The_Life_of_a_Mechanic

Ross 1 Mark Ross Dr. Gina O’Brien English 111 June 26, 2010 The World Of Auto Mechanics Auto mechanics is a career that I have always been interested in. I chose to research this career so that I would better understand what it takes to become an auto mechanic. According to the (Bureau of Labor Statistics), an auto mechanic is a technician that inspects, maintains, and repairs cars and light trucks that run on gasoline, electricity, or other alternative fuels like ethanol. Auto mechanics make a pretty good living. According to the (Occupational Outlook Handbook), auto mechanics can make anywhere from $9.17 per hour all the way up to $27.22 per hour. Some technicians receive a commission on top of their hourly wage. The commission is usually related to the labor cost charged to the customer. Depending on where you work, you could make pretty descent money. Starting out as a new auto mechanic, you could make $25,000-$35,000 per year. The next tier would be $35,000-$45,000 per year. If you work hard and become a Master Mechanic, you could end up making $45,000-$100,000 per year. A lot of Master Mechanics work for luxury car dealers like, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, or Mercedes. It is my goal to work hard and try to become a Master Mechanic. The projections data from the (National Employment Matrix), predicts a 14% increase in employment of auto mechanics by the year 2016. In 2006 there were 773,000 auto mechanics. They are predicting 883,000 auto mechanics by the year 2016, an increase of 110,000. I would say that I have a pretty good chance of finding a job as an auto mechanic by the time that I am done with school. Over all, the future looks pretty good for auto mechanics. Over the next three years, the field of auto mechanics will see an increase of 10%-20%. This is in part due to the retiring of many mechanics and an Ross 2 increase of cars being purchased. The main employers of mechanics will be dealerships and independent repair shops. Even as the economy gets worse, this career field will continue to grow. Mainly because people cannot afford to buy new cars, so they will be trying to keep what they already have in good shape. As with any other career field, certain requirements must be met before becoming an auto mechanic. Some high schools offer vocational classes where you can learn the basics of automotive technology. You must complete training at a community college or some other post secondary school in order to be considered a qualified auto mechanic. Most community colleges offer a two year associates degree in this field, whereas most post secondary schools offer six months to one year of intense training. You will be trained on the most up to date computer systems that you will need in order to diagnose and repair some of today’s cars. Another good type of training would be to work as an apprentice to a Master Mechanic. Once you complete all of the training and you are considered certified you will receive your ASE certification, which stands for Automotive Service Excellence. The (Bureau of Labor Statistics) suggests that individuals that live in large cities should get certified to help them with their search for jobs. The basic job function for an auto mechanic is usually performed in some type of repair shop. It usually ends up being a 40 hour a week job. Some shops are even open on weekends. A lot of mechanics do work on the side so they can earn a little extra money. The work for an auto mechanic involves diagnosing and repairing car problems in a repair shop. A mechanics job requires him or her to replace broken parts, or when possible, take apart and rebuild parts. Sometimes it is quicker and cheaper to replace broken parts with new ones. A mechanic does anything from preventative maintenance to fixing what is already broken. Preventative maintenance involves checking your oil and doing an oil change every 3,000 miles, checking your other fluids and keeping them filled and changed Ross 3 when necessary, and changing your air and fuel filters every so often. Preventative maintenance also includes lubing all of the other parts on your vehicle every now and then. A mechanic also checks for worn or loose parts and replaces them before they break. Most people do not believe in doing preventative maintenance. They usually just wait until something breaks before getting it fixed. It is usually cheaper to have something fixed before it breaks because if you wait until it breaks then it usually ends up costing more money. Once something breaks, it will sometimes cause other things to break. Sometimes after things break, you will have to pay a tow truck to tow you to a garage to get your car fixed. That is what I am talking about when I say it is better to do preventative maintenance. It will save you a lot of money in the long run if you service your vehicle regularly. With the advancement in technology in today’s cars, a mechanics job has gone from purely mechanical to include electronic technology. Because today’s vehicles have such complex electronic and computer systems, mechanics today need to have a wider array of knowledge than they did in the past. The days of the “shade tree mechanic” are about over. For those who don’t know, a “shade tree mechanic” is just another name for the average joe trying to fix cars themselves at home in the backyard. Without the knowledge of today’s technology and right equipment, most do it yourselfers will not be able to fix these vehicles. Most dealerships these days provide all of the computers and other diagnostic equipment that it takes to be able to properly diagnose and repair these automobiles. Auto mechanics these days are hardly called auto mechanics, instead they are referred to as an Automotive Service Technician. In conclusion, you must have complete dedication and skill in order to become successful in the field of Auto Mechanics. Without the desire to achieve and the specialized schooling, you will never be successful in this field. This is a very complex and challenging field. So if you don’t mind getting dirty and working hard, then this is the field for you. Ross 4 Works Cited Interview With Steve Gates: A Self Employed Mechanic National Employment Matrix Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco/ocos181.htm www.automotive-schools.us/automechanic.html