For those who have just completed high school and seek a career in the automotive field, a trade school is the next best option. Gone are the times when anybody without having training in repairing an automobile might enter the job field. Nowadays, these "shade tree mechanics" have no room in the automotive sector mainly because of the integrated electrical systems, intricate computer systems, hi-tech features like global positioning systems that run vehicles. Hence, an auto mechanic needs to be a very competent professional who has been subject to mechanical technician education in the distinctive complex systems that make the modern vehicles these days.
Prerequisites
Upon completion of your high school, apply for any vocational programs in electrical trades and auto repair. You will be at a bonus if you have class-room education and learning in physical science, math, metal works, mechanical drawing, computer skills, or automobile courses.
You may choose to specialize in collision restoration, diagnostic testing, transmission overhaul and rebuild, automotive air-conditioning, or any other major auto repair. At present technological progress in the field of automotive repair means more complicated systems for technicians to restore, thus specialization in the field surely pays off!
Training, Education and Qualifications
A good number of training authorities highly recommend a formal training program for individuals in search of automotive mechanic jobs in high school or post-secondary vocational school or an accredited trade school. Extensively investigating each trade school and knowing the requirements in your state before applying can help you find a respected auto mechanic program, targeted toward making you an expert in the field. You will learn about new skills and keep up-to-date with the latest technological developments in the automotive field and get an associate degree or certificate on finalization of the trade school program, which will add value to your job application and help you get hold of an entry-level job.
Vocational School vs. Community College
Post-secondary automotive mechanic programs supply you with extensive career preparation by offering both classroom training and hands-on practical experience. Depending on the number of hours you attend your trade school program, the training will range from six months to a year. On the contrary, community college curriculum's award a certificate after a 2-year mechanical training, besides offering schooling in a range of subject areas, including basic arithmetic, English, computer systems, and other such lessons.
Companies often expect their prospective employees to have solid analytical and communication skills, which makes it convenient for them to understand technical manuals and keep abreast of the technological developments in the field of automotive repair and service. A vocational program, on the other hand, offers you to master job-specific skills, which makes you a perfectionist in the chosen field. Community colleges, besides offering you associate degrees and certificates, sometimes offer vocational classes.
Finding Employment
You can start your automotive career as trainee technician or lubrication worker. You might also favor to work as an a seasoned, a professional mechanic's assistant so that you progressively learn and apply the necessary skills. You can begin to practice easy assignments such as oil change, simple repair work, and routine service task and then gradually shift to significant repair works after a few months' experience.
After spending two years working as an apprentice at a major repair shop, you are qualified to take the ASC test for certification. Your mechanic certification will assure that you are a specialist in the field and thus help you earn promotion to the journey level merely a few months on the job. The more time you devote in an accredited trade school, the more in need you will become in the automotive jobs sector.
There are some automobile manufacturers and dealers that sponsor 2-year associate degree programs for post-secondary courses. In such courses, you are required to attend alternate periods in classes, in addition to working full-time as a mechanic apprentice under sponsoring dealers to get practical experience and important time-saving tips from a skilled technician in the service departments. To most employers, successful completion of a vocational mechanical technical training program is the very best preparation for an entry-level job.
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