RevvingUp:ALookintotheWorldofAutoMechanics
Whenitcomestokeepingourridesintopshape,werelyontheexpertiseofautomechanics.Theseprofessionalsareresponsiblefordiagnosingandrepairingproblemsthatcouldpotentiallyputoursafetyatrisk.Butwhatexactlygoesoninanautorepairshop?Let'stakeacloserlook.
TheRoleofanAutoMechanic
Automechanicsareskilledtechnicianswhospecializeinthemaintenanceandrepairofautomobiles.Theytypicallyworkinrepairshops,butsomemaybeemployedbycardealershipsorevenruntheirownindependentbusinesses.Theprimaryroleofanautomechanicistodiagnoseproblemswithvehiclesandperformnecessaryrepairs.Thiscanincludeanythingfromreplacingfaultypartstoperformingroutinemaintenance,suchasoilchangesandbrakechecks.
Inadditiontotechnicalskills,automechanicsalsoneedstrongcommunicationskills.Theymustbeabletoexplaincomplexissuestocustomersinlayman'sterms,aswellasworkwithothermechanicstosolveproblems.Someautomechanicsmayalsoneedtohavebasicmathskills,astheymayberequiredtocalculatemeasurementsandotherdatainordertoperformaccuraterepairs.
TrainingandCertification
Automechanicstypicallyreceivetheirtrainingthroughvocationalortechnicalschools,althoughsomemayalsolearnthroughon-the-jobtraining.Theseprogramscanlastanywherefromsixmonthstotwoyearsandcoverarangeoftopics,includingenginerepair,brakesystems,andelectricalsystems.Automechanicsmayalsoparticipateincontinuingeducationcoursesthroughouttheircareersinordertostayup-to-datewithnewtechnologyandadvancementsinthefield.
Whilecertificationisnotnecessarilyrequiredtoworkasanautomechanic,itcanhelpdemonstratealevelofexpertiseandincreasejobprospects.TheNationalInstituteforAutomotiveServiceExcellence(ASE)offerscertificationinvariousareas,suchasenginerepairandbrakesystems.Inordertobecomecertified,automechanicsmustpassawrittenexamandshowevidenceofrelevantworkexperience.
TheFutureofAutoMechanics
Theworldofautomechanicsisconstantlyevolving.Astechnologycontinuestoadvance,sotoomusttheskillsofautomechanics.Hybridandelectricvehicles,forexample,requireadifferentsetofskillsandknowledgecomparedtotraditionalgasoline-poweredcars.Automechanicsmustalsokeepupwithchangingsafetystandardsandregulations.
Despitethechallenges,thefuturelooksbrightforautomechanics.TheBureauofLaborStatisticsprojectsthatemploymentofautomechanicswillgrowby4%from2019to2029,aboutasfastastheaverageforalloccupations.Withmoreandmorepeoplerelyingontheircarsfordailytransportation,theneedforskilledautomechanicswillcontinuetorise.
Sothenexttimeyoubringyourcarinforrepairs,takeamomenttoappreciatethehardworkandexpertiseoftheautomechanicworkingonit.Withoutthem,wewouldn'tbeabletogetfrompointAtopointBwitheaseandreliability.
