ALT-1 Guide to getting Trained as an Auto Mechanic
I grew up in an automotive family. We owned a full facility service station. During the twenty five years I spent there I learned towing, gas pump and car wash repair, customer service, and many other administrative duties. I also became an ASE Master Certified technician. However, I was not prepared for a life outside when we sold the business. Here I was facing middle age with no job and clueless on how to proceed. Fortunately qualified mechanics can usually find decent paying jobs quickly. I soon found work as a reconditioning tech for a major national chain of used car outlets.
I was grateful for my new job. The pay was OK and the benefits were great. It did have two drawbacks though. First it was on the overnight shift and second it was flat rate. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this form of compensation, it is very common in the repair field. Basically it means that the technician gets paid hourly, but instead of clock hours, pay is based on hours of work produced. Depending on circumstances, this can either be very lucrative or sometimes disastrous. After a few months on the job, I knew that this was not going to be my lifelong career.
Repair work can be very physical and is particularly hard on knees and backs. Though I was still healthy, my forty-something body began telling me to find a job using my head instead of my hands. I had some college in my past but had never completed a degree. While working overnights I began taking classes on line. At the same time I began to explore other career options. I wanted to parlay my experience and background into a less physically demanding job.
This is when I started to see what options were available to me. The easiest transition for a technician is to service adviser or service writer. This is the guy that you talk to when you drop your car for service. A service adviser works in close proximity to the shop and must be able to communicate with both technicians and customers. Additionally the adviser must also be able to sell. Another option in this vein is shop manager or foreman. This may be at a chain store or independent repair facility. Managerial positions require the aforementioned communication skills as well as administrative abilities.
Looking outside of repair shops, there are other opportunities as well. Fleet companies offer some good positions for those with mechanical aptitude. Many fleet companies hire mechanics as maintenance consultants. These advisers generally work on the phone and help drivers with auto repairs. This job does not require a college degree but good computer skills are helpful. Additionally, communication and typing skills are a plus.
Stretching the boundaries a little, insurance claims adjuster is another job in which one may be able to capitalize on a mechanical background. In most cases however, jobs in the insurance industry require a college degree. Claims' adjusters have to be familiar with collision repairs so this may be better suited to someone from a body shop background. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that many of these positions have been eliminated with the advent of the Internet and digital photography.
Another career for those with a college degree is teaching. Many high schools, trade schools, and community colleges offer automotive programs and are actively recruiting teachers. If this is something that you are interested in then a good entry level is at a trade school. They will often hire and train former mechanics who have no teaching experience or formal education. An acquaintance of mine went this route and said that the training was phenomenal. The school would set him up in mock classrooms and videotape him giving a lesson. He and his trainer would then review the tape to sharpen his skills. He said that while sometimes uncomfortable, it helped him immeasurably. In most cases teaching positions at high schools and colleges do require a college degree.
I chose to work at a fleet leasing company as a maintenance adviser. It was a good choice for me. I managed to complete my degree which will hopefully open new options for me in the future. The best advice that I can offer is to keep taking ASE tests. ASE is still the industry standard and carries a lot of weight in the job market. Once you have achieved certification, you must continue to re certify to maintain it. In addition to ASEs, strive to educate yourself as much as possible. Vehicle technology continues to advance. Finally, be proud of your ability and don't be afraid to demonstrate it. There use to be a stigma attached to the repair field but this is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Shade tree mechanics cannot repair today's technologically advanced vehicles.
