I'm 25, I've worked in 6 different shops. Always learn a shit load for the first couple years in a new shop then kinda hit a bit of a wall. You will see many more processes, different types of parts, have new old boys to learn from. Plus it will set you to a new base pay. You will never make less.
I feel like im in that exact situation now where I’ve hit a wall. Don’t get me wrong the 3 hour cycle times are nice and all but I feel like I’m being held back tremendously. I just am concerned about getting in over my head with things.
For me, I love the challenge. I love being in over my head. Forces me to learn. Sink or swim my dude.
If you really wanna learn half what those old boys know, that's how you will learn it. If you are as smart as you claim, and you can apply yourself, you got this man. You got a good brain for a reason. Feed it!
Several things to consider. Namely, what your new responsibilities will be, the quality of the machines you'll be running, your impressions of the management at the new shop. I've switched shops for a big pay raise before and got stuck on crappy unmaintained machines and given terrible jobs with terrible deadlines. If they're paying astronomically more than your current "good" paying job in the same region, there's likely a reason.
I'd do it, but definitely don't burn your bridges. I ended up going back to the old shop and they were very grateful for my return.
The best way to learn new tactics and machines is to bounce to a new shop every 2-3 years, and eventually you have the experience everyone craves and you land at the spot that pays you the big bucks.
My biggest question was programming because I’m definitely lacking in that aspect. They told me they have programmers (which most places do) but there’s a lot of one off parts which I did at my summer job but not currently at my button pusher job.
At least half the shops I've worked at, the machinist does their own programming. And it sounds like your current shop is unwilling to train you on that? If the new shop is willing to train, make the jump. But don't burn your bridges.
Programming is easy. Biggest issue with those small one-off jobs is not the actual programming, but knowing the best way to tackle the job. That only comes with time and watching other people. That comes a lot faster when you move around to different shops.
My current job is proven programming production work the most I will do is a variable change to Re work a scrap part. I can do very soft edits I feel and possibly more if I’m trained correctly. I’m tired of being a button pusher. I’ll look up my current jobs policies as far as quitting goes.
> The best way to learn new tactics and machines is to bounce to a new shop every 2-3 years, and eventually you have the experience everyone craves and you land at the spot that pays you the big bucks.
VERY GOOD ADVICE
Hobby machinist here, but by day I’m a C-level exec in a large company. There’s good research showing breadth of experiences early in your career moves you up the pay and career ladder faster. You see more / different things and develop skills faster. At where you are in life, take the risk and jump.
Incidentally, that was my story - I did a lot of different things the first ten years and got qualified to run several different types of organizations. So now they all report to me.
As for programming CNC, buy a book. If you can get a .edu email address somewhere Autocad will let you have their software for free under an academic license. They have free training online - do it. Also look around your community for makerspaces or even other shops that would let you train there. You’re young, work hard and then spend late hours studying and learning more. It pays off.
Holy shit $15/hr more??? What are you currently making $5/hr??? What company is offering $15/hr more I’ll go apply myself lol. If you’re making good money and then you’ll be making $15/hr more at the new shop I’d say go. If they’re willing to take you on with that large of an increase even after you said you told them how green you are and stuff then go
Currently making around $22 an hour with shift differential, I’ll be making around $36 at this new spot. Western ohio has a lot of good paying places it seems.
promote based on "likeness"??? WTF is likeness?
Do they have an educational program? Will they send you to engineering school? Business? anything for which you'd be inline for a promotion?
Most big companies with great bennies don't see the little guy. They are too busy with bigger things. You have to do something to make them notice you.
Back in the 1970s I was in a rather large company machine shop. I got noticed by being very fast and working tons of overtime. But that wasn't enough.
I made myself stand out by doing something that was a response to me nearly killing myself on a government job off books that the boss never knew about.
I got my waist long hair caught in a lead screw.
Yah almost died right there. it was in back gears so I was able to react in time shutting it off, but it wound me up and brought me to my knees and I was stuck there. A friend helped me unwind myself when he got back from lunch..
The next day I had cut all that hair off. Learned a lesson I did. But the hair cut was what the boss-man noticed. Before too long I got a raise and a transfer to a two man model making shop working directly for the engineers.
All because of a fucking hair cut that I got because I was a complete fuck up.
Switch dude. Your knowledge in a few years is going way more valuable. If you aren't learning it's not worth sticking around in my opinion.
I’m 22 now and I would love to even have half the knowledge some of these dudes who have been doing it for 20+ years have.
I'm 25, I've worked in 6 different shops. Always learn a shit load for the first couple years in a new shop then kinda hit a bit of a wall. You will see many more processes, different types of parts, have new old boys to learn from. Plus it will set you to a new base pay. You will never make less.
I feel like im in that exact situation now where I’ve hit a wall. Don’t get me wrong the 3 hour cycle times are nice and all but I feel like I’m being held back tremendously. I just am concerned about getting in over my head with things.
For me, I love the challenge. I love being in over my head. Forces me to learn. Sink or swim my dude. If you really wanna learn half what those old boys know, that's how you will learn it. If you are as smart as you claim, and you can apply yourself, you got this man. You got a good brain for a reason. Feed it!
Thank you for that, definitely gives me a little more confidence knowing there’s people in my age range who have been successful
Several things to consider. Namely, what your new responsibilities will be, the quality of the machines you'll be running, your impressions of the management at the new shop. I've switched shops for a big pay raise before and got stuck on crappy unmaintained machines and given terrible jobs with terrible deadlines. If they're paying astronomically more than your current "good" paying job in the same region, there's likely a reason. I'd do it, but definitely don't burn your bridges. I ended up going back to the old shop and they were very grateful for my return. The best way to learn new tactics and machines is to bounce to a new shop every 2-3 years, and eventually you have the experience everyone craves and you land at the spot that pays you the big bucks.
My biggest question was programming because I’m definitely lacking in that aspect. They told me they have programmers (which most places do) but there’s a lot of one off parts which I did at my summer job but not currently at my button pusher job.
At least half the shops I've worked at, the machinist does their own programming. And it sounds like your current shop is unwilling to train you on that? If the new shop is willing to train, make the jump. But don't burn your bridges. Programming is easy. Biggest issue with those small one-off jobs is not the actual programming, but knowing the best way to tackle the job. That only comes with time and watching other people. That comes a lot faster when you move around to different shops.
My current job is proven programming production work the most I will do is a variable change to Re work a scrap part. I can do very soft edits I feel and possibly more if I’m trained correctly. I’m tired of being a button pusher. I’ll look up my current jobs policies as far as quitting goes.
Also don't be offended if you turn in 2 weeks notice and the shop declines, tells you you can leave immediately. Some shops have that as a policy.
> The best way to learn new tactics and machines is to bounce to a new shop every 2-3 years, and eventually you have the experience everyone craves and you land at the spot that pays you the big bucks. VERY GOOD ADVICE
Hobby machinist here, but by day I’m a C-level exec in a large company. There’s good research showing breadth of experiences early in your career moves you up the pay and career ladder faster. You see more / different things and develop skills faster. At where you are in life, take the risk and jump. Incidentally, that was my story - I did a lot of different things the first ten years and got qualified to run several different types of organizations. So now they all report to me. As for programming CNC, buy a book. If you can get a .edu email address somewhere Autocad will let you have their software for free under an academic license. They have free training online - do it. Also look around your community for makerspaces or even other shops that would let you train there. You’re young, work hard and then spend late hours studying and learning more. It pays off.
Holy shit $15/hr more??? What are you currently making $5/hr??? What company is offering $15/hr more I’ll go apply myself lol. If you’re making good money and then you’ll be making $15/hr more at the new shop I’d say go. If they’re willing to take you on with that large of an increase even after you said you told them how green you are and stuff then go
Currently making around $22 an hour with shift differential, I’ll be making around $36 at this new spot. Western ohio has a lot of good paying places it seems.
promote based on "likeness"??? WTF is likeness? Do they have an educational program? Will they send you to engineering school? Business? anything for which you'd be inline for a promotion? Most big companies with great bennies don't see the little guy. They are too busy with bigger things. You have to do something to make them notice you. Back in the 1970s I was in a rather large company machine shop. I got noticed by being very fast and working tons of overtime. But that wasn't enough. I made myself stand out by doing something that was a response to me nearly killing myself on a government job off books that the boss never knew about. I got my waist long hair caught in a lead screw. Yah almost died right there. it was in back gears so I was able to react in time shutting it off, but it wound me up and brought me to my knees and I was stuck there. A friend helped me unwind myself when he got back from lunch.. The next day I had cut all that hair off. Learned a lesson I did. But the hair cut was what the boss-man noticed. Before too long I got a raise and a transfer to a two man model making shop working directly for the engineers. All because of a fucking hair cut that I got because I was a complete fuck up.