Good mechanics are worth their weight in gold. However, becoming a good mechanic involves many different factors, from top notch auto mechanic training, to temperament. No one single aspect makes you good, but if the description fits you could be on your way to a great career.
Your Temperament
Patience, dedication and clear communication all matter. A mechanic is known for being a skilled technician, which is why you went to mechanic school. People trust you when you take over looking after their vehicle, knowing you have the skills to keep them safe and the car or truck roadworthy, but most people have a very poor understanding of cars. They need to know they can trust you, because if you decided that you wanted to fix or replace something, they will have to hand over what could even be thousands of dollars for parts and your time.
As far as retaining customers, people will be more likely to come back to you, time and time again, and even pay more, if they feel like you can be honest with them. Meanwhile on the job, it is dirty, hard work. You'll have grease under your nails and callouses from torqueing wrenches. Like a doctor, you'll need a near encyclopedic knowledge of common and uncommon problems, and the cleverness to figure strange issues out from symptoms.
Your Education
A good mechanic school is actually the first step on your education. If you want to become a mechanic you'll need to spend two years of classroom and hands on training and then start an apprenticeship with an actual garage. Excellent auto mechanic training programs have well qualified instructors and facilities that'll expose you to a wide range of situations. If you care about cars enough to make a career out of it, you probably are coming in knowing the basics, after spending many long hours elbow deep in the guts of your own car. Auto mechanic training is supposed to put the polish on what you know, and give you experience beyond what you can learn in your own driveway.
Planning your apprenticeship work should also be chosen with an eye to whether you want to be a generalist or a specialist. A racetrack pit mechanic rushing to roll a new tire on needs different practice than someone who wants to customize cars, but everyone needs a good general foundation. Most mechanics make their money on day to day problems: cracked wind shields, oil changes and rotating tires. It is also steady work if you get a job that way. Consider where you're going. A lifelong relationship with a dealership's garage takes different auto mechanic training than an independent truck stop service centre, so decide accordingly.
