Appearances matter to Jeff Hildner.

Bustling out from the back of the busy Lexus of Tacoma workshop, he wears the dealership mechanic's uniform — black pants, black shirt, black baseball cap, all immaculate.

"We live in a very judgmental environment. People judge you on what you wear, where you work," Hildner said. "I make sure my uniform is in order. I represent myself well."

He used to think of auto mechanics as doing dirty, low-end work, he said. That was when he was at Boeing, in a job he loved.

Now, more than three years after his layoff, he's still coming to terms with his new self-image.

"I was very proud of where I worked and what I did," he said, "It was exciting."

And now?

"I don't love my job," he said. "Maybe that'll come in time. I'm getting there."

Choosing new field

Hildner joined Boeing in 1996. His job was to organize the delivery of urgently needed parts and materials at the Kent space center. As an International Association of Machinists union steward, he was protected from layoff unless his whole unit was closed down.

But after Boeing made two big space-technology acquisitions and transferred almost all of its related operations to Southern California, that worst-case scenario played out: Hildner was laid off.

Facing a money crunch, he and his wife sold one car and a boat, took out a second mortgage and consolidated their debts.

After months of research, Hildner chose a new career track carefully.

"I don't expect to get laid off. That's why I picked this," Hildner said. "A service field like autos, you can't outsource to Japan or Mexico."

He trained in auto mechanics at Green River Community College, attending class with 18- and 19-year-olds.

After he graduated, Hildner and his wife had their first child. As an apprentice mechanic, Hildner couldn't afford days off. He worked whatever overtime was available and was away from the new baby more than he wanted to be.

After a year of paying his dues at Saturn of Puyallup, he sought a job with prestige. Determined to work for Lexus, Mercedes or BMW, he kept calling managers at those dealerships until he found an opening.

He likes working for "the better clientele with higher-end cars," he said.

But prestige goes only so far. Hildner said he's still looking for something better.

When he left Boeing, he was making $24 an hour, including his pay as a union steward. In his current position, he'll take four years to reach that range again.

"We don't have nearly the money we used to have. We're on a real tight budget," he said. "It's like starting all over at 33."