Hardly a week goes by without a local job opening in the automotive field in your local paper. If you search the Internet, you will find tens of thousands of these jobs nationwide. The backbone of any economy is dependent on transportation to a large extent. There is a continuous need for skilled and unskilled workers to keep this segment up and running. Like ppi claims for missold ppi policies, the automotive sector is a back-up for trained and educated people with ability for innovation and execution of duties. With more makes and models of both domestic and foreign cars and trucks available, the job openings are more plentiful. Here is a brief sketch of openings in different areas with the basic skills needed for each, which itself shows the employment capacity in this field.
Manufacturing
In the manufacturing itself, there is huge requirement of skilled auto engineers and auto technicians. With new models of cars and vehicles coming up in the market every day, their requirement tends to increase with every passing day.
Sales Department
Salespersons: Must be a people’s person, flexible, quick to analyse the customer’s needs and find the right solution. Works under sales quotas and is subject to dismissal if he/she doesn’t produce required sales. Truck sales are especially lucrative. Businesses, large and small, need trucks and vans to keep it running. Many need replacement vehicles every three to five years. As such, people with a flair for sales can easily find a job in automotive sales, if he has the required skills.
Sales Manager: He/she is the “closer.” Must be a skilled negotiator and able to narrow the issues to making the sale. Needs to work under pressure with sales quotes and is subject to dismissal if his/her sales numbers are not met.
General Manager: He/she oversees the salespeople and sales manager. Usually responsible for advertising, promotions and may be called upon to close deals that salespeople and sales managers are not able to complete.
Service Department
Service Writers: Schedule appointments, follow ups and keep customers informed on special promotions in the service department.
Parts Manager: Responsible for entire parts inventory, for ordering parts and for keeping up to date on the many changes in parts specifications.
Service Technicians: Diagnose and perform needed repairs on vehicles.
Detailers: Responsible for cleaning, polishing and prepaping vehicles for delivery.
Porter: Moves vehicles when needed, may go on vehicle swaps with other dealers, and run errands for managers and customers.
Body Shop: Skilled technicians who repair and refinish damaged vehicles. Body Shop Manager oversees the entire body shop operation.
Office Staff
Finance Manager: Responsible for reviewing customer contracts before delivery and selling additional warranties and add-ons.
Office specialists: for accounts receivable and payable.
Office Manager: Oversees the entire office operation and employee performance.
On an average, you can have up to 50 employees in just one dealership. Multiply this by the number of dealerships in your area and you are looking at a local job pool of 500 to 1,000.
With new technologies in this field, there will be new types of cars and other vehicles in the market, as such employment opportunities will also increase in this field. Trained automotive personnel in manufacture, sales, service and operation will be needed in higher numbers in the future, which will bring a significant shift in the employment market of automotive. Hence, the automotive employment market is still an open field for many.
