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If you're looking to get into the gear design side of things, start practicing now. Since you're only 16 you have plenty of time to work on your own style and capabilities.
It seems for some of the other people in this thread, travel was an issue. It's not for everyone. The guys that I know who design gear don't really travel that much. They mostly stay within the Southern California area. However, those who work in media or athlete relations....well, we travel our asses off. I personally love it! I love the races and it's always fun going to the top guys home or private tracks to work.
I disagree with the people who say you need to know someone to get your foot in the door. I didn't know a single person within the industry when I started filming and most of my close friends I've made in the industry didn't either. If you work hard, have a great attitude, and you're good at what you do...you'll have no problem landing a job.
I would take this guys advice!!
The Shop
I agree with others urging you to get a career in marketing or engineering. You can definitely keep your goals of being a designer for TLD, Fox, or whoever and possibly still have a M-F day job. Even if that is a really hard job to get, don't let these jerks kick the dream down if that is what your goal is. I just think it is smart to not spend years trying to get a job in the industry that will require travel.
I also agree getting a job at your age at your local bike shop is a great idea. You may be around the scene locally enough that way to see if any part of the industry appeals, or drives you nuts.
Go after your dreams, this is america.
Be advised that this industry is definitely rewarding in the "fun job" factor, but not so rewarding on the "I make lots of money" side.
I almost never post on here but this seems like fine time to tell my story. I was exactly where you are at 16. All I knew I wanted to do was work in "the industry." I had mostly narrowed it down to working for a magazine because I liked writing, graphic design, photography, etc.
When I was a junior in college I got my foot in the door with Bryan at Racer X by emailing to suggest they use Myspace as a marketing tool. Social media as we know it was a brand new thing and to my surprise he wrote back that they wanted to do it but didn't have time. Would I be interested in doing it for them? So I pooped my pants with excitement, cleaned up, and then gave everything I had to what became an online internship.
I did what I feel you should do when you're trying to get any job, and that's get to know the people at the company and bring something to the table. That bold one is important. No one is going to hand it to you because you want it. You need to offer ideas and then execute them.
Two weeks before I graduated Bryan made me an offer to come down to Morgantown and work for Racer X. You live close to the action so you won't have to deal with this, but I packed everything I could fit into my car, left my girlfriend (who became my wife) and high tailed it down from Maine to West Virginia. When I got there I remember being star struck to meet guys like Weege and DC and again it became my mission to grab every opportunity to contribute.
This was 2008 and the economy was pretty much at its worst. Unfortunately some people had to be let go for me to stay, but I became the Online Editor for Racer X Online. This was supposed to be my dream come true but I knew from the start it was not right for me.
I did get to do some very awesome things. I went to races, got to test ride a couple bikes, got to meet riders and the other nuts who work in this sport
I lasted 18 whole months and I think I burned a bridge or two on the way out, which you never really want to do. I wish I hadn't been in such a rush to get out of college and that I'd focused on a more worthwhile degree than what I got.
If you skimmed the post here's the bullet points:
- Have a skill to offer.
- Have ideas for how to use that skill.
- Follow through with those ideas.
- Your location will help you.
- I would personally keep work separate from play.
My advice would be to look at what you really want to DO rather than what you want to be around. If drawing's your thing then look at what companies are around you that do that, you are more likely to be picked for a job because you're good at it than you are to be picked for it because you've worked in the same industry doing something completely unrelated.
I have done it to myself three times now in my career. Chasing a "dream" thinking it will turn out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. All it has done is soiled my view on the hobby that I loved. I still love the hobbies that drove me to seek out such jobs, but they don't have the same mystique as they did before.
Finally, I realized that what I want from a career is to work with great people. I sought out a job with great people and that is where I work now. The industry we are in is extremely far from what I am passionate about, but guess what, I LOVE IT! I work with awesome people, in an awesome environment, and I love every minute of it.
I work crazy insane hours and make far less than I ever have at a job before, but I am absolutely the happiest I have been since my career started out of college.
Bottom line: Do what you like, but in my experience, what you like will be largely based on the people/environment than the actual tasks at hand. Focus on finding a fantastic team. In my experience, this is rarely at older, established corporations so be weary. Relatively new, large companies are fine.
P.S...Engineering degrees are fantastic even if you never end up working as engineer. My #1 take away from a top tier engineering education is the ability to think logically and critically through problems at work, in life, etc. The bulk of the technical knowledge has long since escaped the front of my brain, but what has stuck is the critical thinking skills. The ability to think with a combination of logic and intuition is what makes a fantastic engineer and why many engineers end up being very successful leaders.
Hope this helps!
Pit Row
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