Job Talk: Rafael Montiel

By Geraldine Nunez

Staff Reporter

November 2021

Rafael Montiel has been the go-to mechanic in the local community for roughly 35 years and though a man of few words, he was able to give us a glimpse of his profession for BMHS students to use as they try to maneuver the impending and perplexing responsibility of finding a career.

What made you want to become a mechanic?

I like cars and I find them interesting to break down and fix.

What does a regular day look like to you?

A day for me is to wake up,[set up] the shop, and then start ordering the parts that customers need and give estimates. That’s pretty much an average day for me.

In your opinion, what are some of the negatives of your job?

You have to work a lot, there are a lot of headaches...especially with customers.

And the positives?

You work a lot [Rafael laughs], that I fix all those cars and my customers get to leave happy.

How many hours would you say you work a week?

About fifty to sixty hours a week. I always go in at 8 and try to leave at 6.

What skills would you say are needed for this job?

Electrical and diagnostic problem solving mostly.

What type of schooling is needed to become a mechanic?

You don’t need formal schooling, or at least I didn’t.

Have you ever gotten any strange jobs?

Strange jobs? No I haven’t had anything out of the ordinary.

What physical toll has being a mechanic caused you?

My knees and my back definitely hurt more.

As a mechanic do you feel you are or need to be physically fit?

Oh yes, estoy bien mamado.