Do's- learn as much as you can, even if it's in an area which isn't your "job". There are lots of opportunities for folks who keep their eyes & ears open. Take pen & paper notes, like LaGrange advises, nothing like loosing tons of info when an electronic gizmo crashes. Treat the techs you serve w/ respect, even the pain in the a** ones. You never know when one of those pain in the a** techs will be able to pull you out of a jam.
Don'ts- don't get into the habit of short cutting when looking up parts- nothing like arguing with a tech that the part you supplied is correct when in fact it's wrong- do due diligence on every parts order. Don't talk about co-workers to other co-workers- it ALWAYS bites you back- & HARD!
In the end this is a very rewarding career. I've been doing this 30 years & still going. It's made me a comfortable living raising my family with decent benefits & hours. Good luck!
Focus on your responsibilities as much as possible. Don't let anyone distract you with their personal problems.
Take notes with pen and paper; electronic devices are not always reliable.
I do agree with flockofseagulls. This industry will always be around. If there are materials to be moved, stored and delivered, you always need forklifts or any material handling equipment.
I had been in this industry since 1977 and am still in it.
Really good parts people are worth their weight in gold. Learn all you can , be nice to people at other dealerships and network with them. Never stop learning and try to keep as much in your head as you can. The best parts person could tell you the P/N before you could finish telling them what you needed. Do not get over whelmed just take the time to figure things out.
Ask your manager if you can do a ride along with a technician or PM service for a few days. The technicians will respect you and the customers you meet will be glad to meet you face to face.
To reiterate what has already been said, you never truly do get out of this industry. It is not a glamorous industry but it is one that will always be around. If you think about everything you use in your daily life, chances are a forklift has touched that product at least once.
Another piece of advice I would give is to never bad mouth any other dealer, brand, company. You absolutely never know where your career will take you and this industry is very large but at the same time very small. I am sure others can attest to that.
I would say you are on the right track though. Get involved in these discussions. You can pick up a wealth of knowledge just by reading through these threads. Ask tons of questions. We live in an ever-changing world and that includes our industry. It is an exciting time to be starting your career now. We are seeing so many improvements to material handling equipment.
See if you can get involved with ITA. At the least ask for the monthly reports. This will show you the market share trends and changes. Spoiler alert: Toyota is HUGE!
Good luck!
GET OUT NOW!!!!
Just kidding:)
The one thing that I have noticed after being in the industry for going on 30 years is that once you are in you never fully get out.
The industry opens many doors and has the potential for developing into a lasting career.
I started 30 years ago with a grease gun,filter wrench and a dream!!. I am now manage well over 700 lifts across North America and could not be happier.
Best regards,
Truly Blessed Redneck
Grow some thick skin. Forklift operators generally don't care about the equipment and the owner wants it fixed NOW so they can put it back to work. You are in for a real treat. Good Luck
Sit down, buckle up and hang onto your hat. Your in for a ride...lol
Hopefully you have someone at your location (Parts manager or another parts associate) that's going to take you under their wing and show the ropes. Always stay positive, truthful and ask a lot of questions. Be prepared to learn something new every day. If you are with an OEM they will also be a wealth of help & information.
Hang in there and good luck
Good Luck...you will need it.