the worst. If you make it past that, you'll be in a comfort zone since you'll know what's expected, who's around and the opportunities available to score bonus points by doing extra work, staying late, doing the scut stuff and such. Hustle your butt off, listen up, don't talk back and do the best you can. If they are reasonable intelligent organized people, you'll do fine. If they're POS's and more problems crop up like the manager not being there, just soldier on, get the experience, then go look for another shop to work at before you tick people off at this one so you build up a good recommend.
I've worked for good and bad places. As long as the check doesn't bounce come payday, I'm happy...LOL! Good luck to you.

Rick

main reasons i want this job off course is $ but the experience is also a nice treat.

the managers seemed like nice guys but the other guys that were there seemed kinda meh.. ill have to play nice =)

 

[SilverSquared 10+ year member]

Good luck. Be your self.And if some one asks you what the RCA line out voltage is, Dont point at the display and say 25 watts x 4

And dont say its 12v like most others, and when someone asks general specs, use the word auxillary for the 'aux' input. Also, just a pointer, try to play with a couple radios when there's no customers, to learn what they can do. Read up on them, as well as speakers, subs, amps, and so on. Just to get a more detailed mind on what THEY (customers) want to know. If you can answer any question, accurately, and promptly instead of taking 20 minutes to look up to see if its a dead head because it doesnt say 29x4 on the front, they'd most likely come back because of the timely manner. 1 head unit can mean 3 sets of components, 8 subs, and 5 amps, plus the wiring. And NEVER argue with the customer.

 

[twisztdauthorit 10+ year member]

UPDATE

so yeah im kinda ticked off, after being told to come back for like the 3rd/4th time i finally get to talk to the "big guy" he looks up for a sec and says part time huh... well if you can see were not really that busy lately and we already have 5 people so we don't really have any more positions open.

If you want though you can go down to the shop over on _________ and tell them ________ recommended you...

woulda been nice if they coulda just said that the first time eh.

wouldn't mind checking out the other shop but this one was 3 min from my house, the other is about a 20 min drive and we all know i have the shittiest little car.

end of story for now =(

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

So where in Ca. do you live?

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

Well, that sucks. too bad man. Maybe the other shop will hire you, then in a year, when your making boat loads of money for the other guy, the first guy will be like Dammmm, I could have hired him.

 

[twisztdauthorit 10+ year member]

Well, that sucks. too bad man. Maybe the other shop will hire you, then in a year, when your making boat loads of money for the other guy, the first guy will be like Dammmm, I could have hired him.

i wish

idk i dont wanna work to far away and all the other close shops are in the ghetto.

Tried another place 12 min away but the guy had a funny accent, told me

" aaa jo need to *** down here and jo need to fill out de paper wurk, and we need to test jo, because we haf like 3 otha people infront of you that wont to work too."

 

[MyFartsStink 10+ year member]

Man I am in the same situation as you. I been going around to different shops and putting out resumes dressing nice and talking to the owners. Most of them had enough people to do their work so I had no luck. But I finally come along this shop that is completely laid back and the owner says mother ****er in every sentence. He told me that I should do some internship and learn shit before I am hired. And Im going in this monday to do my internship. I expect them to give me hell and see if I can handle it. I will. But just an idea, tell them that you will do internship for them for a while untill you get paid. Also make up a resume and mention in there you solder all joints, And you are really into car audio and its your hobby. where a nice collar shirt, but dont overdress. Act like you have some balls is a big thing, talk to the manager, dont act like a ******. And mainly go to the small shops that have owners and is not a big company that has higher authority that hires people. Dont call, just go in there. When you call you make em think you just want to hide behind the phone. Also look on the internet, for car stereo, car audio in google with your zip code, you should get a list and a map of different shops in your area. Good luck man.

 

[mazzasec 5,000+ posts]

That my intimidation. I work at brandsmart USA its kinda like a best buy. No difficult installs just the basic HU sub amp and door speakers. I just dont feel confident taking apart peoples cars and as cars are getting newer they are becoming more and more harder to take apart

 

[MrSwiss 10+ year member]

just a comment about shop *****. i worked in a cabinet/countertop shop for about a year. i was shop ***** for a looooong time.

last november the shop went out of business, the few remaining guys found work at another shop, didnt feel like telling me shit while i was on unemployment. 2 weeks after it runs out, one of the guys tells me they are looking to hire a guy. i go in, get the job immediately, and now im the head laminater at our shop. and the guy that used to be our shop foreman, is now a coworker, and i get to boss him around sometimes haha!

anyways sometimes shitty jobs can help you out in the future. i never wouldve been head laminater if i wasnt the shop ***** for almost a year.

 

[twisztdauthorit 10+ year member]

How does the whole internship thing work? Just go in and say i wanna work as an intern untill they feel i am ready? How long could that possible last, a few days, weeks?

I dont want to get stuck at some shitty place where all they sell is crap but i guess sometime you need to work your way up.

I definately tried the good car stereo in my zip code and came up with lots of results within my city but many of the places are a good drive away.

How fast should a person be able to install a deck ,run cables and all that sorts of stuff?

I usually like to take my time since i have only worked on mine, and friends cars.

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Onthe side note, found an add on craigslist of a part time job advertisement to go around to certain houses and take 4 pictures per house.. 10$ a house + pay for gas. Too good to be true?

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[audioinsanity 10+ year member]

hey man i feel your pain i know how hard it can be to get hired at a good shop if they keep shooting you down jus hang around sweep a lil and do odd jobs eventualy they will have to pay you

 

[DBDRAGGUY 10+ year member]

If you know the basics:alarms/remote start, head units, amps. You should get a shot in the install bay. From the owners pespective you will give his main guys a day off or fill in in a call off situation. Just be up front with what you can do, show confidence in your ability not arrogance. Dont be afraid to admit not knowing how to do something, everyone had to learn somehow. If you get in a spot just ask for help,no sense in damaging a customers ride, or having a redo because you were in a hurry. Most of this you already know, and since it is a part time position, see if there is anything else you can help out with in the mean time. Good Luck.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif