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Heading out into the field as a technician after graduation from mechanic school is exciting. If you want a successful, lifetime career doing what you love, here's advice from nine industry professionals about how to grow your career.1
Anyone can learn skills, but when you have ambition to grow every day, that stands out in the field, says Kyle Mixon, service director of Munday Chevrolet.
“You have to show drive,” Mixon says. “You have to show that you want to be here, that you want to learn, that you want to be successful.”
If you have a passion for a certain brand, the more mechanic training you can get with it, the better. Programs like Universal Technical Institute's (UTI) Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs15 and Motorcycle Mechanics Institute's (MMI) specialized training can give you a head-start in the field, says Seminole PowerSports operations manager Greg Hale.
“We are always looking for people with good, strong work ethics,” Hale says. “A lot of students come to us with the manufacturer schooling already behind them for the specific product line, Kawasaki or Honda, and that is a huge advantage for us, knowing those are the products we deal with.”
Though the technician industry is in high demand, once you're a part of the community, it's a tight-knit world. That's why how you carry yourself in the field is vital to where you'll go in your career.
“When I interview a technician from UTI...the main thing I'm focused on looking for is attitude,” says Ken Harland, UTI graduate and shop foreman for Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento. “I can't fix attitude. I can't change attitude. It has to be something you have...The automotive business is a small world... Someone you know in school, you're going to know later on. You're going to come back across them, so make sure your attitude is on par.”
Learning doesn't stop after graduation. Come into work ready to keep on expanding your skillset with on-the-job training.
“Really what I'm looking for are two key qualities,” says David Hart, training technology/curriculum team leader for Mercury Marine within Walt Disney World. “First is a work ethic. Really, knowledge and gaining technical skills is a different area from a foundation that is critical to being successful, and that's a work ethic. The second is a willingness to learn...For those first couple years, we're really looking for somebody who's willing to be taught and be coached and really apply themselves to learning and listening more so than proving and trying to stand on their own initially.”
An in-demand industry means you'll likely be called upon to do work that you may not be an expert at – yet. Take what comes at you with an eager outlook, and you'll be more likely to succeed, says David Galloway, service manager of Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison.
“Our industry is so short-staffed right now, it's unbelievable,” Galloway says. “You can tell that by the average wait time to have repairs done in any shop in the country is days, not hours. Your willingness to do the job, taking on the job when you don't know [is important]. Take it on, and try and do it, and ask questions along the way. Retain the knowledge and what you learn through the process to help you on the next job you do.”
When learning any new skill, it’s important to take the first step and invest in yourself. Once you’ve set a goal, map out the steps it will take to get there—whether it be completing a training program, working with a mentor or even doing an internship. This can help to lay the foundation for a long, successful career in the field.
Being a technician is about more than just a paycheck. When you have energy and excitement that motivates you every day at work, management notices.
“When I talk to students on campus, oftentimes one of the first questions I ask them is, 'Why did you want to be a technician? Why did you want to make this your career?'” says John Perez, senior director of talent acquisition for Sonic Automotive. “If I see them light up while they're describing that to me, then I know that's somebody I want to talk to further...It's the intangibles and the smaller talents of being a good teammate, understanding their importance in the dealership, and having a passion for what they do that is most important to us.”
Cars are some of people's most precious possessions. That's why hiring techs who have the skills and tender loving care to get them back into top shape is vital.
“As far as looking for a good quality technician to join my team, I'm always looking for the care and concern for what they do,” says Rod White, locations manager for Cooks Collision. “Having someone with integrity who is going to take care of all aspects of the repair and somebody I can trust will do what's needed is very valuable to me...When you give us everything you have and show us you want to be the person to excel in every aspect of your job, we're going to give you everything you need to succeed.”
For many hiring managers, showing up to school is a great indicator that a future technician will be reliable for work, too.
“The advice I would give to a technician that is just starting school is to maintain the positive attendance and maintain that your grades are good,” says Terry Hartigan, service manager of CIT Trucks. “We're really looking for the best of the best and those who will show up to school, because if you don't show up to school, you're not going to show up to work. That's what I look for.”
All the hiring managers we've talked to agree that an education from UTI, MMI, NASCAR Technical Institute or Marine Mechanics Institute is a great way to stand out on a résumé.6 Learn more about each school by clicking the links.
Are you wondering what information to include in your auto mechanic resume? Learn what employers look for here.
Thinking about becoming an auto tech? Learn about how long it takes to become an automotive technician, salary, job outlook and more.
What if we told you that experience working on cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats prior to starting classes at UTI does not determine your success as a student?
1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
6) UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
15) Manufacturer-paid advanced training programs are conducted by UTI on behalf of manufacturers who determine acceptance criteria and conditions. These programs are not part of UTI’s accreditation. Programs available at select locations.
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
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