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Becoming a shop tech?

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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
I'm 16, and I'm looking for a job that i can really enjoy. I LOVE WAXING AND WORKING ON MY SKIS. i almost see it as art, perfecting them and all. i would also really like to work at a shop and it seems that getting kids to work the floors is much easier to find then a shop tech.

so i put two and two together and bam, i wanna try to become a shop tech.

so i know how to wax, sharpening and what not is easy, and i have never actually mounted skis or anything but i am very good with drills and equipment like that, im handy.

how do i become a shop tech? im sure i need to get some sort of certification, right? what about some training for things like mounting and base grinding and that? also, shops use those industrial waxers, right? not like a normal iron and scraper?

so what do i have to do? im willing to spend the time to learn and what not. also, how old do you usually have to be to work as the shop tech?

thanks. btw, i searchbarred already
Mar 19 2009 8:06PM
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PC.
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 18
haha

i work in a shop, and i didnt need any certification.

my manager taught me everything from simple to waxing and up to drilling skis with jigs/even freehanding.

you can just apply to a shop, itll be hard with the economy like it is/end of winter.
Mar 19 2009 8:21PM
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roussillon
Posts: 1305 - Karma: 170
I guess the best way is to talk to a shop manager, I doubt there is an official certification required...  Ask them for a job, show you're a true passionate and hardworking guy and he shall teach you what you need to know
Mar 19 2009 8:24PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
i used to be one u take some tests on the websites and there real easy to become certified and its not as glorious as it seems and u start caring less since there not ur own skis but its still pretty fun. and u prob will have the shit job cuase ur the low man on the totem pole but go for it man cant hurt u
Mar 19 2009 8:25PM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
anythings better than being a liftie
Mar 19 2009 8:46PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
ooo, alright... but like, do i just ask? i feel like any store around here would turn be down right away if i didnt know what i was doing already. i mean the only two that are close to me aren't the greatest shops. Ones incredibly over priced and assholes. The other is overpriced and not all that great, but its the one i would try to work in. There is one that i really like, but its like 30 minutes away and would be a pain to commute.
Mar 19 2009 8:51PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
yeah id just go apply and like someone said show that youre really passionate about what you can do and that youre willing to learn all the other skills. probably the worst thing that theyll do is tell you theyll call you back and never call
Mar 19 2009 8:54PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
Usually the only certification needed would be to pass each binding manufactuers test on mounting and testing of their bindings. Dont expect to hop on the big machines like a stone grinder or belt tuner right away either. Usually you will have to have worked there for a while before they teach you things like that.

It is fun though, especially when you are able to work the floor for a bit, sell some merch, then go in the back and put a nice grind on a set of skis.
Mar 19 2009 8:54PM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
what you have to realize is that all shops are overpiced. they just can not compete with online deals. what they can have that online doesnt is experts who guide buyers into the right equipment and teach them about skiing. just convince the shop that you are a people person and are very knowledgeable and would be a major asset to their team. if all else fails work for backcountry from your basement and live chat it up.
Mar 19 2009 8:55PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Main thing is to get yourself a job in a ski shop in the first place - once you have the job then in time you can show the manager that you want to head in the workshop direction and if there is space, then i'm sure he would give you the training you need.

Waxing/tuning isn't really comparable to heavy base repairs which are don't properly - thats where the real skill comes into play.
Mar 19 2009 9:03PM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531

If you are good at waxing. Why don't you make your own waxing buisness. You can make a bit of money. I have one at my local mountain I charge $20-30 a pair of skis a wax, more for a full tune. Last season I was tuning about 8 skis a week making a nice profit. You make good money and your hours are flexible and you work for yourself + no tax.

Mar 19 2009 9:04PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
yeah, i know thats why shops are expensive, but i mean like the one shop i hate charges $80 to mount bindings... thats just fucked up

I did apply for a job there. i spoke to the owner and all in person and told him (and showed him) that i was the kind of guy that can talk to people and that i was interested and all that. i did go in late in the season though and they were pretty well staffed. he said he would give me a call if he needed me and all that, and that possibly during the summer i could start up and get a running start into the winter season.

im thinking about shooting him an email just to kind of follow up. let him know i would like to try to work this summer and into the winter. Should i say im interested in working in the shop eventually and would love to learn?

and i think all the live chat people for BC.com work in SLC at the actaul place
Mar 19 2009 9:08PM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
tell him your interested in starting like right now and my shop charges 75 for mounting so i kno where you are coming from
Mar 19 2009 9:14PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
Here is the email i have writen up so far. lemme know what you guys thinks

Hey Skip,

My name is Brian Dubs, I came in earlier in the season looking for a job. I know it was pretty late to start and so I guess that didn't work out. But you did mention possibly working this summer and getting a running start into the winter and so I was wondering if I could take you up on that. I am around in parts of early July, and then late July to late August I am completely open, weekdays and weekends. I then start football and will be able to work weekends. After football I am able to work most weekdays and weekends through the winter and then back to only weekends once lacrosse starts.

I am really interested in working at Hickory and Tweed, I love skiing and I know I would enjoy this work compared to the office job I would have. I am also really interested in become a shop tech although I know there is a lot to learn.

Thanks,
Brian Dubs
Mar 19 2009 9:28PM
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BigM1218
Posts: 998 - Karma: 13
ok i work at a shop and mostly work the floor selling shit, but occasionally ill tune or mount a ski if i have to. basically, its a lot easier to get a job on the floor than it is as a tech. i never did a certification, but your technically supposed to. the fulltime techs at my shop said you have to do it online and its stupidly easy. but it can be hard to get a job as a tech because many shops have techs that are older guys that have been working there forever. theyre most often not young kids that come and go you know? but if you do become a tech, you need to learn to mount. eventually you will learn to work a stone grinder, which can be complicated. sharpening is real easy, and to wax you just slide it over a huge spinning waxer. obviously you have to be able to fix big gashes with ptex and epoxy and shit as well. id suggest doing what i do and mostly work the floor (at least at first), but goodluck on your job search.
Mar 19 2009 9:33PM
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Pwn.Mode
Posts: 1061 - Karma: 10
best way is to get a job at a rental shop at your local mt. and then they'll show you how to tune shit, then if they think you dont suck they'll ask you to work in the shop of you can ask to work there. well thats how i did it, the tuning shop was seperate from the rental shop but still employed by the same resort.
Mar 20 2009 4:20AM
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AlexGaynor
Posts: 947 - Karma: 148
wow, you have no idea how much of the same situation i am facing. last year i was talking to the manager. he asked me for a resume. so if you have one or if you have any other impressive feats you've accomplished, such as jobs, grades, or volunteering, make up one and attach it. i plan on using my grades to get me a job.

also thanks for all the advice ^, to everyone else.
Mar 20 2009 2:46PM
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comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
i'd try and cut out all of that about not being able to work much. tell him that once you get the job.
Mar 20 2009 3:21PM
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BigM1218
Posts: 998 - Karma: 13
^ i agree, a manager will want to hire someone that he can rely on to work when he need him to, not someone who always has something else to do
Mar 20 2009 5:33PM
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IHOP
Posts: 2155 - Karma: 19
My opinion on this is that you should get to know everyone at your skishop and get really close to them untill you turn 18. Hopefully by the time you turn 18 you'll be good friends with everyone in the shop and you can keep reminding them that the you would really like to fill in the next opening that they have in the store. From there you might have to work on the sales floor or backroom until they have an opening in the tech shop and let you in.

And i only say you should wait until your 18 because most smart business will not hire minors. This is because there are a lot of federal statutes that give enormous protection to minors. Such provisions as, the absolute ability to dissafirm any contract regardless of negligence and many states have their own employment laws for minors such as restricted hours and pay. This of course does not mean you can't get a job when you're a minor, it just makes it harder to justify hiring one. Best of luck.
Mar 20 2009 8:14PM
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Chucktheweasel
Posts: 551 - Karma: 128
I've never seen a 16 year old shop tech at a local shop, unless it was the owners son or friend of the family. The best advice I can give you (as a shop tech) is that you should either get a job working the floor for a few years, or work at a rental shop at a ski resort. No offense, but you have nothing positive to offer the owner of the shop. Shops right now are not exactly looking to train someone. Also, is you send the owner an email, or go in person again, do not expect a job set in stone just yet. Wait until next season to talk to them. That is when they will be hiring. But like I said, and most others, expect to work the floor and work your way up, or look for a job at a rental shop.
Mar 20 2009 9:25PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
exactly.

otherwise he's not going to see all the time you can work, only the times you cant work.

Mar 20 2009 9:36PM
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BigM1218
Posts: 998 - Karma: 13
i guess i got lucky when i got my job. i walked in and asked, "can i get a job here?" and he said, "yea, if you can come in saturday thatd be great!" boom, im set right now lol
Mar 20 2009 11:51PM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
jesus i would not pay anyone 20-30 dollars to wax my skis
Mar 21 2009 12:21AM
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HappyTreez
Posts: 311 - Karma: 401
Get on your Knees and pretend you are a 13 year old girl trying to get into a Jonas Bros concert for free
Mar 21 2009 2:27AM
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East.
Posts: 2314 - Karma: 128
I work at a shop, as a sales rep, but I probably spend 50% of my time helping the tech tuning up skis. Without any prior experience, you aren't going to get a job as a RELIABLE ski tech, despite the certifications you get.

To my knowledge, the certifications are exclusive to the binding manufactures, i.e marker, look, salomon, etc.

On the liability forms at my work (which completely cover our ass from any potential lawsuits) we have customers sign off on the fact that we mount bindings according to manufacturing standards. So, you gotta know that it is a huge liability to work as a ski tech, therefor most shops won't hire anyone without any prior experience or who may seem too young/ineligible.

Also, you gotta think of it from the perspective of a customer. Most adults wouldn't assume a teenager knows more than they do about skis. It would kind of be like bringing your car to a shop and having a teenager pop open the hood and start cranking away.

So, my advice to you, coming from one who works at a shop, try and get a job as a sales rep / rental tech , because from there you can work your way up. Even if you don't make it anywhere past the sales rep  position, you'll have some credibility as a sales rep who has worked with skis. From there a shop might take you in and train you.

Goodluck.
Mar 22 2009 10:27AM
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