Automotive Jobs and Automotive Service Training

If you like working with your hands and you're technical-minded, auto body repair—or any sort of automotive job—may be an excellent fit for you. In addition, most of these positions don't require expensive degrees that take years to complete.

Working in the Automotive Field

If you enjoy identifying and solving problems, there are many automotive jobs that might be a good fit for you. Mechanic jobs also require an analytical mind, the ability to communicate with others, and knowledge of electronics and mathematics.

Jobs in the Automotive Field

There are several different positions in the automotive field, and some are more specialized than others. Depending on your strengths and experience, one sector of the industry might be a better fit than others. Common automotive industry jobs include:
  • Auto body repair: Auto body repairers are responsible for fixing automobiles that have been damaged due to a collision. Involved tasks may include re-aligning tires, replacing broken components, removing dents, and flattening out parts of the vehicle that are misshapen.

  • Mechanic: Auto mechanics assess and service damage and wear-and-tear on cars—both internally and externally. In addition, mechanics perform maintenance to keep vehicles running smoothly.

  • Service technician: Service technicians usually have duties that are more complex than those of a mechanic. Some of these responsibilities include preparing estimates, testing automobiles after repair, and working on more complex components, such as wiring systems.

Facts and Figures

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in this field are expected to increase by 14 percent between 2006 and 2016. This means an additional 110,000 jobs will be emerging on the job market, mainly in auto dealerships and self-governing repair shops.
 
In May of 2006, the average hourly wage for automotive service professionals was $16.24, with a complete range of $9.17 to $27.22. Many professionals' wages are complemented by commissions based on labor costs.

Education, Training and Work Experience

While it's possible to obtain automotive jobs without a formal education in the field, automotive service training will give you an advantage when applying for a position in this industry. Most employers will be impressed if you've completed vocational or technical training within the field. Most automotive service training programs award certificates or associate's degrees to participants. The former usually take anywhere from six months to a year, while the latter may take up to two years.
 
In addition to knowledge of a car's inner workings, most employers will want to know if you are ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified. This program examines eight different fields of automotive service training. The more fields you have studied, the more marketable you'll be to potential employers.

Related Associations and Groups

The resources offered by these organizations may help you to determine if automotive jobs may be a good fit for you, and how to break into this industry:
  • Automotive Service Association (ASA)
  • Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES)
  • National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)
  • National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
  • Professional Automotive Technicians Association (PATA)
  • The Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR).
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