Automotive Career Advice

Working in the automotive industry can lead to various career paths such as maintenance, design, or engineering. Automotive jobs can be part of the manufacturing process, sales, or body repairs.

Quick Links

How to Work in the Automotive sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Automotive

Should you wish to work in Automotive you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Automotive Job

  • 2 or more GCSEs (car manufacturing worker)
  • 1 A levels (automotive engineer)
  • Foundation degree in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, automotive engineering, or manufacturing engineering (automotive engineer)

Core Automotive Skills

Great automotive technicians are good with their hands, have a familiarity with vehicles, and are relatively fit. Your practical skills will need to be matched with prowess in problem-solving, and you should have a talent for analytical thinking.

Good eyesight, hand-eye coordination, and an organised approach will see you succeed. CAD technicians will need excellent design and computer skills, and your communication skills will be needed to work in a team or meet customers successfully.

Key Responsibilities for an Automotive Job

  • Carrying out inspections on vehicles
  • Performing maintenance on customer vehicles
  • Explaining repairs and work to customer
  • Planning and scheduling vehicle maintenance
  • Testing vehicle systems
  • Diagnosing issues with air conditioning, electric windows, and other components
  • Performing basic car care tasks, including oil changes
  • Repairing and replacing brake systems
  • Keeping work areas clean and tidy
  • Contacting customer for collection of the vehicle

What to expect in an Automotive Job

A career in the automotive industry can be exciting, with many opportunities to try different specialties and career paths. You can work in different environments, from a small mechanic repair shop to an international car company making sales or working in product development. If you love learning new things and a passion for all things automotive, this is a great career path for you.

Recommended Automotive Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get Automotive Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Automotive job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Automotive application. If you have not held an Automotive position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Automotive role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Automotive CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Automotive application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Automotive in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Automotive 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Automotive and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Automotive experience.

How to get Automotive Experience

What does it take to be an Automotive? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Automotive jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Automotive through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Automotive Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Automotive part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Automotive or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Automotive freelance work

If you have impressive Automotive qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.