Ok fellow club members, I need to call in a favor...

[Frosty]

Ok guys, I need some help. I'm going to be a little sketchy on the details here because I don't want to dive too deep into my personal life on a public message board but here it goes.

Back in July I was laid off from my job. Around that time I got into a little bit of legal trouble(thanks to a scumbag friend I TRIED helping out). The state of PA is jerking me around with my PA state Auto Damage Appraiser's license(they're very strict with things if you get in trouble). The state of NJ doesn't require any type of license to write estimates at a body shop. Unfortunately I don't have many contacts in NJ. I have a few years experience HOWEVER I don't have that much hands on experience in a shop so I'd be considered a "noob" even though I have a few years under my belt. I sat in a nice comfy office reviewing estimates from my desk.

I'm not asking anyone to pull strings or call in favors, I wouldn't want to tarnish someone's name if things didn't go well. What I'm asking is for anyone to keep an ear out and an eye open for shop's looking for an entry to mid level experienced estimator. I'm looking for a shop not that far into NJ(I'm close to the Betsy Ross and Burlington Bristol bridges). I'm not far from where I-95 hits NJ. Even the Walk Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges wouldn't be too far.

I'm currently on unemployment and should be getting the federal extension which will keep $$ coming in until early August however I don't want to sit around that long. I'm looking to get back out and working around May. I have goals to get another Fbody and buying one while unemployment is a bit immature, I'd feel better about buying one while working, lol.

Like I said, I'm not asking anyone to stick their neck out for me or to pull strings, I don't want to get wrapped up in ruining someone's reputation if things don't go right.

Thanks guys.

[NJSPEEDER]

I would suggest that you just find the name of every insurance company and body shop and start making calls. Google Maps and Yellow Pages are usually pretty good about finding these things. You would just have to figure out how far you are willing to drive for work.

[WildBillyT]

Can I ask, what company did you work for?

[Frosty]

The CEI Group, an accident management company. It wasn't an insurance company. I'm ruling out working for an insurance company at this point, I want to stick with a body shop.

[Frosty]

Oh yeah, my other option is going into auto sales but I don't like working Saturday's, I hate people and most importantly I have a soul.

[Teds89IROC]

I would do as Tim suggested, I've also been doing the same thing for an Accounting job.

[Frosty]

Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll give it a shot. Hopefully someone knows someone who knows someone, it'd make it easier.

[NastyEllEssWon]

i know its kinda far but haldeman ford is for some reason always hiring

[jims69camaro]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

i know its kinda far but haldeman ford is for some reason always hiring

well, having had some experience as a salesperson, i can lend ya an insider's point of view, for what it's worth. what some stealerships do, which is highly unethical but perfectly legal, is to bring in the fresh faced kid and give him a half-hour's worth of training and then send him out on the floor. they give him very specific instructions, which are to get the people inside. they also encourage him to bring in his friends and family.

now, if a coupla days go buy and junior still hasn't sold a car, they have a meeting where they humiliate the hell out of him. then, if he sticks around, they give him a stronger suggestion that his friends and family would probably be a great way for him to keep his job, why hasn't he made any appointments, etc. if he stays after that, they just go through the motions with him if he's not selling.

hell, if he sells a car a day they might have a ringer on their hands so they might work with him. if he still hasn't sold anything, they usually let him go before payday, which he would have gotten a draw against commission, but since he doesn't have any commission he isn't getting the draw.

they dump him unceremoniously on his head and move on to the next set of noobs. and on it goes... it's called a circular doorway in the business. as long as the guy sells they keep him around. once he's gone, there is room for more, so pretty much the ad stays in the paper or on the net or where ever it is.

and, no, tony, you would no like the ethics in a stealership.

[FBODS4EVER]

i agree. stay away from car sales. i know many of friends who had the same problem. moving from dealer to dealer. and with the economy right now. my guess is it wouldnt be good.

[Frosty]

Where the heck did I say anything about car sales?

[NastyEllEssWon]

i was talking about for body shop estimator/adjuster since he has experience in that field. or service writer...bah