Top 4 Skills of a Good Automotive Service Technician
When your car breaks down on the way to work, you rely on an automotive service technician to diagnose and repair the problem as quickly as possible. Having a broken car is a major inconvenience, and so is having to bring it into a garage to be repaired. That’s why garages only hire the most efficient and highly-skilled technicians for the job.
If you’re thinking about enrolling in a mechanic school, or have already begun your courses, read on to find out what essential skills you will need to become a top automotive service technician.
Auto Technicians Have Excellent Customer Service Skills
Working as an automotive service technician means working face-to-face with different people every day. Although some customers might just be taking their car in for a tune-up, many will be distressed because their car requires several days in the shop in order to be successfully repaired.
As a trained professional, it is your job to make sure that your estimates regarding time and cost for repairs are always accurate. An automotive service technician can help keep a customer satisfied by explaining exactly what repairs are being done to their car and providing repair updates through email or regular phone calls. These actions will help you establish trust with your customers, which could result in repeat business and referrals.
A Good Auto Technician Is a Good Problem Solver
In an automotive technician career, not only will you be fixing cars, but you will also be diagnosing them. When a client comes in with a mysterious rattling sound coming from their exhaust, it’s your job to do some detective work and figure out what the problem is, and then establish a repair plan. Strong analytical abilities and problem solving skills will ensure that you are able to diagnose a car accurately and efficiently.
Auto Technicians Are Admired for Their Strong Work Ethic
Every auto technician should remember that when a customer brings their car into the shop, they trust you to make it safe to drive. There’s no slacking on the job when it comes to working with cars, because something as simple as a loose nut could endanger the lives of the driver and passengers.
A strong work ethic doesn’t just mean being committed to individual repair jobs. A good auto technician should always strive to improve his or her skills and techniques on and off the job—which leads us to our next point…
Technicians Should Be Willing to Learn and Teach
Self-driving cars, computerized safety features, in-vehicle tablets—new car technology seems to be released every week. Even after graduating from auto mechanic training, you’ll need to continuously teach yourself about the latest auto technology in order to keep up with the vehicles that will be coming through your garage.
Over time in your career, seasoned employees will retire and newcomers will arrive, and you’ll find that you’re the resident expert on all the latest technology used in auto repair. You must be willing to teach newcomers what you know, and share the skills you have acquired over time. Not only is this beneficial for them as workers, but it will ensure the credibility of your auto shop and keep business flowing.
Are you interested in learning more by enrolling at an automotive training centre? Check out our website for more information or to speak with an advisor.
