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As an auto mechanic what is the biggest obstacle you'll face and the best way to face it

I also want to own a shop in the near future

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Brandon’s Answer

Being a mechanic is pretty straightforward as long as you're creative and good with your hands and equipment. Keep in mind that whether you're working for a shop/dealer or owning your own practice, you're going to want to keep up with your school knowledge. Although you may know everything there has to do with vehicles, customers are at peace knowing you are "certified."

Brandon recommends the following next steps:

Practice working on your own/friends' vehicles. Start with smaller jobs and work your way up.
If you can do the job with a lack of proper tools and no lift, you'll be even more proficient with proper equipment.
Gain ASE certifications.
If employed at a brand/dealer, complete as many certifications as possible.
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Jason’s Answer

The biggest obstacle I see is not trying to take in everything you need to know all at once. It’s simply not possible. Cars have been around for over 100 years and started off as a rolling science experiments and are now rolling computer networks. Once you’re in the field, plan on learning throughout your career. The evolution of cars never stops. The old timers told me about the changeover from carburetors to electronic fuel injection and how a lot of the old school guys quit in the late 80’s because they either didn’t want to learn about EFI or couldn’t wrap their minds around it. I’m sure the same will happen with EV’s and hybrids. So stay mentally flexible.
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Elena’s Answer

My dad has been an automechanic owning his own business with his family for the last 45 years. You should look into ASE and other such as L1 certifications and what it takes to earn and maintain them. These certifications will ensure that your skills stay up-to-date. The biggest challenge that you will find with owning your own shop is finding reliable employees that are willing to be on your team for the long-term.
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Rube’s Answer

The biggest obstacle you face as an auto mechanic is that technology is always evolving. That means that we should be too. We should not be afraid to ask questions and learn something new. Things in the automotive industry are rapidly changing. We can see that from the fact that Electric cars have quickly risen in popularity. With the flip to electric cars, auto mechanicals will need to start working heavily on electrical issues.
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Jason’s Answer

I'm not a mechanic but I'll offer my thoughts. The first thing that comes to mind is the "type" of auto mechanic. Do you want to work on all kinds of vehicles or a specific family? (Ford, VW, Chevy, etc) There's a lot of different technologies that will also come into play, whether mechanical or digital. I imagine that would be pretty hectic as well.

Which ever the case- most mechanics I come into contact with are ASE certified. I linked the ASE website for you as well. At a glance, it looks like you can certify in a lot of areas.

(Link: https://www.ase.com/tests)

Wish you the best with whichever path you take!
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