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We Briefly Investigated Career Opportunities
Last week we briefly investigated career opportunities in the sales and administrative areas of the auto industry. I say 'briefly' because to do this topic justice, we would need the entire Wheels Section!
If you have any interest whatsoever in the auto industry, or if you know of someone that does, please visit the Georgian College site, the TADA site, Centennial College site, Mohawk College site and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities site, just to name a few.
In this follow-up article, I want to talk about careers for technicians.
In today's reality, if you want to be a Technician or Master Technician, you must, above all, have a drive and conviction that is all-consuming. You must be totally logical and have the patience and ability to follow detailed, trouble-shooting instructions. You must be a conscientious team player able to both take and give direction. Most importantly, you must be computer literate.
As vehicles become more reliant on computers, today's technician must be capable of diagnosing vehicles electronically with as many as 40 computers, and applying logic to the findings in order to correct existing problems.
In the GTA, aptitude for the automotive industry is identified early through various shop or mechanical courses. At some high schools, co-op programs offer two days of classroom instruction and three days of hands-on employment learning. After graduating from high school, apprenticeship training is available through community colleges in conjunction with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Centennial College offers such a program. It boasts a School of Transportation with Canada's largest training facility that includes labs, mechanical repair shops and a learning resource center with thousands of helpful books and videos.
The College Diploma you earn there is respected throughout the industry because it emphasizes hands-on learning and a thorough knowledge of how vehicles actually work. Full-time courses include Automotive Technician (Administrative-Service Manager/Service Writer and Technical), Motorcycles and Power sports Product Repair Techniques, and others.
The College also conducts apprentice training ' but before you can attend, you must be hired as an apprentice at a repair facility. The apprentice program is based on in-class training (taken at specific intervals either in a concentrated, 20-week session or by attending school one day per week from Sept. to June). In order to graduate, you must complete all the prescribed in-class training (four sessions), the required number of on-the-job hours (5,000) and write and pass the final exam ' all that for your Mechanic's License!
And that's just the beginning! From that point on, in order to stay current with the most advanced technological changes, each manufacturer demands continued certification on its own product lines.
Keep this in mind when you walk into a dealership ' not only do today's technicians have intensive formal training, they must know the specific vehicle they sell (and its parts) inside and out. For more in-depth information visit,www.centennial.ca/transportation.
If you're interested in design, robotics, quality assurance, research and development, production/process engineering, environmental management, tool making etc., Georgian College's Center for Automotive Parts Expertise (CAPE) Program is ideal.
The Automotive Industry in 2,000 employed over 631,000 people. Literally thousands of those will be retiring in the next 5 ' 10 years. making room for a great number of skilled professionals. By investigating your options now, you can take advantage of future vacancies, securing a comfortable living for you and your family.
The help and opportunities are definitely out there. Investigate it for yourself and remember, DRIVE SAFELY.
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