How Can I Go About Changing Careers?
Career transitions are not as difficult as you might think. Consider your transferable skills (the skills you already have), and then find the courses you need to upskill and change your career!
As an automotive technician or service technician in a body shop, you have many transferable skills.
While you may not have a mechanical engineering degree, you can likely make just as much income in positions utilizing your own personal experience and mechanical knowledge without a 4-year degree!
Automotive mechanics are known for their troubleshooting skills, mechanical aptitude, and good understanding of complex electrical systems.
While auto repair may not be your thing, you can stay in the automotive field using your existing skills or move into an entirely new field. Consider starting a mechatronics course for free to see if that exciting field is a good fit for you.
Transferable Skill 1: Mechanical Skills
1- Automotive Service Manager
The estimated total pay for Automotive Service Managers is $59,441 to $74,882 with an average base salary of $66,239. (1)
Qualifications include work experience in the automotive field and a strong understanding of customer service. As an automotive service manager and former mechanic, you're responsible for overseeing shop safety and the process needed to repair vehicles. With the use of familiar diagnostic scan tools and handling the management of service technicians, the only skills you may need to hone are your leadership skills.
Our Unmudl online course on Supervisor Skills can bring you the knowledge you need to get the job! You can learn practical management and leadership techniques, including:
- Team development
- Coaching and mentoring
- Employment law
2- Truck Driver
The average salary for a Truck Driver is $81,631 per year in the US. (1)
You may already have the skills you need to get started in this industry, with an understanding of preventative maintenance techniques that will keep your vehicle running and the know-how to fix problems while on the road!
Of course, you also need a good sense of direction and knowledge of the areas you'll drive.
Transferable Skill 2: Technical Skills
In addition to your technical knowledge, you likely have great technical skills and can interpret schematics, use testing equipment, understand industry standards, and understand complex systems.
Let's look at some technical career paths that you can transition into!
3- Plumber
Plumbers made a median salary of $59,880 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $77,890 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $46,590. (1)
Use your mechanical aptitude to diagnose problems and identify solutions quickly. By utilizing your existing skillset and learning a few new tricks, you can make a comfortable living in the plumbing field.
Consider our Unmudl course, Fast Track to Plumbing, to get started in this exciting field!
4- Electrician
Electricians made a median salary of $60,040 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $77,350 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $46,900. (1)
As an electrician, you'll need to understand electrical systems and have problem-solving skills to identify issues and repair them quickly. You'll also need a good set of customer service skills when dealing with clients as well as safety protocols for hazardous materials.
Check out our Unmudl Fast Track to Electrician to get started as an electrician by learning concepts and procedures for building and construction electrical training.