Car mechanics are in high demand at the moment; there are more drivers on UK roads than ever before, and the number of older vehicles on the road is only increasing.
With more than a million new drivers joining the roads last year, car repair is set to become even more of a lucrative market. But how does one translate to interest in repairing vehicles to a full-time vocation?
What do Car Mechanics Do?
A car mechanic is an engineer who works on automobiles. They commonly work out of private garages or service stations in the UK, though there are many different places and positions a mechanic can take.
There might be a resident mechanic at a second-hand car showroom, or working with a dealership.
In essence, car mechanics are repairmen. They evaluate issues with vehicles and fix them using their considerable skills and experience to narrow down and eliminate the fault.
Faults can take any number of shapes, and, while mechanics can specialise in a certain area or type of car, they hold a holistic knowledge of a car’s workings – from the engine to the electronics.
What Skills Would You Need?
Car mechanics are skilled engineers, requiring in-depth knowledge of complex mechanical processes and machinery in order to identify and correct issues with vehicles. Their skills do not stop with their hands-on experience fixing cars, though – they need to have a good analytical eye, and be able to spot specific issues using a number of incidental clues.
They also need to be good at people management, whether managing customers’ needs and expectations or directing a team of mechanics on a larger project.
Qualifications
Strictly speaking, you do not need any qualifications to become a car mechanic. Your knowledge and experience are your commodities when it comes to starting a career as one.
Apprenticeships are a popular choice for younger people with an interest in the career path, offering on-the-job training as well as a vocational qualification. You may want to acquire a qualification in order to become an MOT tester, but initial eligibility for MOT testing requires four years full-time employment as a mechanic over any form of qualification.
Career Path
There are many divergent paths you can take in your career as a mechanic. You could start your own mechanic’s business with the right tools and equipment; becoming a mobile mechanic enables you to work on customers’ vehicles in their driveway, a convenient service that pays a premium. All you would need is the requisite tools and mobile mechanic insurance to protect you and the customer.
Most common, though, is to become a mechanic with a garage, working alongside a team to carry out simple repairs. This is the easiest path, as the route to gaining experience is often through shadowing experienced mechanics in private workshops – giving you the opportunity to network, and fall into a permanent position.
