u/FitInspection8871

Hey guys,
Got an on-site interview this Thursday for a 1st shift Maintenance Mechanic position at Altium Packaging in Tracy, CA. The pay range is listed at $28.17–$36/hr. 
A quick rundown of my background:
Current job: Working full-time at Amazon doing warehouse ops. Used to 10-hour shifts, fast pace,
Mechanical side: I do all my own work on my cars (spark plugs, cooling system, oil changes, fluid flushes, standard hand tools) and I'm getting my ACT WorkKeys Silver NCRC.
The gap: I don't have direct industrial pneumatics or hydraulics experience yet, but I get the basic concepts. 
A few questions if anyone’s worked at Altium or in blow molding:

1. What’s the floor culture like at Altium?
2. What are managers usually testing for when interviewing entry-level guys?
3. Realistically, what are my chances of getting an offer around the $28/hr base with my background?
4. Anything specific I should watch out for or study before going in on Thursday?
   Thanks for any insight!

Hey everyone, for those who recently started as an RME Operator (RMEO L2) at your site, what does your day-to-day actually look like?
Are you mostly doing jam clearing, basic PMs, and MHE checks, or are the techs getting you hands-on with repairs?
How has the transition been coming from an AA floor role?
Would love to hear honest feedback on how the role is structured so far at different facilities. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I’m an internal Tier 1 Blue Badge associate trying to transition into RME (aiming for MRA or RMEO).

I don't have a formal trade background yet, and I've applied for multiple 3P C&W MRA and RMEO postings over time, but never got a response—they all eventually went inactive in Workday. Currently, I have one internal RMEO application sitting "Under Consideration" on Amazon Jobs Internal, but I want to build a real technical foundation so I'm not just relying on portal luck.

I'm looking at enrolling in a trade school nearby—specifically the VOLT Institute in Modesto, CA. They offer a 23-week Automated Regional Manufacturing (ARM) / Electro-Mechanics program that covers hands-on PLCs, motor controls, fluid power, schematics, and SACA certs.

For those in RME (Blue Badge or 3P):

Does completing a 23-week program like this carry real weight on a resume for MRA or Tech 2?

Will the hands-on lab time help pass the Ramsay/Criteria assessments, or do HMs/recruiters not care as much about short trade certificates?

Should I do the 23-week program first, or just keep applying internally/externally?

And if I finish the program will i able to get accepted to tech 2 positions and if I am able to get a message from the hiring manger for the rmeo position would I have to take a test?