Everyone's mileage may vary, especially on the "dice roll", they get with the assigned location which varies by market. In my case starting out as Lot Tech, the team I initially joined was very disrespectful and unprofessional. My Shift Lead had good intentions, but it was clear to me their heart was no longer in the job. I made what I could of the circumstances knowing I wanted to make a change and thus I stuck around for 1.5 years, becoming Shift Lead and assuming some manager roles based on opportunity and circumstance, proud of the differences I did make having seen the progress unfold before me as people came and went, but slowly and surely cementing the elite team my location has always deserved.
SO.....
- You may luck out with a well-developed account or you may need to be a strong proponent of change with one that has clear, yet addressable discrepancies. A pro or a con, depending on the individual.
- The job market and world outlook can have a drastic effect on employment turnaround due to entry-level job fatigue for these positions. Recent times show a brighter outlook for more consistent operations.
*I worked between 2020 - 2022, covering peak pandemic times, and feeling the full effect of short-staffing, emotional distress, and uncooperative individuals who were more often going through hard times. I personally held on because I found unique fulfillment getting through and overcoming those challenges, but it might not be for everyone if managing themselves and/or a team around those possibilities combined with high-value automobiles seems too high pressure. Honestly, honing confidence is key and just having a great work ethic will start you off strong.
- You may need to push often for reasonable incentives and workplace changes. As I mentioned before, you will be heard, it's a matter of whether or not you actively voice and meaningfully bring up concerns to Shift Leads and/or Account Managers. This company is still growing, and as I said before, you may luck out with a refined account location or one that needs work. If the chance exists to ask for a transfer, that may also be an option but could be market-specific.
- Waste disposal and more thorough cleanup typically falls on Night crew. This is a con if you genuinely dread the idea of potentially having to maneuver 45+ lb shop waste bins regularly if your location assigns it as SOP for night crew. You get a workout and if you hold a great mindset, may not phase you, but it can be overwhelming for the unprepared.
- Working indoors and outdoors is a must, even through winter and may not always be to move cars around the lot. My location was tasked with the upkeep of customer walkways in the winter, so shoveling snow for hours was regular. Again, depending on location, but must be considered
- Saturdays are usually mandatory and locations may not always serve lunch. Food is typically left in the matter of the individual, with available paid breaks, but from my experience only in 30-minute intervals and peak times plus poor delegation may often leave you "breakless". Dice roll.
All in all, every place has its difficulties. The biggest cons that disappeared with time were on-calls and the short staffing during peak pandemic times.
Once more, your mileage may vary and will be based on the integrity of the people you get to work with as well as your own!
Thanks for reading and hopefully a more detailed description helped!
