Master Technicians are in High Demand, and they can Demand High Wages if Done Correctly.
The United States
is currently experiencing a significant shortage of trained automotive service
technicians. This shortage is impacting dealerships, independent repair
facilities, and large fleets alike. The TechForce Foundation's 2022 report
highlighted that the number of employed auto technicians had increased by 4%
since 2020, yet there was still a shortfall of almost 613,000 technicians
needed by the end of 20241.
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) estimated around 56,000
unfilled technician positions at franchised new vehicle dealerships as of June
20231.
Proposed Solutions:
To address this crisis, several solutions have been proposed:
1.
Reducing turnover of existing technicians
by providing clear career paths, timelines, and metrics7a.
2.
Developing a robust pipeline of
technicians through expanded relationships with local technical schools and
colleges1a.
3.
Focusing on skills over education and
offering hiring bonuses2a18a.
4.
OEMs and industry partners advocating
together to increase the supply of technicians3.
Value of a Master Automotive Technician:
Master automotive technicians are highly valuable to service repair shops due
to their advanced skills and certifications. They typically earn between
$40,000 and $107,000 annually, with an average hourly rate of $31.874a14a.
Their expertise allows them to handle complex repairs and diagnostics,
contributing significantly to a shop's service capacity and revenue. Some top
performers are earning more than $200,000 a year and a few have passed the
$300,000 a year mark.
Statistics on Master Technicians:
●
The average age of master technicians is
40 years old5a22a.
●
The turnover rate and job change frequency
are not explicitly stated in the data provided, but factors influencing job
changes often include better pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
OEM Brands and Training:
While specific data on which OEM brand has the most master technicians is not
readily available, OEMs offer extensive training programs for their technicians5a.
The brand considered best trained is subjective and can vary based on the
specific training programs and partnerships with technical schools and
colleges.
Ford has developed
a multi-level master program with three base masters and two senior master
levels. Ford has been very successful with their internal training program and
has partnered with many school systems to bring a variety of entry-level
programs at various levels of schools from high schools to college with some
offering certificates and their elite training program for entry level is the
Ford ASSET program, offering an Associate Degree in Automotive Service
Technology at many community and technician training colleges around the United
States. Ford’s training is unmatched and the information they disseminate to
the technician is unparalleled, with many competing OEMs trying to scalp-recruit
students upon graduation from those programs. However, the programs’ training
certificates are integral to Ford’s Technician Recognition Programs and allow
these students to move into Master and Senior Master status with a step-by-step
process, using the Ford Training Curriculum Map, so the vast majority of students
stick with their sponsoring dealership.
The shortage of
trained automotive service technicians in the U.S. is a pressing issue with
multiple proposed solutions to increase the supply and retention of skilled
technicians. Master automotive technicians play a crucial role in the industry,
and their training and expertise are highly sought after by service repair
shops. OEM brands contribute to this training ecosystem, ensuring their
technicians are well-equipped to handle the demands of modern automotive
technology.
The Art of Resume
Sculpting
The
Tale of Tom the Technician
Once upon a time,
in the bustling town of Gears-Ville, there lived a diligent automotive service
technician named Tom. Tom had a passion for cars that rivaled the roar of a V8
engine on a quiet night. His hands, stained with grease, told stories of
countless engines revived and tires rotated. Yet, as he sat at his wooden desk,
cluttered with tools of his trade, Tom felt a pang of yearning for a new
challenge, a new Service Department where his skills could shine even brighter.
The List of Jobs: A Lackluster Beginning
Tom's resume was a
simple document, a mere list of jobs spanning his ten-year career. It read like
an instruction manual, devoid of the heart and soul he poured into his work. It
was time for a change, time to sculpt his resume into a masterpiece that would
open the doors to new opportunities.
Tom applied the
same training techniques that he used to learn the automotive repair trade to
become a Master Technician to learn how to structure and write his resume. Tom
discovers a great resume effectively showcases your qualifications and makes a
compelling case for your candidacy. A well-organized resume for a Senior Master Ford
Technician would be meticulously structured to ensure clarity and ease of
navigation. At the top, the resume would feature the technician's name and
contact information, followed by a professional summary that highlights their
extensive experience and key qualifications. The core of the resume would be
divided into clear sections with bold headings such as Professional
Experience, Certifications, and Technical Skills. Each job
role in the experience section should be introduced with the job title,
employment dates, and company name, followed by bullet points that concisely
describe responsibilities and achievements. The certifying body and dates of
attainment would be included in certifications, particularly those applicable
to a Ford Master Technician. Technical skills should be neatly categorized,
perhaps in columns, to quickly draw attention to the technician's proficiency
in different areas. The layout should be clean, with ample white space and a
Here are Eight Elements to create a great
resume:
1.
Well-Organized:
It should have a clear structure, with headings and bullet points that make it
easy to read and navigate1.
2.
Professional Summary or Profile:
A brief section at the top that summarizes your experience, achievements, and
skills4.
a. professional font, ensuring that each
section is distinct, and information can be found swiftly. Overall, the resume
would reflect the technician's organizational skills and attention to detail,
making a strong impression on potential employers.
Here's an outline of what a great resume
might include:
Contact Information
●
Name
●
Address
●
Phone Number
●
Email
Professional Summary
●
A brief statement summarizing your
experience, skills, and what makes you a unique candidate.
Professional Experience
●
Senior Master Ford Technician
○
Company Name, Location (Month Year – Month
Year)
■
Bullet point describing a key
responsibility or achievement.
■
Bullet point highlighting a particular
skill or project.
■
Bullet point focusing on a significant
contribution or recognition.
Technical Skills
●
List of technical skills relevant to a
Ford Technician, possibly grouped by category (e.g., Diagnostics, Repair,
Maintenance).
Certifications
●
List of relevant certifications with dates
of attainment.
Education
●
Degree, Institution, Graduation Year
Remember to keep
the formatting clean and consistent, use bullet points for easy reading, and bold
headings to separate sections. Tailor the content to reflect your achievements
and qualifications within the automotive industry.
3.
Tailored Content:
It's written with a specific job goal in mind, highlighting the most valuable
and relevant skills for the position you're applying for2.
A Master Automotive Technician resume with tailored content is a strategic
document crafted to align closely with the specific requirements of the job
you're targeting.
4. Concise Job Descriptions: Focus on accomplishments rather
than duties, using action-benefit statements to describe what you achieved and
how it benefited the employer1.
5.
Proven Achievements:
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages to
give a clear picture of your impact1.
6.
Relevant Skills and Experiences:
Include skills and experiences that are directly relevant to the job you're
applying for3.
7.
Error-Free:
It should be free of typos and grammatical errors, as these can be a major
turn-off for employers1
8.
Visually Appealing:
Use a clean, modern design with enough white space to avoid clutter1.
The resume begins
with a Professional Summary that encapsulates your most significant
qualifications and experiences that directly relate to the role at hand. This
is followed by an Experience section should then detail your previous
roles, emphasizing duties and accomplishments that demonstrate your capability
and success in areas valued by the prospective employer. For instance, if the
job emphasizes leadership, you might highlight your experience in supervising a
team of technicians. Here is an example of how this section would be written:
As a Master Automotive
Technician, I have honed my expertise in vehicle diagnostics and repair,
consistently delivering high-quality service that enhances customer
satisfaction and loyalty. Streamlining workshop operations, I
implemented a dynamic scheduling system that reduced vehicle downtime by 30%,
directly boosting workshop productivity and profitability. My commitment to
continuous learning and staying abreast of the latest automotive technologies
has enabled me to reduce diagnostic times by 25%, ensuring swift and
accurate repairs. My proactive approach in mentoring junior technicians has
fostered a collaborative team environment, resulting in a 15% increase in
overall team efficiency. These accomplishments reflect my dedication to
operational excellence and my ability to contribute significantly to the
success of my employer.
In the Skills
section, you would list your technical proficiencies, such as advanced
diagnostics, electrical systems expertise, or proficiency with certain
automotive brands, that match the job description. In demand currently and
considered cutting-edge diesel training, hybrid, electric vehicles, alternate
fuels, and any other specialty vehicle training should be prominent in this
section. Also, include any training for personal growth and for being a mentor
for entry-level technicians and mentorship training technicians to improve
their experiences and certifications. With a technician shortage master
technicians are leaders, and the industry needs and values those that can teach
and mentor other technicians. Leadership is a master key to unlocking many
unseen opportunities.
And then this is
followed by The Certifications and Education sections presented
to showcase qualifications that are most pertinent to the position. By
customizing the content in this manner, the resume not only passes through
applicant tracking systems more effectively but also shows potential employers
that you have the specific skills and experiences they are looking for.
Using the information Tom has learned let’s Continue with his
resume journey:
Transforming the Resume: Highlighting the Journey
Tom began by
reflecting on his journey, not just the places he had worked, but the
challenges he had overcome, the skills he had honed, and the milestones he had
achieved. He realized that each job was a chapter in his story, a step towards
becoming the expert technician he is today.
Action
Verbs: Bringing the Resume to Life
Tom replaced
passive phrases with action verbs that leaped off the page. "Fixed
engines" became "Revitalized engines," and "changed
tires" transformed into "Mastered the art of tire inspection, rotation,
and installation." Each sentence now showcased Tom's proactive approach
and his hands-on experience.
Quantifying
Impact: The Numbers Tell the Tale
Next, Tom decided
to quantify his impact. Instead of saying he was "responsible for
maintenance," he calculated the number of vehicles he had serviced—over
5,000—and the percentage of return customers for additional services, a
whopping 85%. These numbers paint a picture of a trusted technician whose
expertise keeps customers coming back.
This is an example
of how you could show your impact, however, having access to these numbers may
not be accessible to you. Perhaps you can show your productivity increase and
dollar volume numbers or just be able to quantify your production hours. Some
of which would be relevant. However, if you spent a significant amount of time
teaching and mentoring other technicians that did not reflect specifically on
your hourly production, you may have to give averages of contribution you
helped to achieve, through your trainees.
Anytime you can add a story to building a good working culture
adds to hiring appeal. Many businesses look at culture fit as being the most
important fit for new hires. You may have all the experience, certifications,
and skills that a business wants, but if you are not a good culture fit, you
and the business could be extremely miserable and may be destined for a short
life together. Highlight teamwork and cooperation. Be the technician everyone
seeks help from. Be likable and approachable. Any stories you can reflect in
your resume that speak to these will be highly sought after by many automotive
service businesses.
Remember, the goal of a resume is not just to list your
experience, but to highlight your most impressive accomplishments and the
skills that you bring to a potential employer. Tailoring your resume for each
application is crucial to stand out in the job market.
There are resume templates in many different styles. The one-page
resume has seen a big surge in popularity in today’s job market. The examples
given are mostly in the one-page format and seem to be the most effective. A
great resume should be able to catch the attention of the employer’s hiring
team and move you to the next step of landing the job you are applying to. It
also opens the door for higher compensation negotiations.
You have worked hard on yourself to get to the top of your field.
You are a Master Automotive Service Technician. You know the value of having
the training, skills, and experience to repair the most difficult automotive
concerns. Approach the resume with the same vigor and know that a great resume
will take work, training, and skill to develop. With guides like this, and with
many other resources available today, you can develop a great resume to land
that great job with the pay you deserve. Work on the resume, tune it up, polish
it, and turn it into a real work of art that represents the top professional
you are.
The Compelling Story: A Resume Reborn
As Tom crafted his
resume, it began to tell a compelling story. It was no longer a list but a
narrative of a dedicated technician who had improved with every gasket replaced,
and every diagnostic puzzle solved. His resume was now a testament to his
journey, a narrative that any garage would be lucky to be a part of.
This
introduction sets the stage for Tom's transformation and provides a good template
for other technicians to follow. Applying the same skill set to learning the
trade of automotive repair while approaching resume writing with the same intentional
application of principles and examples will yield a much more successful resume
that will stand out. The resume is usually the first attempt to make a first
impression. Many resumes do not cut the mustard, so to speak, and leave employers
searching for the best employees with little to gauge the real picture of many
skillful workers. I have heard some say, “I don’t look good on paper.” Don’t
let this be your narrative. Find the good, highlight it on paper, and make it
great! Having a great resume will get you to the next step in the hiring
process. Having a bad resume could get you in the discarded pile to never be
discovered.
There
are many good resources to teach how to build resumes. I have located Several
resources with additional examples built for automotive service technicians. I
have linked several of those resources below.
Sources
1a.
The Continuing Shortage of Auto
Technicians: How Do We Fix It?
2a.
Auto mechanic shortage: How to stop
the revolving door of auto ... - Solera
3a.
Solving the Technician Shortage
Crisis | NADA
4a.
Master Automotive Technician Salary
(April 2024) - Zippia
5a.
Master Technician demographics and
statistics in the US - Zippia
6a.
What to Consider When Coordinating
OEM Training Opportunities for Your ...
7a.
Top Original Equipment Manufacturing
(OEM) Companies in the ... - Thomasnet
8a.
Top 10 OEM Companies - 2022 - The
Manufacturing Outlook
9a.
The Difference Between Who’s An OEM
Certified Technician And Who’s Not ...
10a.
Automotive OEM Careers | Project
Shift by ATC
11a.
OEM Certified Training | Work On The
Brands You Love | UTI
12a.
Auto shops struggling to find trained
mechanics amid national shortage ...
13a.
Solving the Technician Shortage
Crisis — WSADA
14a.
What does the Automotive Technician
Shortage Mean for Your Career?
15a.
Master Auto Technician Salary |
Salary.com
16a.
Automotive Technician Salary in the
U.S. – A 2023 Guide | UTI
17a.
What Is a Master Automotive
Technician and How to Become One - ZipRecruiter
18a.
Master Automotive Technician Salary
(Actual 2024 | Projected 2025)
19a.
Auto Industry Professionals Weigh
Solutions to Persisting Technician ...
20a.
New initiatives needed to address EV
technician shortage
21a.
ASE
| Statistics - Automotive Service Excellence
22a.
Automotive Service Technicians and
Mechanics
23a.
Automotive service technicians and
mechanics, 2016-2020
24a.
Automobile Technician demographics
and statistics in the US - Zippia
25a.
https://bing.com/search?q=
Resume Example Source(s)
A. Ford
Technician Resume Sample - LiveCareer
B. 7
Best Senior Technician Resume Examples for 2024
C. Ford
Technician Resume Sample - LiveCareer
D. Master
Technician Resume Samples | Velvet Jobs
Source(s)
1. How
To Write Resume Job Descriptions (With Tips and Examples)
2. Sample
Job Descriptions to Enhance Your Resume | TopResume
3. 10
Resume Profile Examples (And How to Write Yours)
4. 15
Good Resume Profile Examples & How to Write Yours
5. How
to Write Resume Job Descriptions (With Examples) - The Balance
6. How
to Make the Perfect Resume (With Examples!) | The Muse
This document was written with the
assistance of AI for brainstorming and content generation. All facts and
information have been verified by me, and all sources are properly cited.
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