Careers in The Automotive Industry

Careers in the Automotive Industry

Some high tech systems in cars today that didn't exist thirty years ago are: Adaptive Cruise Control, Stability and traction control systems and variable valve timing.

Some areas where young people should have skills in if they wish to get a career are math, science, communication and technical skills.

People who get an education in the automotive industry as opposed to other options have a couple advantages. One of the biggest being that it's a two year course, as opposed to a 4, 6 or even 8 year course. Because of those, you live college faster, and with less debt.

They forecast that 237,500 new jobs and a 30% growth rate by the year 2020.

The Automotive industry is immune to the outsourcing of jobs. Unlike most other jobs, it is impossible for automotive service and repair jobs to move overseas.

Some other positions that an automotive technician can do in the automotive industry are: Parts distribution, motorsports, vehicle maintenance, a high school/college professor.

The automotive technician role is considered a portal career as top notch technicians find a lot of high paying employment options.

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Some aspects of being an automotive technician that I think I would enjoy would be the satisfaction of fixing a broken car and the fact that i'd be constantly learning more about them.

I found the hybrid car surprising, I knew of electric cars but did not know that there were cars with both an engine and a battery. I also found that device that detected electrical errors in the car intriguing.

Life long learning as an automotive technician is important as the mechanical and technological parts of vehicles are always changing and getting more complex. 

Some characteristics that an automotive technician should have are people skills and basic skills in math, mechanics, english and computers.

Certification in the Automotive Industry

NATEF

The Nation Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of Automotive Technicians education in school and college. They do this by checking the resources and quality of Automotive training programs and judges them against the standards that a technician needs to be successful.

SGS 

The SGS exists to help people in the Automotive Industry, whether they are vehicle manufacturers, traders or a government institution. They manage Supply chains of materials and vehicles, Reduce cost and delivery times, help ensure that your vehicle meets the safety obligations and in general improve road safety and reduce environmental impact.

ASE

The Nation Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is another non-profit organization. This one however, aims to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing Automotive professionals. The ASE exists to ensure customers that the person working on their vehicle has extensive knowledge and experience in their trade.  Almost 300,000 technicals hold an ASE certificate

Jobs in the Automotive Industry

The job that I would enjoy the most would obviously be a race car driver. Although I don't think i'll ever get good enough to get the signed up, and even if it is extremely dangerous. Racing cars for a living and making a million dollars annually doesn't sound like it would be that bad a life.

The job I think I would enjoy the least would probably be the car designer. The pay's okay, but I am absolutely godawful at drawing. And even if I was top-tier at drawing there's a high chance that my design would be completely butchered, or I would only design the taillight or another minor section of the vehicle.