If the idea of assembling car parts and working on cars all day excites you, a career as an automotive technician is great for you. This career is fairly rewarding but becoming an automotive technician requires training.
Ideally, you should start reading about the career to get all the relevant information about what it entails before you dive into it. This article will give you relevant information to help you decide if you want to start your journey as a technician.
Complete an Automotive Training Program: Centennial College has Programs Offered by the School of Transportation
You must ensure that the training program you apply for is offered by a reputable institution. Centennial College is a great example of such an institution and they offer a comprehensive automotive training course.
This course provides both in-class lessons and on-the-job experience. Thus, you get a lot of practical training with this course.
You will learn all the guidelines and operating procedures related to the automotive you are specializing in.
There are both full-time and part-time training options, thus, it’s easy to get a class that fits your schedule.
After the training, you will become entry-level-certified in the field and you will need to take a test organized by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. Since you don’t need experience to take this test, you can take it at any time.
The next step is automotive technician apprenticeship. If a company hires you as an entry-level automotive mechanic, the first few months will be counted as the period for the apprenticeship.
Skills Needed: Diagnostic and Mechanical Skills, People Skills, Adaptability, Problem-Solving, and Work Ethic
The training will equip you with diagnostic and mechanical skills. However, you will perform better as an automotive technician if you possess other skills such as people skills. You should be able to properly communicate with people since this role is client-facing.
You should also be a problem solver and must be professional. No one will want to entrust their vehicles to someone who does not have a proper work ethic.
Although you will pick up these skills including adaptability as you gain on-the-job experience, it will be rewarding if you make a conscious effort to gain more of these skills.
How the Work Differs for Every Season
Although there are regular repair and maintenance tasks that should be carried out all year round, some of these tasks are seasonal. Thus, the work of automotive technicians defers for every season.
Summer maintenance tasks mainly include inspecting the cooling system, the AC, and the suspension system.
Winter maintenance includes inspection of tires, fuel tanks, batteries, and windshield wipers.
Fall maintenance focuses on the inspection of transmission, brakes, and power steering while Spring maintenance mainly involves the inspection of the ignition system, headlights, fluids, and the interior.
Unfortunately, many people assume that they only need to prepare their vehicles for the winter but seasonal maintenance will ensure that your car stays on the road for a very long time.
Talk to the Experts
When it comes to on-the-job training, working with a good automotive repair company is essential. If you are training as an automotive collision repair technician, CSN 427 Auto is an excellent training ground for you.
The repair center has factory-certified repair facilities and the center handles repair works for major automotive manufacturers.
The technicians who work in these facilities also have the required certifications and this makes them the best people to learn from.
Even if you are not training as an automotive collision repair technician, you may need the help of these technicians in case there is a collision. Call CSN 427 Auto at (416) 259-6344 or book an appointment online for your collision repair needs.
