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how hard is it to get a job in the automotive industry?
for example what qualifications do I need? what do most automotive jobs require you to know?
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3 answers
Nathan Mather
Iv'e sold motorcycle parts in the past but as of now I am a concrete worker
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Nathan’s Answer
Dear Austin,
To some degree, it does depend on your education level but this can be looked at from many different angles. First off if you are wanting to be a full-fledged mechanic starting out, you will want at least an associate's degree and an internship in order to feel fully ready to dive into the world of mechanical work. But from my experience, I joined the Harley Davidson team for a summer knowing very little mechanics (especially that of motorcycles) and I was able to be a very successful parts salesman for them because I am a fast learner and picked up many things as I went. Additionally you should always be provided resources such as managers and books/manuals in order to fill those missing gaps of experience. I found that once I was able to navigate a manual fairly well I had no problems helping customers and that only took a few weeks to get the hang of. In terms of "getting into" the automotive industry, it is a field that needs workers right now. There are a plethora of entry-level positions and I am positive that someone with ambition could work their way up in any company fairly fast. For example, in the company I worked for I saw sales reps, part salesmen, etc. be promoted (in terms of pay) to technicians within their first few years of working there. They did this because they found more of a love for working on motorcycles rather than selling them.
In conclusion it all depends on what your end goal is and what type of knowledge you need to bring to the table. Some fields may require a bit of mechanical knowledge but other's will not. If you are looking to get into sales just bring your personality and your shop techs/part guys will help you get the correct things for your customers. College is definitely not necessary but could be helpful if you want to speed up your career.
I hope I helped answer some questions for you.
have a blessed day,
Nate
1. think about what sector of the auto industry that interests you
2. understand how much expertise you have in that field and how much you need.
3. Decide if college will benefit you in this path
To some degree, it does depend on your education level but this can be looked at from many different angles. First off if you are wanting to be a full-fledged mechanic starting out, you will want at least an associate's degree and an internship in order to feel fully ready to dive into the world of mechanical work. But from my experience, I joined the Harley Davidson team for a summer knowing very little mechanics (especially that of motorcycles) and I was able to be a very successful parts salesman for them because I am a fast learner and picked up many things as I went. Additionally you should always be provided resources such as managers and books/manuals in order to fill those missing gaps of experience. I found that once I was able to navigate a manual fairly well I had no problems helping customers and that only took a few weeks to get the hang of. In terms of "getting into" the automotive industry, it is a field that needs workers right now. There are a plethora of entry-level positions and I am positive that someone with ambition could work their way up in any company fairly fast. For example, in the company I worked for I saw sales reps, part salesmen, etc. be promoted (in terms of pay) to technicians within their first few years of working there. They did this because they found more of a love for working on motorcycles rather than selling them.
In conclusion it all depends on what your end goal is and what type of knowledge you need to bring to the table. Some fields may require a bit of mechanical knowledge but other's will not. If you are looking to get into sales just bring your personality and your shop techs/part guys will help you get the correct things for your customers. College is definitely not necessary but could be helpful if you want to speed up your career.
I hope I helped answer some questions for you.
have a blessed day,
Nate
Nathan recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
The automotive industry is in the middle of a transformation from gas powered to electrification. This transition in my opinion will be slower than what some governments/entities are pushing. Having said that, the automotive industry includes OEMs (the folks that build the vehicles) to final market (dealerships). There are so many different functional roles in the OEM side of the business including the actually assembly to engineering, quality control, specification control, etc. If you like working with your hands, then perhaps a more natural fit would be automotive maintenance/repair side of the business. If you have a local vocational/technical school, I would inquire about an automotive track. This would be a great glide path for an automotive career. I think it's always wise to also job shadow folks that are in the career field you are interested in.
Good luck with your future. Remember to learn all you can and to work hard.
Kind Regards,
Kevin
Good luck with your future. Remember to learn all you can and to work hard.
Kind Regards,
Kevin
Updated
Song’s Answer
To start with, having a passion for cars will be a great advantage. The type of job you're aiming for will play a big role in this field. There's a wide variety of positions to explore, from being a mechanic, parts specialist, sales representative, advisor, car washer, car detailer, to roles involving smog checks, oil changes, and other office-based tasks.
Certain roles, like being a mechanic, might require some formal education, which could be as brief as six months or longer, depending on the specific job you're eyeing and the level you wish to achieve. There are also options like trade schools or collision centers that could align with your interests. So, it's all about what sparks your enthusiasm!
Certain roles, like being a mechanic, might require some formal education, which could be as brief as six months or longer, depending on the specific job you're eyeing and the level you wish to achieve. There are also options like trade schools or collision centers that could align with your interests. So, it's all about what sparks your enthusiasm!