Engineering companies, auto dealerships, and body shops all need to hire and retain skilled automotive technicians, field investigators, and salespeople. If you are interested in how to start a career in automotive technology, be sure to take some time to think about your personal goals and the options available for achieving them.
For those of you who are interested in building a career in the automotive industry, here are some of the things you can do to get yourself started...
Consider Your Options
There are a variety of niches within the automotive industry. The best way to start out your career is by doing some research and figuring out which area you want to specialize in. Some of the main specialisms within the automotive industry include:
Automotive Technicians - The technically-minded can find a job repairing cars that are broken if they are willing to undergo some training. Whether a car simply needs an oil change or major bodywork is required after a car wreck, there needs to be someone willing to do the physical work required to actually fix the car. Making sure your training is relevant is particularly important, so even if you already know how to work on cars, getting automotive and diesel certifications will help you keep your resume relevant in the current job market.
Marketing - Knowing how to make sure the right audience finds the right product can be tricky, but it’s a business that can find work in almost any industry. If you have a strong interest in vehicles and experience in the marketing sector, a marketing job within the automotive industry might be for you.
Sales - Selling cars on the sales floor can be a decent job if you like interacting with people. Selling cars, new or used, takes persistence, a desire to work on your feet, and the ability to keep going after failed attempts at a sale. Most importantly, though, a car salesman will have a genuine interest in building relationships with people and have a solid knowledge about cars.
Expand Your Network
Once you’ve decided what area you want to specialize in and built up your skill set in that area, you should work on expanding your network. Make contacts and network at industry trade shows and events, connect with prospective employers on social media, and talk to your friends and family about the kind of work you are looking for.
Use A Recruiter
Even with heavy networking, starting a career in the automotive industry isn’t always easy. You might be frustrated by how difficult it is to get your foot in the door, how slow going it is, or how little opportunity there seems to be.
This is why working with a recruitment agency that specializes in placing workers in the automotive industry, can make your job search a whole lot easier. Autoskills UK sources permanent and contract personnel for a diverse range of roles covering technical, sales & marketing, finance & administration, and customer service across our core sectors:
-
Dealership
-
Truck & Bus
-
Bodyshop & Accident Repair
To get your career started, get in touch with our team today.