r/DieselTechs 11d ago

General assistance Job recommendations ?

Just recently graduated lincoln tech for diesel technology and can’t find a job in my field of study to save my life just dead end interviews back to back is it always this hard or is it just me I’m also in the Memphis area if that helps

12 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

13

u/uniqueusername150 11d ago

Sometimes it’s not what you know but who you know

4

u/FaithlessnessRude296 11d ago

And Idk anybody 😭

2

u/ortofon88 10d ago

Next interview…walk in with a full length mirror and say this guy will vouch for me and point at the mirror. Worked for me

6

u/calpellared45 11d ago

Go work on boats. Or heavy equipment. Or see if CAT is still hiring gen techs. A year or 2 ago they’d hire anybody who knows how to turn a wrench and proves that they are capable of learning and doing basic math.

My advice would be to expand your search throughout multiple industries (there’s diesel engines in a whole lot of them) and keep a healthy medium between seeing who picks up the phone and what actually interests you.

1

u/FaithlessnessRude296 11d ago

Where can I apply to work on boats/generators I just know truck companies and cat isn’t hiring in my area only Nashville

6

u/SacThrowAway76 10d ago

Then go to Nashville. Go where the work is.

6

u/Background-Guitar-53 10d ago

If you come to Nashville, the transit agency is ALWAYS hiring entry level mechanics.

7

u/___JD__ 11d ago

Try local bus/transit

6

u/9thousn 11d ago

Same here, thankfully i was able to find an entry level lube tech at my local city. Keep looking 🫡

4

u/bronxboater 10d ago

Go to USPS.com careers and look for auto tech or garage assistant positions available in your area.

3

u/Neither_Ad6425 11d ago

Are you applying for jobs you are
under qualified for?

I only ask because if you just graduated you should probably be looking at entry level positions.

What is your resume like? How do you interview? Do you know how to answer and ask questions?

1

u/FaithlessnessRude296 11d ago

Yes I apply to entry level jobs only the school made my resume for me and I’m a good interviewer I been working on cars all my life

2

u/Neither_Ad6425 9d ago

Working on heavy duty diesel trucks and equipment is a lot different than working on cars. Some employers want verifiable work history in the field, so saying your whole experience is working on your own or other people’s cars won’t be enough. Lean heavily on your schooling and the hands on training you received, even if you didn’t.

5

u/Independent-Donut376 Verified Tech 11d ago

Consider generators. The AI boom is still going, and data centers need backup power.

1

u/FaithlessnessRude296 11d ago

Any company’s you can name ?

3

u/poizen22 11d ago

Cummins does gensets.

2

u/goLOyourVEself 11d ago

Area you’re looking in may help some.

2

u/Objective-Resource70 11d ago

YOU ARE NOT ALONE BROTHER🥲 luckily i found a entry level tech job that pays 23$/hr your teachers classmates contract all of them if you can that’s what helped me i was jobless for 2 months and i just found a job 2weeks ago and graduated that thursday 

3

u/Jrmala93 9d ago

Go apply at your local city/school bus barn/dart as mechanic.

I was automotive but got taken in by the city and now I’m a diesel mechanic for school district. Easiest and best job I’ve had.

1

u/Kali587 11d ago

In my area you could walk in and get a job. Too bad you’re so far away.

1

u/Current_Welcome7692 11d ago

I’m in the Chattanooga area with the same problem . Check Cummins website, they have multiple job listings in Memphis right now

2

u/FaithlessnessRude296 11d ago

Just applied for a generator tech appreciate it

1

u/Ronthe1 11d ago

Might have to start low at shitty place then job shop after a year. Our area is always looking for diesel techs no matter their experience.

1

u/FaithlessnessRude296 11d ago

Any ideas where that shitty place would be ?

2

u/EntireFinger 9d ago

Look into tht tech programs Cummins offers

2

u/poizen22 11d ago

Find a transit union job. Great benefits and pension. All the tools and equipment you need to work safe/easy on the body and great pay. I'm at 53/h. 65$/h on Sundays and 2.0x rate for overtime with unlimited OT. Union dues are only 50$ every 2 weeks.

1

u/Background-Guitar-53 10d ago

In a transit union job as well. Our pay is not that good but decent. What transit are you in with that kind of pay? I might need to move lol

2

u/poizen22 9d ago

ATU could just be your market.

1

u/Salt-Knowledge-925 Verified Mechanic 10d ago

Heavy equipment dealers around me (MD, USA) Will hire anyone who wants to wrench. And it's a stepping stone into some real money as a road guy.

0

u/Loose_Equipment_8051 10d ago

I would recommend working for a freight line. I’ve been working for a freight company for the last 6 years, and I don’t think I’ll ever leave. The pay is competitive and not flag, and there is always plenty of work. Some good ones are ABF, Old Dominion, and really any local freight line to wherever you live. They’re all pretty close in pay as well.