The time has never been better to pursue a career as an automotive mechanic. Demand is high for this essential work, as inflation has prevented people from buying new vehicles. Today, many people are trying to keep their older vehicles on the road, increasing the need for maintenance and repair – and mechanics!
Even though demand is high, you still need to put your best foot forward when seeking a mechanic position, and that means building a stand-out resume. Here are some tips to create a winning automotive mechanic resume.
Find a Template
Go online and do a search for “Auto Mechanic Resume”, and you’ll find a number of examples, sample resumes, and templates. Choose one that will highlight your strengths and experience best, looks professional, and customize it with your information.
Career Objective / Summary
Many resumes start with a career objective or a summary that showcases why you are right for the job. While this is first on your resume, you may want to write it last when you are better able to summarize how you want to present yourself. Include both hard and soft skills in this section. Hard skills are technical skills, such as using diagnostic equipment or making specific types of repairs, while soft skills are skills like great customer service, problem solving, or a willingness to learn new things. Also, be sure to include your passion for your work.
Education & Certifications
To get a job as an auto technician, it’s important to have the proper training from an accredited school, like J-Tech Institute. Our Automotive Technology Program will teach you all you need to know to start an exciting career in the automotive industry and looks great on a resume. Be sure to highlight specific skills you learned or hands-on experience you gained while in the program. Our Career Services team can also help you with career development skills – including building a great resume.
Experience
If you are just starting out, you may not have a lot of work experience – but that’s okay. List any work or volunteer experience you may have (even if its not as a mechanic) to show off those soft skills we mentioned earlier. Additionally, if you’ve worked part-time in a shop, had an apprenticeship or internship, or even just have fixed cars for family and friends, use those experiences to your advantage.
Cover Letter & Thank You Letter
Once you have a strong resume, craft a cover letter that is specific to the particular job you are applying for. This should be brief and again just highlight a few key points in your resume as to why you are a good fit for the job. If you do end up getting an interview, be sure to follow up by sending a thank you note or email to your interviewer for giving you the opportunity. All these tools can go a long way in giving you a competitive edge against other candidates.
Get Technical Training at J-Tech and Get to Work!
If you’re an aspiring gearhead with a passion for cars and the desire to work with your hands, J-Tech Institute can provide you with the training you need to jumpstart your career as an Automotive Technician. Contact us today to learn more, or to schedule your visit to our 168,000 square foot facility in Jacksonville, FL.