How to start a career within the automotive industry

Main points:

• An overview of the automotive industry
• Choosing a career path that suits you
• Getting the right training

The automotive industry is wide and has lots of careers you can specialize in. These specialties are spread through the automotive supply chain. For instance, at the production level, there are design engineers and technicians at the assembly lines. Moving down the supply chain, you will be sales experts at the distribution level.

Some mechanics specialize in the repair and maintenance of vehicles. Such experts can work autonomously as independent businesses or get employed in car service shops. It is important to note that there are different areas of specialization that you can opt to pursue, especially if you want to work in an assembly line.

Choosing a career path that suits you

Each specialty in the automotive industry comes with a set of skills that must attain before being hired. For instance, an automotive engineer must have both technical and creative skills to design competitive car models. On the other hand, interpersonal skills are more important to a sales specialist than hard technical knowledge needed for vehicle manufacturing.

Some operations specialists manage inventory in manufacturing shops. To such professionals, organizational skills are more important than technical ones. They are better off working with systems that enhance lean warehouse management. This makes them more effective in supporting other teams in the production lines. Therefore, consider the skill set that will fit your dream job.

Getting the right training

The good news is that the skills needed for you to secure a career in the automotive industry can be acquired through training. There is also the opportunity to grow from one level of expertise to another. Here are some opportunities you can use to gain technical skills that are relevant to the automotive industry.

• Pursue a degree in automotive engineering
• Get specialized training in automotive electrical systems
• Get a car mechanics training in vocational centers

Matching your passion with your skills

If you want to succeed in this industry, it is important to choose a job that you love. Before making the big decision to start training, determine your capacity to attain to complete the training. Do not choose courses that you will struggle with as you will be setting yourself for failure. If you land a job that you love, you will be:

• More productive
• Unlock opportunities for growth
• More satisfied with your job
• Happier and healthier

Common pitfalls to avoid

As stated above, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to pursue a job that you have no passion for. Although you may get a salary, you may miss out on growth opportunities due to dismal performance and a wrong attitude. If you start out at the lowest level, don’t get stuck there, but seek growth opportunities in your specialty.

Career growth in the automotive industry

When it comes to growing your career, you will need to pay attention to the policies of your company regarding self-development. Some firms offer on-job train and education loans. To get such, you may need to be a performer. Also, consider hunting for opportunities outside your company or changing your line of specialty.

Final thoughts

The automotive industry has lots of exciting careers which you can pursue. For example, you can pursue a career in automotive engineering, car assembly technical, or even as a sales and marketing expert. Each of these specialties requires a specific skill set. Make sure you acquire the right skills for a job before applying for it to avoid being frustrated.

Published by Kidal Delonix (1198 Posts)

Kidal Delonix is a contributor to Mr. Hoffman's blog. The views and opinions are entirely his/her own and may not reflect Mr Hoffman's views.