Automotive Technician (ASE): What is Under the Hood?

Automotive technicians have the opportunity to work with all different types of vehicles in their careers. They work with the common cars, trucks and vans, but with more training they can learn to work on large semi trucks, buses and much more.  Indeed.com gives a list of common duties an automotive technician performs including:

• Perform routine automotive maintenance tasks, including oil changes, tire rotations, transmission flushes, air conditioner re-charges, front-end alignments, battery installations and headlight/taillight installations.
• Maintain a working knowledge of current industry best practices in automotive repair.
• Conduct extensive diagnostic procedures to determine the sources of customers' problems and provide accurate repair recommendations.
• Inspect vehicles according to the state's requirements for emissions and safety.
• Conduct necessary repairs and take vehicles for test drives to verify soundness.
• Maintain legible and accurate paperwork for both the customer and for our records.
• Clean and maintain the work environment to ensure equipment longevity and workplace safety.

Automotive technicians are not just tied down to doing oil changes and under the hood work. ASE.com points out that automotive technicians can be service consultants, directors and can eventually open and own their own store. There are also positions working in parts, collision repair, painting, performance upgrades and motor sports. Rebuilding vehicles and creating performance enhancements is also becoming more popular. With the growing use of computers and other technology in cars, there are more positions in the automotive services opening that require someone interested in both cars and technology.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists qualities that are important in an automotive technician:

• Customer service skills- technicians are often the ones who explain the issue and how to solve it with the customers. Companies often rely on repeat customers so it is important for them to be courteous, good listeners and be willing to answer customer’s questions.
• Detail oriented- they must be able to look for small details that could be causing the issues with someone’s vehicle.
• Dexterity- technicians work with their hands every day and are often working with very small parts that require precision.
• Mechanical skills- technicians must be knowledgeable on all of the working parts of a car. They are often taking apart a major part of a vehicle and putting it back together. 
• Organizational skills- must keep their workspace clean and organized for safety and accountability of parts.
• Physical strength- technicians are sometimes required to lift heavy parts and equipment.
• Troubleshooting skills- the technology in cars is becoming more intricate and complicated. Automotive technicians must be able to run a diagnostic test and come up with a solution of how to fix the problem.

Start your training in this high demand career today!

Ed4Career is proud to offer courses in skilled trades as well. Upon successful completion of the Automotive Technology course series, students will be prepared to sit for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) national certification exam to become a Certified Automotive Technician.