Great Opportunities Wait For Automotive Technicians

By Les Jackson AIADA Contributing Editor

You hear it all the time, "It’s getting harder and harder to get a vehicle repaired quickly, correctly and inexpensively." Millions of owners around the country echo this complaint while dealerships and independent shops try to accommodate the increasing demands on their ability to perform acceptable service.

There are two fundamental reasons for this nationwide problem: first and foremost, vehicles today are incredibly complex. Therefore, diagnosing and repairing problems requires extensive training on the part of technicians, with the accompanying costs to provide proper programs.

Second, there is a drastic shortage of qualified automotive technicians throughout the U.S. While the shortage can be explained by a host of factors, one of the most difficult to overcome is the lack of interest on the part of guidance counselors to suggest auto service careers. Historically, there exists a cultural bias that considers automotive technicians to be undereducated "grease monkeys" who just don’t have the right stuff to be white-collar professionals.

Not too long ago that perception was correct, but nothing is further from the truth now. In decades past, almost anyone with some mechanical skills could get a job at a gas station or garage. In a short time he would be able to learn the basics of car maintenance (oil and fluid changes, tire mounting, lubrication and engine tuning) and be reasonably competent repairing someone’s car. Shops were dirty, noisy, unheated or air conditioned, and pay was low. The job generally attracted high school dropouts and other young men without career goals.

The cars of the past were relatively simple mechanically and electrically, and would run over a wide range of parameters. They didn’t have to conform to emissions regulations nor be capable of high, sustained speeds. Today’s cars are amazingly complex by comparison. A typical modern vehicle has over 10 miles of wiring, power-assisted accessories, sophisticated suspension, safety devices, automatic climate control and several interdependent computer-controlled systems that run the engine, transmission and many other functions. They have to maintain tightly regulated emissions and fuel economy levels throughout their design life. To do so, today’s vehicles must be maintained by highly trained professionals who understand the science and engineering behind the vehicle’s design. These vehicles simply can’t be adjusted with a screwdriver anymore.

Today’s trained automotive technicians easily qualify for associate’s degrees (electrical and computer) and many of them have a knowledge base way beyond that. Next to the tool box in a typical service bay is an array of computerized instrumentation that is necessary to diagnose sophisticated problems in a vehicle, but it takes someone highly trained in its use and calibration. Engine performance, emissions, transmission shifting and a large number of operating parameters can be checked and diagnosed by a qualified technician, most of which receive ongoing factory training.

Every manufacturer operates service-training programs that are underwritten in part by the dealers. Technicians are tested and rated in a number of specific categories (engine, brakes, transmission, body electrical, suspension, etc.) by both factory programs and national rating systems through the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) testing services. When a technician posts his/her well-earned certificate the customer can be assured that he/she knows how to work on the vehicle.

Earnings potential for today’s technicians is commensurate with the training required to do well. Most recent grads can command in excess of $40,000 for their first dealership jobs and good diagnosticians with several years’ experience can earn well into six figures. It’s ironic that in spite of earnings potential the industry is crying for people to fill the jobs.

Where Do We Find Qualified People?

The problem of where to find qualified technicians is a major issue for the industry to solve. There are over 100,000 career jobs currently available at auto dealerships around the country, according to Automotive Retailing Today (ART), a coalition of major automobile manufacturers and dealer organizations. They point out that franchised auto dealers are hanging out the help wanted sign all across the country. Pay and demand for these positions are high and these are jobs that cannot be outsourced to other countries.

In an effort to promote these high-paying automotive-related jobs, ART maintains a website offering comprehensive information about the career opportunities offered by franchise dealerships. The website www.autocareerstoday.org serves as the online clearinghouse for the auto industry’s career information program, including salaries and available training.

The US Department of Labor also maintains a website at www.careervoyages.gov. It lists the various career paths available at auto dealerships and repair shops nationwide and even shows the types of careers in demand by state. Of particular note, is a click-tab for parents, designed as a tool to help them counsel their children to take advantage of his/her particular interests.

One place to find qualified technicians is the military. Because of the need for large numbers of motorized vehicles, today’s armed services train highly motivated soldiers in all phases of automotive technology. When these soldiers fulfill their active duty commitment many are interested in pursuing a career in the automotive field. Well over 7,000 such veterans are hired by dealerships each year.

In January 2004, ART joined forces with the U.S. military to promote dealership hiring of recent military veterans. The initiative, known as Hire the Heroes, provided links between thousands of auto dealers and military outplacement agencies to post job vacancies and attract transitioning veterans to available jobs. The pool of recent military veterans includes technologically savvy, motivated workers whose skills and military training may be easily adaptable to a variety of dealership positions.