IT ISN'T THE SAME ANYMORE

Recently I bumped into an old classmate of mine while in line at the grocery store and we struck up a "what have you been up to" style conversation. After paying the cashier I was getting ready to pick up my bags and leave when he asked me that all too familiar question I have been asked numerous times over the years and never really had an answer that I have been happy with.

"So what do you do for a living?" my old pal asked me.

Processing the question, a few answers came to mind. I could answer "I'm a mechanic", but I really don't associate with that term. To me a mechanic is a broad title that applies to any trade or job that requires work to be done on machines with tools.

Option two was the "build" in terms from my apprentice days, automotive service technician. Well it's better, I thought, but it still doesn't really cover everything I do.

Responding to his question I titled myself an "Automotive Technician". He looked at me curiously with a dog like head tilt and asked for a description of the job.

We need to take our profession very seriously my fellow technicians. We are essentially the short stop of the automotive world filling the gap between the manufacturing world and the customer. Not only do we service the vehicles our customers drive, we also act as confidants and guidance counselors helping them make decisions regarding purchasing and maintaining their investments. We help take the mystery out of the automotive world through sharing our knowledge. From the outside looking into the modern automobile is an alien form to some and why wouldn't it be? Computers controlling everything from valve timing to dome lights and then foreign terms for the smallest of components coupled with technicians speaking in a language all their own. The daily duties of an automotive technician are much more than just servicing vehicles and for that reason I have decided to alter my job title and go with the more enveloping Automotive Technician term.

I no longer view this as merely a trade or job but rather a profession that literally takes years to hone the skills required. In this Technician's view the main difference between a trades person and a professional is the professionals approach to the situation involving the work they do. A professional focuses on the long term and performs duties that might not yield rewards at the time but will improve either their image,business or relationship with the customer.

My goal in this career is not only to become skilled at servicing and repairing vehicles but to be the liaisons official for the customer. When a customer thinks of the words "car/SUV/truck" and "help" I want them to think of their trusted expert in the automotive industry regardless of the question. I want my customers to come to me not only with the "what's that noise" questions but also with the "tell me about this vehicle" or the "what should I do" ones. I'm here to be your automotive expert not just your "mechanic".

To all my fellow young technicians out there I would like to share a motto I've created. "Don't give me a position to fill; give me a profession to shape, rules to break and an image to shake".