New Jeans with Holes?
I was with my son this past weekend doing some shopping for school clothes. He told us he wanted some new jeans for school.
So off we went to the mall to go back to the store where he bought his last pairs of jeans. He likes the fit of that brand and doesn’t want to get any others at this point. So he went to the shelves and he picked out two pairs. He went to the dressing room to try them on.
As we were checking out, I was amazed at the price of the jeans. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I find it even more amazing the condition of the jeans. They were worn, faded, and had holes in them. “Heck”, I told my wife, “Maybe I should rummage through my closet. I probably have a couple hundred bucks worth of jeans in there that are faded and have tears and holes in them.”
But I guess that’s the style of the day. Kids are used to picking a pair of jeans off the shelf and getting that used broken-in look and fit right away. A few years ago you would pull a stiff pair of dark blue jeans off the shelf and wear them with that “new jean” look for a few months until finally they got broken in and fit pretty good. Then, after a few years, they became extremely comfortable with a few holes, tears, and not much of the original dark-blue color left.
Unfortunately it seems some of the younger mechanics coming out of school have the same attitude towards a job. I recently talked with a director of maintenance who told me quite a few job applicants would come in for an interview dressed like they were going to the beach. They would then turn down a job offer (if they were lucky to get one) because it only paid $15.00/hour.
Although you may be able to buy a worn pair of jeans with holes right off the shelf, you can’t expect to come out of school and be a seasoned mechanic. Be patient. Everyone will know that you are the new guy. But if you go in with an open mind and positive attitude, others will be more than willing to help you fit more comfortably into your new job. Career success will follow naturally.
Thanks for reading!
Joe Escobar
Good commentary Joe. I like to think of my experience as holes in my fingers (from lockwire) as opposed to holes in jeans. In either case, dress for success will always be the standard.
I am an old northwest guy and because of my strike status I can’t get an offer for a $15 per hour job!
I think the same goes for the shop. I have seen new mechanics come into a shop and be turned down because they don’t have any experiance.
Fresh out of school… I wouldn’t expect them to either.
Then again offering a well worn mechanic only 15 bux an hour is a insult also. (one reason that most older mechanics operate out of the back of the car on GA fields)
Are they worth the money… yes… but, the management sees a greater earning with the seasoned mechanic and so better profits and lower pay due to their age.
Its too bad that the military is not training mechanics any more. Most new ones need at least a year under a seasoned mechanics wing to really be able to become responsible and a professiona…. as I always said to Bill O’brien…. new professional mechanics require old professional mechanics to train ‘em right. (i.e. it takes one to make one).
So starting these kids out at 15 bux an hour is fine but I would think after a while they should be making much more so as to retain them as a asset.
Its all about the money. Owners of aircraft (GA) except for the Biz stuff, will go to the cheapest guy, so FBOs say. However, I have found that most don’t go to FBOs because of the high price, lousy service and response to request.
On the other hand the old mechanic that works out of the back of his car…. knows the plane, knows the owner and provides a service where he is making the same money while not charging the owner as much for the service. (thats competition that most FBOs go running to the Field Officer and complain about… its all about the money)
Most old mechanics…
Have their own tools… that are in good condition
Don’t make much money but, love to work on aircraft and be around the field as a friend.
Know more about what is the right way to service the plane than the FBO who only does what the owner requests and no more…for fear of losing his profit.
Most older mechanics are more safety minded and professional.
Most older mechanics work with pilots/owners who then develope a better understanding of the inner workings of the plane.
Its too bad that the FAA and FBOs don’t respect these older mechanics (instead they run them off the field) as I have seen more of the older mechanics training or taking new mechanics under their wing and through working with them actually turn out a better professional mechanic than most schools do. Again these older mechanics are in love with aircraft, retired and so can pass on the professional attitude that schools and FBOs don’t. Again… the schools and FBO’s are all about the money and not the walking thinking professional attitude that a mechanic can only get out in the field.
As to the FBO’s who whine about these few older mechanics taking work away from them… my response is… if your good and treat the customer right… they will come… but, all to often.. I hear more negative of our local FBO ’s from the people who have had there planes serviced by them.
I have no problem hireing these old timers part time and then putting the new fresh out of school mechanics under them. It becomes a win win situation… for all. Most customers like the idea that they have the same people working on their plane every time… and pefer getting their advise from the old mechanics… something about age and advise… (grin) as well as they know the older mechanic won’t short change them on the service they need nor will let the younger mechanic damage anything due to in-experance. Remember it takes a professional to make a professional… Too many of todays mechanics are only looking for the money… and at 15 bux an hour you get exactly what your paying for… cutoffs’
fly safe… fly smart… GMAs
Interesting observations Joe. As an instructor at a Part 147 school and father to some children of my own, I can certainly identify with your comments.
I guess some instructors simply go in with sort of a tunnel vision, maintaining focus only on the curriculum outline. Our school always tries to add a human touch above the requirements of the usual Part 147 training. We feel the most important soft skill we can add to a student’s training is to instill a desire to be honest at all costs. Students should have a firm undestanding that lives depend on the integrity of the technician. I think students should also be told how to dress for an interview or a field trip. My experience is that many simply don’t know what a big deal it can be. If a student needs help with a resume, we’ll stay late and offer suggestions. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that there are some good students coming out of schools. It seems we only hear the bad news sometimes. The reward for us comes from seeing the success of the students after they leave school. Student success is our whole purpose. The rest is just a good ripple effect.
My thanks to you and the many contributors to AMT for the useful tech articles that we have pulled information from occasionally to spice up the lessons. Keep up the great work.
[…] XML Feeds (Aircraft Maintenance Technology) I was with my son this past weekend doing some shopping for school clothes. He told us he wanted some new jeans for school. So off we went to the mall to go back to the store where he bought his last pairs of jeans. He likes the fit of that brand and doesn t want to get any others at this point. […]
Hey- Jeans with holes are hot!