A career in auto mechanics gives one the responsibility to repair and perform diagnostic tests on automobiles. Some mechanics perform maintenance on heavy vehicles, and others specialize in off-road automobile parts like their engines, tires and brakes. A career in auto mechanics can be exceptionally rewarding especially for people who love automobiles.
Did you know that licensed and trained automotive mechanics are always in need? An automotive technician is highly valued in their respective field owing to their knowledge and ability to diagnose and repair vehicles and their parts. Many people depend upon auto mechanics in most of the situations where they are not able to fix their automobiles on their own.
Why Should One Become an Auto Mechanic?
Many people have had an ardent desire to become an auto mechanic from a young age. The reason behind this might be their fascination with cars and engines, their parts and the way they work. Some may have generated affection for cars in their teen years. On the other hand, others think they are just wired “mechanically” and learned naturally to be a hands-on worker.
All of us have ambitions and plans in our life. A career in auto mechanics is for those who love to be surrounded by automobiles and try out their hands-on skills on them.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the salary of auto technicians is more than $44,000 yearly on an average. This gets on increasing with the experience one keeps ok gaining while working in the industry.
Some considerable reasons that would be sufficient to convince you as to why one should choose the auto mechanic industry are mentioned below.
1. Job Stability
The necessity for mechanics is the same as the need for doctors. No one knows where and when we are going to need them. Becoming an Auto Mechanic delivers you a distinct level of job security. A good Mechanic can never be unemployed, and the job can never run out of a vacancy.
2. No Student Loan Debt
Now-a-days, student loan debt of tens of thousands of dollars on college going teens for graduating is absolutely common. Choosing a job like auto repairing or Auto mechanics always means you can attend a trade school or a community college which costs a considerably affordable amount of money.
Skilled trades also allow you to enjoy an internship, technically referred to as an apprenticeship where you’re paid even when you learn the trade.
3. Advancement Opportunities
An auto mechanic is a licensed and governed trade. You can select the work according to
your wishes and continue it up to the master level (if you have the intention to do so). Master mechanics have a huge salary, job flexibility, and numerous alternatives than what many other careers can offer.
4. Job Variety
Auto Mechanics work in all aspects of the industries. You could find different types of job opportunities existent in the industry such as:
Automobile repairing
Expanding Auto systems
Developingnew Auto technologies.
5. Independence
Experienced Mechanics can constantly decide to go into business for themselves. Setting up your own Mechanics business means you can work when you prefer and where you prefer, which is incredible for those who have family responsibilities or want flexibility in their work schedule.
6. Personal Benefits
As an auto body technician, your body as well as your mind would be functioning all the time. Finding problems, creating solutions, and overseeing day-to-day job transactions will make your mind sharp, and the material requirements of the business can maintain your body active and strong.
8. Social Interaction
Auto Mechanic won’t be facing the risk of getting stuck in an office all day. You can be out and about, confronting and meeting new people all the time. If you’re a peace-loving person and devote your customer services to your clients, you will be able to gain a considerable amount of earning with these positive interactions.
9. Respect In The Profession
With the literacy rate increasing more and more, people are realising how important Mechanics are for the smooth transition of every sort of automobile. This certainly gave way to increasing respect for this trade in the eyes of people. Certainly, the whole public landscape of qualified trades is changing. After all, not everyone can be a good Mechanic. People try to fix things but rather than repairing them they end up making things worse.
The automobile industry is constantly improving. You won’t have to face any dilemma with an automotive career! With today’s improvements in technology, automobiles are frequently altering with improvements in body styles, parts manufacturing of spare parts, and technical aspects.
Conclusion
There is an assortment of employment opportunities available in the auto mechanicsindustry. Other options include crash test technicians, service consultants, auto parts specialists, auto repair garage owners, and many more. The only thing you need to do is to decide which aspect you like best. Is it Sales or services or repairs or engineering that you are interested in. Once you are done choosing, work hard in order to get the desired stability in your career in auto mechanics.
Auto body technicians are not expected to have any certifications if they wish to work in an auto body or repair shop. However, automotive mechanics who like to become successful auto body technicians should seek certifications ready, so they become well-equipped to distinguish themselves from other competitors for the top jobs.
Most auto repair shops need their technicians to keep up an ASE certification. Though it is not always mandated, it is, however, recommended that technicians achieve it to help advance their careers. Having this certification can also make you look attractive to potential employers and can assist you to stand out among other competitors when looking for your next job vacancy.
ASE Certifications
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, popularly known as ASE, gives the standard certificate for automotive service technicians. Those who aspire to become certified automotive technicians must clear the ASE test.
ASE offers auto mechanic certifications across the following eight specializations. If you wish to become an auto mechanic, these certifications will assist you gain an edge over others.
1. Engine Repair
This certificate verifies that automotive mechanics understand how to analyze and rectify engine issues. It also ensures that these machines can execute engine repairs before they result in long-lasting vehicle damage.
2. Engine Performance
This certification guarantees auto mechanics can verify a car’s engine and recognize issues that hamper a car’s action or prevent a or other vehicles from running. It confirms that these technicians understand the effect of temperature, humidity, and other characteristics that can affect the engine performance.
3. Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
This certification ensures that technician automotive understands the working of automatic transmission and what they can do to repair transmission issues.
4. Brakes
This certification validates that auto mechanics recognize the different types of car brake systems, their working pulse and their related components.
5. Electrical/Electronic Systems
This certification ensures that auto mechanics can rapidly identify a bad alternator, defective battery wires, or other electrical or electronic system problems that impact a car’s performance.
6. Heating and Air-Conditioning
This certification confirms that auto mechanics can find out why a car’s heating and AC system may not work appropriately. It also guarantees that these technicians can keep a car’s heating and AC system running at the top levels year-round.
7. Manual Drivetrain and Axles
This certification confirms that auto mechanics know the intricacies of a manual transmission in a mechanic car, so they can cure any drivetrain and axle issues.
8. Suspension and Steering
This certification verifies that auto repairing mechanics know the suspension parts used to support your car safely on the road. Moreover, the certification assures that these technicians can find out and improve any problems that disrupt a driver’s potential to properly steer a car.
You can give an ASE exam at any time, and it comprises 40 to 75 MCQ. The test focuses on various automotive duty areas, and practice tests are suitable to help you prepare for the examination.
If you pass the ASE test, you can serve as an Ase-certified automotive mechanic. Your ASE diploma will continue to be acceptable for five years; following this duration, you will be obliged to apply again. For certification and to take another exam.
Other Certifications Available
While ASE certifications are the greatly learned and frequently sought-after certifications that an auto mechanic can hold, others are abundant out there that those in the automotive world can work for.
Manufacturer-specific certifications are another incredible way to exhibit proficiency in working on a particular brand of car, mainly if you plan to work in a dealership, manufacturer, or speciality shop.
Many customers like to go to brand-specific auto shops to get their work done with cars. When they select such a shop, they get more confident while getting auto technicians that work particularly on their brand of car and can deliver the best care.
All leading car brands and factories offer certificates of knowledge and mastery when working on their vehicles. These manufacturer-specific certifications illustrate to employers and customers that they have an extraordinary level of knowledge when it comes to the brand that they are certified in.
Those who earn these kinds of certificates always work at dealerships or brand-specific auto shops and are authorized to solve problems, follow specific repair protocols, understand the structure and layouts of the engine and its fuel needs, and work on the vehicle safety systems. Other electrical components.
Does Certification Pay?
In life, knowledge is the biggest and highest power. This is also true in the automotive trade. The better you know, the better a mechanic (technician) you will be! Achieving an ASE certification or a manufacturer-specific certificate is an incredible way to show all you know to current and prospective employers.
These certificates and the knowledge required to earn them can also assist you to earn higher salaries. On average, the salary for an automotive technician is over $44,000 per year, according to the year 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Still, those who are ASE-certified commonly earn more. The BLS data demonstrates that auto mechanics who earn the top ten% make nearly $72,000 each year. Moreover, certifications can furthermore lead to extra pay raises as you move up the career ladder.
Automation in Manufacturing has assisted the industry to employ robots to meet consumer demand by rapidly and efficiently finishing tasks to increase productivity and assist companies to stay competitive. With a baggage of benefits posed by automation in manufacturing, more and more factories are introducing robotics to the assembly line.
Loss and Creation
Automation is competent in greatly enhancing the efficiency of the manufacturing undertakings by reducing the time taken and reducing the costs. Manufacturing automation also allows each sole facility to generate a diversity of commodities and boost the output. However, it is not just the positive side that needs to be talked about. Workforce is expected to experience a hit by this rapid automation in the industry. Their career in auto mechanics will get impacted on a large scale via this rapid change.
A recent report by the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that somewhere between 39 and 73 million jobs in the United States could be lost to mechanization. The actual number will rely on how quickly a country accepts automation in each region, how the growing population changes demand and how each sector adapts to support the economic growth.
Although it may arise that automation will only negatively affect employment, analysis suggests that the opening of robotics will create jobs to change several industries. Reports suggest that almost 20 million workers, who would miss their job to automation, will find it fairly simple to find work in a similar occupation.
Of course, this is not the current circumstance. The workforce in auto repairing has developed many times to make way for technology. Employment such as switchboard operators and elevator operators are now obsolete, but the community found ways to retrain and find work in other sectors.
Types of Jobs
Robots can attain many blue-collar jobs faster and more accurately than their human counterparts. However, while technology optimises production, it needs people to make variations. Several jobs in a wide range of industries do require human qualities, such as intuition, creativity and maintenance.
Most factories need tasks that are repetitive, draining and time-consuming for people to accomplish. With mechanization, the human workforce can move to roles that need more soft skills, such as affiliation, communication and problem-solving.
Some people may also prefer to move across sectors. As education enhances, people will have a wider spectrum of skills that they can apply to roles in other areas or choose to move around to several job roles rather than keeping up in a similar role throughout their working life.
Importance Of Retraining
The nicest way to decrease unemployment due to automation is to oversee the transition from human-led to machine-led capabilities. The most effective approach for employers to achieve this is through retraining.
Reports indicate that between 15 and 50 million workers, or nearly 1/3rd of the United state’s workforce will need retraining for completely new employment. Employers should provide in retraining the faculty they already have to finalize more creative jobs in the facility.
Changes in the workforce will eventually depend on how rapidly automation changes the manufacturing area. However, we shouldn’t deduce that robots will overthrow us like they do in the movies. By investing in training again, factories can ensure their workers will persist in a secure role.
Advantages Of Automation For The Manufacturing Industry
When utilized correctly, automation can assist the manufacturing business significantly. These advantages can manifest in several ways, including:
Reduced Production Time
As machinery can operate more rapidly and efficiently than human employees in many cases, it can help production move faster.
Higher-Volume Production
Machinery can build products in less duration and create more of them within a given time frame.
Less Human Error
Human workers are vulnerable to misjudgment and forgetfulness when it comes to auto body repair, but these are mistakes machines do not tend to make.
Increased Safety
Since people do not have to be as implicated with the creation process, they can stay safer. If something goes incorrect on the assembly line, the worst-case scenario may be a broken part rather than an injured employee.
The Future of Automation
The future of robotics and automation in manufacturing is expected to proceed with the already-established pattern. According to some forecasts, the next few years will see 65% of all occupations convert 35% of their duties to automation. Moreover, more human-like automation is believed to appear incredibly in the field of AI (artificial intelligence) to handle jobs recently limited to human beings.
This modification would not just influence manufacturing of mechanic cars . Healthcare, package deliveries and transportation are just a few industries predicted to experience this move to automation. Developing will likely be right beside them to direct the way into our technological future.
Judging by the speed at which new vehicles hit the American market every year, auto mechanics can rest assured there will constantly be a demand for their services. And if you deem the seemingly endless new technology that maintains the global auto industry on its toes, an automotive technician can also look forward to a thrilling career path paved with state-of-the-art machines, computerised tools and equipment, and opportunities to make a decent living. Here is how to begin your engine down a job as an automotive technician.
What Does an Automotive Technician Do?
An automotive technician diagnosis restores and maintains vehicles. Though traditional automobile service duties will always be the base of a car mechanic’s role, improved technology is now commonplace in road vehicles. Technicians must therefore keep updated on the latest in the automotive industry.
If you plan to establish a career path as in auto repairing, here are the positions you will most likely play:
Perform fundamental preventive maintenance tasks on vehicles. This may comprise engine tune-ups, oil changes, and changes, wheel balancing, and repairing filters.
Ensure auto body repair of vehicles and also ensure that they are in good condition by performing corrective jobs such as repairing faults in engines, addressing automatic and electrical systems malfunctions, restoring parts and components, and fixing any damage to the vehicle’s body.
Verify vehicle serviceability by performing test drives, and regulating controls and systems accordingly.
Comply with government vehicle regulations by testing engine, protection, and combustion control standards.
Maintain vehicle looks by cleaning, washing, and painting.
Maintaining accurate records by chronicling service and repairs on each automobile
Contain expenses by using warranties, and evaluating service and parts options.
Keep stocks ready by inventorying stock, making orders, and verifying receipts.
Update skills frequently by participating in educational opportunities and reading technical journals.
Salary Range
Most auto body technicians struggle as full-time employees. Salaries may vary according to factors such as location, level of education, experience, and the extent of the employing organisation. But abilities and skills may be the biggest consideration, as newer automobile technology demands expanded specialisation in areas like hybrid cars and integrated electrical technology.
Assistant Store Manager
Store Manager
Workshop Owner or an Entrepreneur
Automotive Technician Requirements
These specialists require a certain amount of education and exercise to become qualified for automotive and mechanical jobs.
Education
Most employers in the United States need to have a high school diploma. After high school, vocational colleges may offer 2-year associate’s degrees that include classroom schooling and practical training where you learn maintenance and repair abilities. After the 2-year program, some students transfer to a 4-year university to finish a bachelor’s degree.
Training
Some technical high schools and colleges may have tie-ups with car manufacturers to arrange for specialized training or apprenticeships with car dealerships during school. This experience could lead to a job recommendation immediately following graduation. Most employers need from 1 to 5 years of training on the job before promotion to a senior post. You may conduct the same task many times with supervision before learning something new.
Certifications
After having experience in the field, you can give tests for certification conducted by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, which offers certificates in over forty areas of auto repair expertise, comprising such specialities as collision repair, heating and air conditioning, suspension and steering.
Skills
Many people attain repair and diagnostic skills through entry-level mechanic duties and mentoring by more skilled technicians. Some skills and qualities include:
Efficiency
Automotive labour is generally billed by the hour, so many customers admire mechanics who work efficiently and return the repaired car shortly. Shop owners make additional money by moving vehicles through promptly, so your work improves in value when it is done efficiently.
Problem-Solving
Some functions of technician automotive are hypothesising and testing that hypothesis to deduce the cause of vehicle trouble. Computer tools help with high-level diagnosis, but formulating your problem-solving skills will aid in productivity and success.
Diverse Manufacturing Knowledge
In many shops, every vehicle that requires service may present a different problem and a distinct level of maintenance and care. The more diverse your mastery of all kinds of vehicles, the more clients you can help.
Technical Proficiency
You have to learn to use a specialized computer diagnostic tool to specify the cause of a check engine light, for example, for performing a government-mandated vehicle emissions analysis. You will need to learn how to adapt to new systems, as new cars are furnished with sophisticated electronic devices and sensors.
Mechanical Expertise
It will be significant to know how to perform a diversity of repairs on many vehicles and have a promising sense of how mechanical parts fit and work together.
