Automotive Mechanic
By. Steven Myers
Intro To Being An Automotive Servicer Technician
Responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing cars and light trucks. Must diagnose a problem accurately and quickly. Requires a great knowledge on cars. Technicians will us computerized shop equipment and traditional hand tools. Eighteen percent of all service technicians are self employed.
Job Description
Service technicians work on the entire automobile. Parts for example are the engine, transmission, drive belts, and more. However, they must know how to use the new electronic systems. The braking, transmission, and the steering systems are controlled by computers and electronic components. There is a high rate of injuries but the job is not dangerous if you follow the safety procedures and practices. In 2012 there was 701,100 open automotive service technicians and mechanic jobs.
Work Environment
Technicians work in well lit and ventilated repair shops. Frequently have to work with greasy parts and tools. Uncomfortable positions are common such as overtime. Usually work on evenings or weekends. Forty hour weeks are normal to a technician.
Skills & Abilities
You will need communication skills, reason and problem solving skills, and self management skills, know how to repair machines or systems, operate and control equipment, and determine case of technical problems and fix them. Must know how to explain to the clients what the problem was and how he/ she fixed/ solved the problem.
Useful Skills
Useful Skills
- understand spoken info
- listen to others and ask questions
- speak clearly so listeners can understand
- understand written information
- notice something wrong or something about to go wrong
- use reasoning to discover answers to problems
- combine several pieces of info and draw conclusions
- analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses
Education Requirements & Special Requiremnts
You will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED). Long term on the job training will be required also. There are professional technical schools and two year colleges that offer programs to beyond your knowledge and skill. You will need a voluntary certification by the National institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Which is the standard credential for automotive technicians. There are eight different service areas to be certified in.
- Electrical systems
- Engine repair
- Brake systems
- Suspension and steering
- Heating and air conditioning
- Automatic transmission/ transaxle
- Manual transmission/ transaxle
- Engine performance
Hourly Earnings And Salaries
Automotive technicians make between $14.97 and $16.02 and hour. The lowest 10% make $8.29 per hour and the highest 10% earns more then $25.54 per hour. Salaries range from $25,018 to $70,000 a year.
Advice for Someone Interested in the Field
Don't be afraid to ask for help or support from another employee. Treat others well and always clean up after yourself. If your mess up let someone know so the problem can be fixed.
Something Unique about the Field
In this field you will come across all kinds of people who are interested in the same field as you. You will work will many different technicians and every mechanic will have his own personality. But there will be a bond between you and every other technician you work will. That bond will be the love for automobiles. Mechanics like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside. Technicians consider independence important.
Citations (3 Sources)
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U>S> Department of labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm (visited December 10 2015)
Kennedy G. MIchael. "Automotive Technician." Ferguson's Career Guidance Center. Facts on file, Inc. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.<http://fcg.infobase.com/recordurl.asap?aid=aid=1012048id=278007
https://sccis.intocareers.org/OccInfo.aspx?SourceState=SC&OccID=100251&TopicID=99 (visited December 10, 2015)
Kennedy G. MIchael. "Automotive Technician." Ferguson's Career Guidance Center. Facts on file, Inc. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.<http://fcg.infobase.com/recordurl.asap?aid=aid=1012048id=278007
https://sccis.intocareers.org/OccInfo.aspx?SourceState=SC&OccID=100251&TopicID=99 (visited December 10, 2015)