So you want to be a car mechanic?

If you're always getting it in the neck about how much time you spend under the bonnet, then why not consider doing it for a living?

Car mechanics are in high demand and with the increasing weight of traffic on UK roads that's not going to change anytime soon.

Plus, with the automobile industry increasingly turning to computer-controlled systems and the prospect of home servicing getting ever more unrealistic as a consequence, the perks of having a commercial garage at your disposal are hard to beat.

So what does a car mechanic do?
'Mechanic' is a pretty broad job description, so that's too big a question for us to answer comprehensively. Generally, however, a car mechanic will:

  • Perform safety checks on vehicles

  • Repair or replace faulty parts or equipment

  • Carry out MOTs if working in a garage

  • Respond to emergency call outs at the roadside if this is part of the service

But as we've said, this list represents just the tip of the iceberg in most cases. Prospects for specialization are good for a mechanic, either into a particular technical area like electronics or with certain types of vehicle, like motorbikes or HGVs.

Am I the ideal candidate?
You'll need the following qualities if you want to be a successful mechanic:

  • Good communication skills

  • Enthusiasm for manual work

  • Ability to gather expert knowledge over time

  • Ability to work quickly and methodically

The most important thing here is enthusiasm for cars and for fixing them. Everything else - the expertise and knowledge, the stamina and work ethic - stem from your enthusiasm, and it'll makes the difference between listless grease-monkey and a 5-star service in the eyes of customers.

What qualifications do I need?
No formal qualifications are generally needed to become an apprentice car mechanic, but a sound grasp of numeracy and literacy is important.

Most companies provide in-house training for new recruits, but there are several different types of NVQ course available if you're going it alone.

Will it make me a millionaire?
You should probably think twice about putting a deposit down on a Porsche, but most car mechanics can expect to be paid somewhere between £10,400 and £15,600 as a starting salary, with the promise of generous pay raises as time passes and you take on more responsibility.

Before they were famous.
Black Sabbath lead singer and reality TV trailblazer Ozzy Osbourne used to test car horns for the Lucas factory in Birmingham.

Further info
Visit www.motor-careers.co.uk if you want to know more.

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