Careers and Certification in the Automotive Industry

Part One

Careers in the Automotive Industry 

1. High-tech systems unheard of 30 years ago are now standard equipment on much of the nation’s fleet of vehicles. stability and traction control systems, adaptive cruise control and variable valve timing, and that is just a few. 

2. Given the advance of technology and a richly varied automotive industry that offers an array of positions and career paths, the future is bright for talented young persons who are confident with their math, science, communications and technical skills. 

3.  Some advantages in obtaining an education as an automotive technician versus other high tech educational options are many require four, six, or even eight years of college, automotive technology careers can begin after just two years of education.

4. The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts automotive repair and maintenance industry is expected to add 237,500 new jobs and have a 30 percent growth rate through 2020, making technicians one of the top 20 jobs with relatively high median earnings and the potential for significant job openings over the next decade.

5. One thing that the automotive technician career is immune to that has threatened other careers is the outsourcing of jobs picking up steam, now computer programming, customer call-center work, and accounting services all going overseas – it should be comforting to know that automotive service and repair.

6. Four other positions that an automotive technician can do in the automotive industry is moving into sales, marketing, and business management.

7. So many people have started their careers in the automotive aftermarket as an auto technician that it is viewed as something of a portal career.

Video Reflection

Some things I would enjoy about being an Automotive technician would be learning new things about cars everyday.  New technologies are being developed everyday and you would be constantly be doing something different and learning new techniques.  Some things I found interesting about the video is that there is a lot of new technology to help the process of fixing cars.  Also, there are many apprenticeships to getting into that certain workforce.  This notion of life long learning is important and necessary because workers need to be constantly learning and working hard to do their job.  If the workers aren't willing to learn and keep up with the advancing technology than they will fall behind and not be and not be able to get their job down.  Some characteristics and skills I think someone working as an Automotive Technician should have are being familiar with constant change of cars and parts because there is always new technology being developed. 

Part Two

Certification in the Automotive Industry 

NATEF- The mission of the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) is to improve the quality of automotive technician training programs nationwide at secondary, also post-secondary, public and proprietary schools.

SGS- Their purpose is to help every player in the automotive industry improve performance and reduce risk, they focus on the design, construction and operation of motor vehicle inspection solutions all over the world.

ASE- Is an independent non-profit organization has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.  ASE promotes excellence in automotive repair and service

Part Three 

 Jobs in the Automotive Industry

I think the job that would best suit me would be the "Classic Car Restorer".  I think I would like this job the best because I would enjoy the feeling of restoring an old treasured car back to it's original state.  It would be a very rewarding feeling to see your final work.  I really enjoy hands on learning and getting the work done myself by getting close to the objects.