Job Hunting - Ideas Appreciated

[Drax240z]

OK guys, right up front I'm not asking for someone to find me a job.

 

I'm in the process of job hunting, with little luck so far. The jobs I've applied for have been in the following areas:

 

Formula 3000 (England) - Bad timing, between seasons is better, and I'd have to be over there to get a job.

CART Toyota Atlantic (US/Can) - Bad timing since its mid season. Got very close here with a couple teams, but nothing in the end.

Cosworth, Mclaren, etc (England) - Don't call us, we'll call you, letters.

Custom Turbo shops (Canada) - "We'll be hiring in a couple months, and looking for someone with your skills"

 

This is probably about 40 resume's & cover letters so far. I'd prefer to stay in Canada, but will relocate to the US, England, (or NZ, Australia, etc.) for the RIGHT job. This job would be one that takes advantage of my mechanical engineering degree, while still allowing me to work hands-on in some regard. I have fairly extensive machining and fabrication experience, including TIG welding Ti, SS, Al, etc.

 

I've been avoiding California jobs like the plague based on what I've read on this board... Most car nuts seem to be trying to leave CA because of the restrictions. Please inform me if I am misguided in this thinking...?

 

My full resume can be downloaded here:

 

http://www.members.shaw.ca/drax77/CV%20-%20Richard%20Lewis.pdf

 

Comments, and suggestions on its content and organization are very welcome.

 

Any leads, businesses, contacts, ideas you guys want to share is appreciated. I'll do the leg work and sell myself.

[BayAreaZT]

I actually applied for a position at Reynard in England. Got close to getting in but in the end it didn't work out. It was a good thing though cause they went under a few months later . I would say just keep contacting as many teams or shops as you can. Maybe opening your own shop might be a possibility. If you cannot find a position in motorsports, maybe you should look into aerospace companies as a back up. Alot of the work is similar.

[Drax240z]

Funny, I've got "an investor" wanting me to open a shop for him. I want to get some more experience first though... I was thinking 5 years or so away. Maybe I should bite the bullet and go for it now.

[randy 77zt]

california-an expensive place to live but where there is money there is more to share.since i work at a ford dealer as a tech i always wanted to be on a race team when i was younger.but now the thought of 3am breakfast at dennys and working weekends doesnt sound too good.these kind of jobs depend on a reputation-you will have to starve for a few years.try nascar-houses in the south are cheap.since i work on cars for a living it really kills having cars as a hobby.i am thinking of seeling out and buying a rv park in baja.southern ca has a lot of not so common type of racing going on that costs lot of money-off road racing ,boat racing,sand rails.the shops that fabricate and maintain the play toys make big money.but you will have to pay $1500 a month for a crappy place to live.

[Guest blue73z]

What about a sports car team? Some of the teams in the ALMS and Grand-Am series look like fairly large operations. Plus the Daytona Prototypes only have one year of development. It seems to me that they might be more willing to hire a new graduate, especially one with fabrication experience whereas the large open-wheel teams like specialists.