I grew up working in bike shops. For most shops, the basic mechanic knowledge of a bike is a good thing to have. The ability to learn quickly is just as good, if not better. Personality? That all depends on the shop. There are some shops that want great mechs and couldnt care less about the people skills because they run their shop a certain way (they dont let the mechs talk to the public) and then there are the rest of the shops that do. So it all depends. Like was said up top, you wont make squat as a wrench monkey but if you like to pass your time wrenching on bikes and putting them together while making about $.27 an hour... go for it. I love wrenching on bikes PROBABLY more than anyone, but I wouldnt work for a shop anymore, unless it was my own.