Auto mechanic jobs are always available no matter what kind of state the economy is in.  People rely on their cars for almost everything.  For example, we use cars to get groceries, go to work, pick up family members, and just about everything else.  If your car is broken or not running right, it can effect many aspects of your life and people just don’t want to have to deal with car problems for very long.  Most people chose that they would spend money on fixing their car instead of paying their rent if it came down to it in a recent survey. 

Even though carmakers are making cars much better these days than the cars of 10 years ago, cars still break down and have problems as many people drive like maniacs and lets face it, anything with moving parts is at risk of breaking down or needing repair.  This is great news for the auto mechanic industry as it means work is plentifull and really anywhere you look.  If you have the skillset and mind to be able to work on cars and understand how they work and run, looking for an auto mechanics job is definitely something you should do.

People ask us all the time what the auto mechanic job description consists of.  An auto mechanic usually works in a repair shop and has several duties.  These duties include talking with customers about their vehicles and checking out the problems they believe the car has, inspecting the vehicle for state safety and emmissions testing, rotate tires, align tires, rebuild engines, replace engines and transmissions, brake system repair and replacement, shock and strut replacement, etc.  In a nut shell if the car has it you should know how it works and how to replace or repair it.  Auto mechanics often become the front managers of the shop and must be able to have good people skills.  If you become a manager it is also necessary for you to know your inventory and order parts and other inventory that becomes low. 

There are many repair shops around and the qualifications to be hired are simple.  Most companies want to make sure you have at least 3-5 years of experience working on cars.  Many employers also require that you have a high school diploma or GED.  Auto mechanic jobs are usually full time positions and offer competitive pay.  Most employers pay their auto mechanics $15-$25 dollars per hour based on experience and how long you have been with the company. 

If you are motor minded and love to work on cars and figure out the puzzles they can become, being an auto mechanic and finding an auto mechanic job should be right for you.

Most employers looking for diesel mechanics expect a few things of the applicant.  Here is a list of some of the requirements most companies have when hiring for a diesel mechanics jobs.

• 3-5 years of experience working with diesel engines
• experience with forklifts, tractors, skid loaders, and other heavy equipment
• have your own diesel engine maintenance equipment
• must know how to weld and work with hydraulics

Other companies may also want you to understand brake systems, transmissions, and diesel engine restoration.  It really depends on the company, but if you have a solid understanding of diesel engines and know how to fix them and keep them running smoothly, you will definitely be a candidate for a diesel mechanic job.

How much does the job pay?  Diesel truck mechanic jobs usually pay around $15 – $17 dollars an hour based on your work experience with diesel equipment.  Trucking companies, heavy equipment companies, and other transportation companies really value their diesel mechanics and take good care of them.  On top of good pay, most employers offer benefits such as health and dental insurance as well as retirement options such as a 401K and IRA’s. 

Most jobs offered in this type of field are for full time positions and may even need some overtime work depending on the company’s current work load.  Hydraulic systems are a definite plus if you are looking for a diesel mechanic job.  Most companies that hire need work done on the heavy equipment used for construction and for building roads.  These pieces of equipment break easily as they are under huge amounts of stress.  The things that are the most important on these machines is the hydraulic systems as they make the machine able to lift the unthinkable weight that they are able to when the hydraulics are functioning properly.  If you have hydraulic knowledge and expertise in the area of repair and maintenance, you will for sure be able to find a job as a diesel mechanic with ease. 

As you can see the career choice of becoming a mechanic comes with some great perks.  Pay scale and benefits are a huge factor in selecting this career as your full time job.  Even though the country is coming out of a recession, heavy equipment is always being used to improve government paid roads and other projects.

1. Car Rental Jobs are  a great way to make some money and many people choose it as a career choice.  If you get a job as a car rental specialist, you will work with clients face to face.  Most specialists work the front desk and take orders for rental cars and set up the rental contracts with clients.  Most specialists start anywhere from $10-$15 dollars per hour and work 40 hours a week.  This is a great full time job and the rental car market is certainly not in a decline like most auto dealers are.  Car rental places also hire pickup drivers which take the car the client has picked, and pick them up in the car.  This is the perfect job for someone that likes to drive cars and doesn’t mind traveling a little bit.  Most drivers pick up several drivers a day, and most really enjoy it.  For people that are sick of the office surroundings, being  a rental car driver is a great way to get away.
2. Car wash jobs are also great paying car jobs.  It may sound weird, but many people pay a lot of money to have their car detailed and washed.  There are many different types of car washing jobs however.  These jobs can range from having a nice car wash facility to being a traveling detail service.  If you work at a car wash facility you have limited contact with clients.  If you get hired by a traveling detail service you will have high contact with people as you will be a salesman.  There is usually a little more money in traveling detailers as their costs are usually higher because the service is more convenient for clients.  Most traveling detailers service customers by soliciting business plazas and complexes.  This allows for people’s cars to be cleaned while they are working. 
3. Auto Body and repair is another automotive car job that is never going to go away.  Every year there are more drivers that get on the road and accidents happen.  If you work for a repair service, chances are they get referrals and business from insurance companies automatically.  Business is usually always very good and if you work for an auto body shop you will usually always be very busy.  This type of job is great for someone who loves to fix or make something look new again.  A lot of pride can be gained in this type of job as you get a car that comes in looking like garbage and when you are done with the car it will look like it just came out of the factory brand new.  Some people just like having a custom car paint jobs done on the car to change its color.  This is a very rewarding type of job that takes some hard labor, but can be a very fun type of job.

The first type of car sales jobs is an actual car salesman.  Having done this myself there are alot of things that are included in this job.  Just like with any sales job, you have to believe in what you are selling.  If you don’t like cars, this is definitely NOT the job for you, but if you love cars, look forward to seeing the new models, and if you love features this job is absolutely for you!  As a salesman you are on the front lines so to speak.  You are the first person a client meets so you really represent the dealership as a whole.  Used car dealers have a horrible stereotype of being greasy lying cheats.  As a car salesman you can start to change this public opinion of car salesmen.  It is very easy to become a car salesman and there are many jobs available.

What do you need to become a car salesman?  The process is very easy to be a salesman for an auto dealership.  Most state governments require the salesman to register with the state, get fingerprints on file, and take a basic automotive sales class to obtain a state salesman license.  Once you have this license you can work for any car dealership in the state.  Each state has it’s own specific rules so make sure you double check with your state legislative requirements before soliciting dealerships to work for them.

How much do you get paid?  You can really make some decent money as a car salesman.  When i was in the business i made $400 dollars per car sold.  Every dealership runs a little differently.  Some dealers give you a flat fee per sale of car, while others give you a percentage of the overall sale price on the final contract.  Try and find a big dealership that gets a lot of business as you will have the greatest opportunity of making the most money possible.  When i worked at a dealership this last summer i sold about 5-10 cars a month which turned out to be pretty good money.  The nice thing is that a car sale only really takes a couple of hours at the most, so when you look at hours spent selling, its an awesome payout!

The other type of salesman job is to be a car sales manager.  Usually you cannot get hired for this type of position without already have been a regular salesman.   The car sales manager motivates and keeps track of regular salesman numbers.  If a salesman encounters a problem, it is usually the managers job to clear up a big issue with a client and also work closely with the financing department to ensure the sale goes through smoothly.  Sales managers also have authority to change sales prices on cars and sweeten deals for clients. 

What does it take to be a salesman?  Perseverance and patience are the key to succeeding in this type of job.  Some days you will sell 3 cars, then then you may not sell a car for a week.  Even though it may not be as consistent as you would like, you can still make a very big payday when the cars sell.  A salesman has the primary responsibility to show the car to the client.  This includes explaining features and answering client questions.  Once the client picks out a vehicle it is the salesman’s job to fill out proper sales contracts and make sure financing is either arranged through the dealership or through a third party financier.  This job is not for everyone, but if you love cars and love to talk to people and do honest business, this is definitely the job for you!