Entry Level Automotive Service Technician

Required Skills:

Skills Youll Need As with any career there is a particular set of skills automotive service advisors need to be successful in their work. This job is about so much more than learning the mechanicsbecoming a service advisor requires a mixture of skills. Automotive Knowledge First things first its important for service advisors to have automotive knowledge. Whether theyre ordering parts looking over documentation or communicating with technicians service advisors use their automotive knowledge everyday. Throughout their career service advisors must continuously refresh their knowledge to stay relevant with the technological changes impacting their industry. Additionally having automotive knowledge plays a big role in the credibility service advisors have with their customers. If a service advisor is confident in their automotive knowledge this will put the customer at ease knowing their vehicle is in good hands. However if the service advisor seems unsure and lacks knowledge this will lead the customer to question whether the repair will be completed correctly. Strong Communication Skills A significant part of a service advisors time is spent communicating with peopleboth verbally and through writing. Being able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner is essential to getting the job done right and on time. Service advisors dont spend all of their time behind the scenes. Instead they are constantly interacting with different types of people. They must be able to explain repairs in simple terms to their customers while also being able to understand technical jargon to communicate with technicians effectively. If you have a passion for the automotive industry and want to spend your days around people rather than under the hood this may be the job for you. Listening Skills Good listening skills are essential to being a good service addition to listening to customer concerns when first bringing in their car they must be available and willing to listen throughout the repair process as well as after the repair is complete. Service advisors who are good at what they do always make their customers feel valued and heard. If customers have questions at any point in the process they are there to help. Service advisors understand the importance of the customer relationship which is why they go above and beyond to ensure their needs are met. Time Management The environment service advisors work in is often very fast-paced which requires them to have great time management skills. Between setting up service appointments meeting with customers writing repair orders and working with technicians among other responsibilities the schedule of a service advisor fills up quickly. To keep up and do their job well service advisors must be organized and use their time wisely. They oversee many different repairs at one time which requires them to be able to prioritize tasks and delegate when necessary. Ability to Think on Your Feet Successful service advisors never back down to a challenge. Whether a repair is running behind schedule the wrong parts arrive or a customer is unhappy theyre the first ones to jump in and problem solve. When things dont go according to plan service advisors must be able to think on their feet and come to a decision that best serves the customer and the company as a whole. Self-Motivated As a service advisor you wont always have someone there telling you what to do. This means you must find the passion and motivation within yourself to do your job well. Besides managing your own work youll also likely be overseeing the schedules and workload of others. For those around you to respect you and see you as a leader its important to be self-motivated. Versatility One of the advantages of being a service advisor is the variety that comes with this career path. On any given day youll be communicating with different customers technicians and managing different repairs. Therefore its important to be versatile and be able to adapt to different situations and work with different personalities.

Required Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent.