How to become an Automotive Technician:

So you want to learn how to become an Automotive Technician and turn wrenches like the pros? Well, you have come to the right place. We are going to take a look at what it takes to become an Automotive Technician. As well as some awesome insider tips and tricks of the industry that can help you get noticed/hired. As well as some information to help you be the best you can be in your new career choice.

Becoming an Automotive Technician is a lot of fun. But, it can also be a pain in the ass if you do not know where to begin. I had no clue what I was doing when I started, so I went through a few different places before I found somewhere that allowed me to get my foot in the door at least. It was a rough start in a small town, but it helped me prepare for the bigger things to come.

Before you begin there are a few things that you need to determine. Here are a few questions that will help you figure out the best direction for you to go.

•  Are you trying to do this as a hobby or profession?

• How much time do you have to dedicate to learning a new trade?

• Do you love cars enough to work on them almost every day of the week?

Education and Hands-On Experience:

If you want to learn how to become an Automotive Technician then you must make sure you are dedicated to go out and gain all the education and training that you are going to need. Hands-on training will always be the best when it comes to trade work, but I cannot stress how important it is to learn and educate yourself on automotive theory and technology.

If you do not stay up to date on training and education then it can become really easy to lose your diagnostic/technical edge and end up turning into a parts changer, and nobody wants to do that.

When I first got started in the industry and decided it was something that I would enjoy then I decided to go to school for it and I got my 2 year Associate’s degree in Automotive Technology at a great local technical school. I was also working in a  Sear’s auto center where I was learning the basics such as oil changes, tires, brakes, etc.

I feel like I had an advantage by working in a shop at the same time as I was going to school, and it seemed to help me learn and retain the information from my schooling better than my classmates who were all working part-time at places like Taco Bell or not working at all, and then they somehow expected to nail a job in a good shop right out of college. Unfortunately for them, they learned the hard way that things do not always work out that smoothly.

Along with college education, I also went through multiple manufacturer training programs. While working for Ford and GM, I attained close to master certification with both brands, I only lacked a few hands-on classes to be fully gold certified. I’ve also gone through independent training classes offered by parts suppliers and aftermarket manufacturers. Some were boring, but usually still contain a little bit of good info. At least if the class is a waste of time, it is a good opportunity to network and get your name out there.

“I cannot stress how important it is to learn and educate yourself on automotive theory and technology.”

Not a lot of employers will be excited to hire a Technician with no shop experience, and when they do it is usually so they have a new hourly employee to take care of all the grunt work. Most new Techs will have to face this at one point or another, some shops will be tougher than others,  it just depends who runs the place.

A peek inside the Toolbox (time to re-organize!)

Where can you get started:

The best thing to do is reach out to local shops and find someone who is hiring for a starting/apprentice position. At most shops, this will mean being the lube/tire tech, which is normal at first. For now, all you want to do is get your foot in the door so that you can gain experience and time in a shop.

It can take a while to find somewhere that you are comfortable staying. In the current state of the automotive industry, it can be hard to find a stable shop, which is a big reason why you see Technicians bouncing from shop to shop. Good thing toolboxes come with wheels right?!

Never settle for a place where you feel that they are mistreating you, or where they do not respect your knowledge and abilities. A good Technician is one of the core foundations in all aspects of the Automotive industry. Without us technicians, there would not be cars on the road, period. Remember that. Never continue to give time to someone who is unappreciative.

“Without us, there would not be cars on the road, period.”

There are ALWAYS new shops hiring, but you can NEVER get back the time you have lost. So choose wisely and you will avoid a lot of common mistakes. A good place to start your search will be Indeed. They always have the most up to date job listings.

I do advise that you work through some sort of an apprenticeship program even if it is only for 3-6months. This is valuable time you can use to pick up some tricks of the trade by shadowing a master technician. Some things can be overwhelming at first, and having the guidance of someone who has been through it all before can be an awesome help.

Learning the Hustle:

If you have never worked in the automotive industry, then chances are you have not had to work with a ‘Flat-Rate’ pay system before. What flat-rate means is that you are only paid for the billable service hours that you have completed, and not the hours worked.

This means if a job pays 1.2hrs( 72mins) and you got it done in .9hrs(52mins) then you just made an extra 20mins. That can happen the opposite as well and a job may take you longer than it actually pays sometimes.

So it can work in your favor, or you can hate it. I have had my bad weeks, but generally, I am a fan of the flat-rate system. There are not too many other systems that allow me to spend 2 hours at a job and be paid for 4 hours.

Once you are part of this type of pay system, you will need to learn how to work efficiently and productive while maintaining the integrity of your work. It can be a lot to balance at first, but eventually, you will get the hang of things and learn to work on multiple vehicles at once if you wish too. You will start to think ahead and do things like start to drain the oil while you rotate the tires instead of standing around watching the oil drain. Since an oil change pays .4hrs and tire rotate pays .3hr by doing it this way you can usually shave off a few minutes and come out ahead.

 “As a busy/efficient technician, it is not uncommon to be flagging 70hrs+ per week, even though they are only actually working 45-50hrs”

You will always have a few guys who tell you how much the flat rate system sucks, so be sure you form your own opinion before listening to anything like that.

Toolbox Organization is a great help for efficiency

Hitting the Road to Mastery:

Do your best, and always strive to grow no matter what. Always shoot for the top, but remember to stay humble on the climb up. Never say you know it all, as that is when you will truly stop learning. This industry is always growing and always moving. As long as you can keep up with the flow then you will do great!

Be sure to stay on top of your training and education. Technology advances very quickly in the automotive industry. If you want to do the best work you can, as well as maximize your income, then you need to stay on top of what is coming out.

I advise all technicians to try and attain their Master’s certification through ASE (Automotive Service Excellence). It may not mean much to other techs, but it is an achievement that you can be proud of and it shows your determination towards your career and image as a technician.

Be sure to check out the Adept Shop for some awesome Technician related Gear!