Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 232

MOTORING AHEAD
An impressive 720,000
people in the UK are
employed in the automotive
industry, 140,000 of whom
work directly in the
manufacture of
vehicles
Motor sales executive

Motor vehicle technician
* In this role, you'll be diagnosing
problems and fixing engines, brakes,
steering, gears, suspensions and
cooling systems. You could be employed
by a garage, a manufacturer's service
centre or a breakdown organisation.
* You will need to have skills in
technology, as well as mechanics, as
vehicles are becoming increasingly
advanced in terms of computerised
and electronic systems.
* Light vehicle technicians work on light
vehicles, such as cars, and are also
qualified to carry out MOTs, fit car
alarms, stereos and sat navs. Heavy
vehicle technicians work on large vehicles
such as lorries, buses and coaches.
* You can also specialise in a specific area
- for example, an auto electrician is
trained to work with a vehicle's electronic
control unit (ECU), using computers to
diagnose and locate faults.

2 3 2 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

Motor vehicle fitter
* Also referred to as a fast-fit technician,
a motor vehicle fitter's role is to repair and
replace worn or damaged tyres and to fix or
replace exhausts, batteries and other parts.
You'll also have to realign or balance wheels,
check the tracking of a vehicle, repair
punctures and replace or repair faulty parts.
Such jobs are usually carried out at fast-fit
centres while the customer waits, so customer
service skills are also vital for this position.
* The usual way in to this job is to complete
an apprenticeship. Contact the Institute of
the Motor Industry (IMI) for further details
(www.motor.org.uk). Many manufacturers
offer an apprenticeship programme that
involves training at specially equipped
centres, managed by your employer.
Alternatively, visit the websites of individual
fast-fit companies that you are interested
in working for, as many run their own
apprenticeship schemes.
* Formal training includes City & Guilds in
vehicle fitting, BTEC in vehicle technology
and automotive engineering.

Vehicle designer
* Car design is one of the most sought
after design courses - and careers
- around. You'd need to do a degree
in industrial (or product) design,
ideally one focused specifically on
transportation or automotive design.
* Most transportation design courses
will require you to demonstrate your
creative talent before shortlisting you
for an interview or offering a place, so
good 2D drawing skills remain the
biggest requirement. GCSEs in art and
design are crucial, so too is being able
to work fluently with numbers so that
you can cope with basic calculations
for engineering topics, such as 3D
volumes, aerodynamics or model
scales. Therefore, good grades in maths
or physics are important, too - as is
a portfolio to show off your drawings.
* Once you qualify from your course, you
can go on to seek work or take an MA.

Words: Emma King. Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock. *Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

he UK automotive industry is in its strongest position for many years, and
strengthening the UK supply chain is essential for the future prosperity
of the whole automotive industry,' says Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of The
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 'It will continue to
invest heavily in careers and schemes for graduates and apprentices to ensure that the
UK has the necessary skills pool to maintain our engineering and manufacturing
strengths for years to come.' He goes on to explain that the UK needs long-term growth
and that funding would ensure suppliers were well placed to take advantage of the
potential £3billion of the new business opportunities available. So whether you are
interested in making or repairing cars, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you.

* Selling vehicles can be a fun and financially
rewarding career if you're persuasive and
good at sales. You'll need to have tons of
self-confidence to approach and sell to
strangers, good maths skills for working
out costs and discounts, and good
communication skills to explain technical
matters in a clear way to people who are
not experts. And, most of all, you should be
a petrolhead - it can help you get into this
job if you've no previous sales experience.
Some employers place more importance on
your confidence, personality, and ability to
persuade people than on your knowledge
of cars and the motor industry.
* You'll need a driving licence for test drives,
and you may be able to start your career
as an apprentice (see opposite page).

http://www.motor.org.uk

Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney

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