Discover if a Motive Power Technician Career is for You in 4 Easy Steps

Think you'll enjoy a career working with cars? Find out in these 4 simple steps!

Long gone are the days when you learned to fix a car by watching your dad pop the hood and tinker around with a wrench — and then you got a job at their local auto shop. Modern cars need automotive technicians who understand the changing nature of an increasingly-computerized industry. So, what are the steps to getting motive power technician jobs in today’s career landscape? Read on to find out.

Step 1: Check out a motive power technician job description

In today’s highly technological, customer-driven era, automotive technicians wear multiple hats. To make sure that’s for you, take an in-depth look at the job description.

You’ll discover that these professionals not only have to understand how to test and analyze systems and vehicles in accordance with each manufacturer’s recommendations and specifications, but they also need the soft skills to ensure customers come back when they encounter their next car issue. Specifics may include: diagnosing, disassembling, analyzing and properly reassembling major automotive systems and components. All this is done while keeping up with the latest cutting-edge features and fabrications.

Step 2: Start your search for colleges with automotive training

When seeking schools that offer auto training, you will likely come across Centennial College. That’s no surprise, considering that this institution houses one of Canada’s largest transportation training centres, and offers numerous auto technician programs.

The Automotive - Motive Power Technician offering, for example, is a two-year diploma program. Its optional co-op component gets students real job experience before they graduate. Plus, the school’s labs mirror the industry, and contain actual vehicles and engines from various manufacturers, on which students practice. What’s really cool about this program is that it’s longer than traditional apprenticeship undertakings, so the training is more in-depth. That’s definitely an advantage in today’s competitive landscape.

Step 3: Understand how to secure motive power technician jobs

Your post-secondary credential may differ based on what programs and what colleges for automotive training you seek out. Centennial’s program, for example, gets you an Ontario College Diploma, plus you’ll meet requirements associated with Level One and Level Two Automotive Service Technician in-school apprenticeship training. Why does this matter? Employers actually look for and recognize this in-depth, multi-level training.

When hiring, employers also look for various technical skills. For example, today’s employers are looking for techs who understand automotive services, transmission, suspension, vehicle inspection, tires, brakes, vehicle maintenance. But that isn’t enough. The top five soft skills employers seek are: customer service, being detail oriented, communications, management, and verbal communication skills. Understanding and focusing on these skills will help you to secure employment today and into the future.

Step 4: Discover the benefits of working in the automotive industry

One of the biggest benefits of launching a career in this field is the options you have. To start, you can choose to work in two sectors. The first is service, and the second is the mechanical side of the industry. From there, you can work in numerous environments — from dealerships or insurance appraising and adjusting companies, to service and repair shops, parts distributors, and wholesalers. You’ll likely recognize some of the industry’s employers. Among them are Canadian Tire, the Department of National Defence, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda Canada, State Farm Insurance, and Toyota.

You also aren’t limited when it comes to your role. Another benefit of working in the automotive industry are the various job titles and the potential to move up. You may start as a tech and then become a supervisor, a service advisor or manager, or a parts manager. Or, you may even come full circle and teach at a college.