Would You Make a Good Auto Technician?
The six things every auto technician must master to succeed
My friend Jack owns a 1997 Ford Contour in a glorious shade of grayish-white. It’s the Saleen model, to be exact. “Don’t forget it’s a Contour Sport, not just a regular pedestrian Contour,” Jack likes to remind me. The car is seriously awesome for so many reasons. These reasons do not include: the heat not working, the air conditioning not working, the rear struts needing to be replaced, the massive dent in the passenger door, the burnt-out backlight for the clock and the Check Engine light, which may or may not be on (and by that, I mean it definitely is).
If you’re thinking to yourself, "Time to put that car on Craigslist," you’re a rational person.
If you’re thinking, “I’d love to get my hands on that sweet Saleen,” you’d be the perfect auto technician.
The good news about auto technician jobs is that when you’re being trained, you’ll be taught everything you need to know to fix El Contoro (pet name). But here are a few skills and abilities you should have from the get-go:
- Customer service savvy: Odds are when you deliver the news that the sporty Contour is on its very last leg, Jack won’t be pleased. You’ll need to be able to dodge flying keys with a smile.
- Sense of urgency: Jack’s not going to wait forever for it to be repaired. He’s got people to go and places to see, so he won’t take kindly to you messing around with such a precious load on the lift.
- Mechanical ability: You don't have to know everything about cars. Most employers offer extensive training (although the Contour can definitely throw a wrench in your plans with its mechanical treachery.) You do, however, have to have a knack for problem solving and figuring out how things work.
- Valid driver's license: You’ll need to be a responsible driver to take a whip like the Contour about town, but you really need extensive driving experience, considering that you're working on cars.
- Able to lift 40-50 lbs.: When you work in a garage, you can cancel your gym membership.
- At least 17: Typically, you must be 17-18 years old to start as an auto technician. You need a little experience behind the wheel before you’re repairing and replacing four of them.
Being an auto technician offers a pretty sweet work schedule. Anyone who has ever tried to get a car repaired knows you better get there by 5 p.m. or your pimped-out ride will be having a slumber party at the garage with the other abandoned vehicles. As an added bonus, you'll probably receive a comfortable company uniform. Don't worry about stains, rips, drips and tears – you're not going to need to get this outfit dry-cleaned.
So, seriously, you need to be an auto technician. The Contour isn’t going to fix itself.