You would like to become a mechanic, but which kind? Have you given any thought to the type of work that you'll do after graduation? Some automotive schools give students a chance to specialize as auto body collision estimators.
One oft-cited reason for which technicians seek further training from automotive schools to work as an estimator is job stability. The sad fact is that as long as there are cars on the road, there will be car crashes. Furthermore, the number of car crashes is not thought to diminish during a recession. Hence why auto body collision estimator is said to be one of the more stable and recession-proof auto careers.
Students who enroll in auto body collision estimator programs should develop the following skills.
Good observation skills
Auto body schools teach future estimators to be observant. When they are presented with a vehicle that has been in a crash, they must study it closely to determine the full extent of the damage. Underestimating or overestimating the damage can have negative consequences for all parties involved.
Good understanding of costs
Auto body schools teach students who have already become a mechanic how to estimate the cost of repairs to vehicles that have withstood a collision. For students to succeed at this most demanding of auto careers, they must have a strong knowledge of the actual costs associated with repairing a vehicle. They must have a sense of whether or not it would make more sense to replace or repair each broken part. In some cases, they must decide whether or not to replace or repair an entire vehicle.
An appreciation of beauty
Most people who become a mechanic do so out of an interest for what is under the front hood. But mechanics who seek additional training from auto body schools to become a collision estimator must also have an interest in the exterior of a vehicle. What repairs does the vehicle need to its body? Will it need to be painted? With what kind of paint?
Good communication skills
Most graduates of auto body schools who pursue this kind of work don't work entirely on their own. In some instances, they consult with colleagues who carry out repairs before putting a price tag or timeline on any repair jobs. An example of people employed in different automotive careers helping one another out!
Good organizational skills
Not only do the graduates of auto body schools who pursue this kind of work need to assess damages, they need to record their assessments in an organized fashion - for insurance companies, individual clients, etc.
If you think you have what it takes to become an estimator after having become a mechanic, contact one of the auto body schools near you.
