I've Graduated, Now What?

You’re probably thinking you are going to graduate from your school in the spring and go right to a job where you get to work on the coolest problems – hybrid cars, or complete transmissions, or engine overhauls, or custom paint jobs. All interesting projects that will allow you to show off the education you just received. But in reality, these types of jobs are typically given to the professionals with a little more experience, a little more expertise than you’ll be able to bring to the job on day one. Which is not to say you won’t get to work on those types of jobs eventually in your career. If you’re good, it will be sooner rather than later.

But let’s face it, the new kid at the shop always gets stuck with grunt work, including tire repair, oil changes, tire changing, and other relatively mindless tasks, none of which will allow you to shine as a well-educated “expert”. Sometimes you might even be given a broom and told to start sweeping. So now you might be sitting there thinking, “why the heck would I want to go into this business if that’s all I’ll be doing?”

There are a lot of good reasons for you to join the automotive aftermarket. First of all, you already like working on cars and trucks and other vehicles. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading this magazine and you wouldn’t be in school learning more about them. Second of all, no one starts at the top. Even Bill Gates worked hard for his first million dollars (and hit a few bumps in the road before then). Third, the experience you get during the first year of on-the-job training will dwarf the formal education you receive, no matter how good of an instructor you may have had. And last, because this industry needs you. The professional technician in the US is getting older and the cars are becoming more and more complex. We need well-educated young people to come into the business and keep it going.

Let’s talk about these points individually. First, you already like working on cars so why not do it for a living? Your parents might want you to join the military or go to college, or do anything else except become a professional technician. Or you might not be aware of all the opportunity that exists. Did you know that the average experienced technician in the US makes $35-$40,000/year, based on location and experience. A good shop manager makes $42,000/year. Besides technician or shop manager, you could work for a dealership, racing crew, autobody shop, parts store, distributor, manufacturer; the opportunities are truly endless. But if you’re afraid there’s not enough money to make a living in this business, let me remind you of a geezer quote, “do what you love and the money will follow”.

Secondly, I said no one starts at the top, including Bill Gates. Did you know Bill Gates started programming computers at age 13? That’s probably about the same age many of you fell in love with cars. Bill Gates continued his education, both formal and informal. You’ve continued your education, both in the classroom and in your own garage. That’s important. That’s critical to your success in this business. You should not underestimate your formal education, nor should you disregard the stuff you find out just by fooling around under the hood of your own car.

Classroom training versus on-the-job, which is more valuable? Can’t say. Won’t say, because they are both important. In school you will learn basic techniques; in the “real world” you will find situations that were never discussed in school. It’s true in the automotive world, it’s true in every field you might pursue (except perhaps accounting). But you should understand that the formal education you are receiving now, is merely the platform for your future education. Be sure your foundation is strong. Use it to grow and learn as you leave school and become a professional technician. It will serve you well your entire life.

THIS IINDUSTRY NEEDS YOU. I can’t say that very loud in print, but if we were in an auditorium, I’d shout it out. The professional technician in the U.S. is getting older and the cars are becoming more and more complex. Fewer people are coming into the automotive repair industry. We need well-educated young people to come into this business and keep it going. It is not a service that can be out-sourced to a newly-named country halfway around the world. People in the U.S. have cars and will need them to be fixed by their neighbor.

Another reason this industry needs you relates to technical skill. Some people still hold the image of a technician as mechanic who can barely string two-syllable words together into a sentence. The truth is, this industry has never needed well-educated young people to come into the business as much as it does now. You and your instructors know cars are becoming more complex. Today’s cars have more computer capacity in one chip than the space shuttle did when you started elementary school. People are more complex as well. And this industry is not just about fixing cars, it’s about dealing with people. So in 2006 (and beyond), it’s not enough to love cars and tools and fixing stuff anymore. To be successful, you have to be an educated technician who loves cars and enjoys helping people.

Make no mistake, if you are that person, we need you. And this industry will be better when you join it.