It can be a challenge to land a prime spot on a race car pit crew. Yet vehicle dealerships across the country are scrambling to find qualified automotive technicians for their own “pit crews”-even with salaries of 30,000 to 70,000 or more, depending on the market and the technician’s level of training.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the auto industry will need 35,000 new technicians every year through 2010.
Lucrative But Overlooked Careers
With that in mind, an unusual contest is getting into gear with the purpose of increasing awareness about this lucrative and rewarding yet often-overlooked career, and support training opportunities for future technicians. It’s called the No. 29 Goodwrench Expertise Challenge. And it is a challenge. “Historically, being an automotive technician has been depicted as a dirty, dead-end kind of job,” said Peter Lord, executive director, GM Service Operations. “That old stereotype could not be further from the truth. Today’s cars and trucks are very sophisticated-the computer technology in them alone, for example, is nearly 1,000 times more powerful than what took the Apollo mission to the moon.”
“Dealerships need trained, qualified technicians because they know that satisfaction with vehicle service and repair work is closely tied to how customers view their vehicles and the dealership.”
The Challenge benefits automotive technician training like this: If driver Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 car wins two out of 12 selected NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races beginning May 28 with the Coca-Cola 600, GM Goodwrench will set up a 200,000 scholarship fund to encourage Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) high school students to continue their automotive technical education by attending GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) colleges. AYES is a nonprofit business and education partnership that creates automotive technology career opportunities for promising young men and women at automotive dealerships. It was founded in 1995 by former GM Chairman Jack Smith as a way to address the growing need for technicians.
Spreading The Word
“There are thousands of NASCAR fans-and others-who are ideal candidates for a career as an automotive technician,” said Larry Cummings, CEO of AYES. “The Expertise Challenge is a fun and engaging way to help spread the word about these great career opportunities.”
Students enrolled in GM ASEP two-year programs earn while they learn, rotating their time between classes and interning at GM dealerships and other GM service centers. There are 66 GM ASEP participating schools in 38 U.S. states, 15 in Canada and one in the People’s Republic of China. Successful students graduate with an associate’s degree, and either are ready for or have passed their National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification test. More than 2,000 students are currently enrolled in the program, and there are more than 14,000 graduates.
If Harvick and the team meet the Expertise Challenge by winning two of the 12 select races, GM Goodwrench will award 29 Grand Prizes, which consist of an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche, a 1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate and a trunk full of Reese’s products.
Program Rules Available
If only one race is won during the promotion, two lucky winners will be awarded an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche, a 1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate, and a trunk full of Reese’s products. They will also donate 25,000 to the GM Goodwrench Scholarship Fund. If no races are won during the promotion, the promotion will still give away an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche, a 1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate, and a trunk full of Reese’s products to one lucky winner, and provide a 25,000 donation to the GM Goodwrench Scholarship fund.
Finding the time to do it all – career, family, continue education? Having trouble jugging? Some problems in this area that people face are very similar to those of the beginning juggler. According to The Instant Jugglers’ Manual, (c)1993 Infinite IllusionsLofty Pursuits, four common problems are handling two areas of focus at the same time, moving forward while you try to juggle instead of standing still, not being able to juggle in a third area of focus, and keeping all three areas from bumping into each other or overlapping. So lets take a look at some solutions to these problems.
Two at Once
To juggle two objects, you first toss one into the air to about eye level, then toss number two. The same with life. Pick any two areas of focus, and only try to tackle one at a time to establish goals and a system for it in your life. Then work in the second area. And just as juggling wouldnt work if the wrist puts too much or too little force into the toss, causing one or both objects to go too high or too low, the same can happen in life. If established goals are too high or low, not compatible with one another and your lifestyle, that juggling act doesnt stand much chance.
For instance, if fictitious person, John Wentworth, wants to complete a doctoral program, yet only earns minimum wage, he may need financial assistance with his continued education to balance the act. Otherwise, John could have to work over time and take on a second job to fill gaps and pay bills. He may miss out on valuable family time with his wife and young son and become stressed out and exhausted. Not to mention his grades could take a dive! Student loans, grants and work-study could be some possible solutions in this case.
Where is juggling help? Instead of The Instant Jugglers’ Manual, there are many resources available to help with juggling career, family and education. Local colleges are a good place to start.
Not Being Able To Juggle In A Third
Ready to add a third factor into the equation? Concentrate on throwing ball number #3 and do not even try to catch ball #2, advises The Instant Jugglers’ Manual. Or once you have two areas of focus pretty much underway, say your career and family, add the third education.
Get help planning your education into the mix with resources. Head to your local educational center or public libraries for help. Dont get left dropping or not juggling the ball!
Jobs Search 101: Finding Success & Landing A New Career
In addition to a printed resume, many who are involved in a jobs search find that posting their resume and portfolio on the internet are both very beneficial in helping them find and land a new career. Typically designed for potential employers to view, most resume posters are not concerned with search engine placement but rather a professional design to help with their jobs search.
There are a number of online job banks, such as http:monster.com, which offer to help employment seekers in their jobs search. Individuals have the option of posting a resume with the job bank or sending their own copy to the potential employer. Most jobs that are posed online require computer and internet experience and individuals often find that having their own website portfolio may help in their jobs search.
For those involved in a jobs search, the resume will provide potential employers with their first glimpse of your abilities. Previous educational experience, certifications and employment history are among the most important details to outline. One of the largest online certification websites, which is http:BrainBench.com, offers 3-year certifications upon successful completion of a virtual test. Open to all individuals, including those involved in a jobs search, each test will provide instant results and permission to include a certification on a resume. Each month, free tests are available for such subjects as computer fundamentals, typing, math, business, programming, medical and legal definitions, etc. Any type of additional certification, including those achieved at online certification centers, can only add credence to a resume and may even boost ones potential in a jobs search.
If an interview is granted, applicants should dress according to the jobs search and the position for which heshe is applying. Avoiding the temptation to be strictly business, individuals must be comfortable in being themselves while maintaining a friendly and yet personable demeanor. Rather than being overly flattering to your potential new boss, which is often an instant flag to many employers, jobs search applicants should act as they would when in the company of a friend or acquaintance. In almost any job, regardless of the industry, an employer would require positive people skills and be able to make others feel comfortable with them. During the interview, it is important that jobs search applicants let their potential employer see how personable they are and how they will be an asset to the team.
Still looking for ways to find success with your jobs search? Consider browsing the classified ads in your local newspaper, contacting job service or attending a job fair.
Is job-hopping and career success related to each other? What is the effect of one on the other? How long is too long for staying in a company? I must admit, the resumes that pass by my desk makes me conclude that job-hopping is far too common.
Job hoppers do it for various reasons. More often than not they may not know what they are getting into. Sometimes, it is because they do not know what they want and hence are not ready for the challenges that lay ahead of them. Job-hopping and career success is related to one another.
In my opinion, job-hopping affects career success in a negative manner. Consider this, what signals are you sending to your potential employer if you job-hop too often?
The Two-Year Rule
I have a two-year rule that I tell my staff and potential employees. The two-year rule is this you must be willing to commit mentally to spend at least two years in the company before you quit. The reason is this; you need to deal with the learning curve. If you job-hop too often, you learn nothing substantial.
For me, it takes you at least a year to know the ins and outs of the company. Then another year before you can eventually be truly productive in adding value to the company. To see the true results of your contribution to the company, for me it takes at least two years. So, if you are prone to job-hopping and career success is on your mind, then it is time to rethink.
Training You
Many well-established companies have training programs. They are willing to invest in fresh graduates and newbies. However, in order for them to make that decision they need to look at past track records. Ask yourself, if you are a manager who are you more likely to invest training time and money on? Someone who is job-hopper and shows tendency to job-hop or someone who is stable? Companies are more likely to invest in people who are stable. The reason is simple. They are able to contribute back into the company. Everybody wins. If you are constantly job-hopping, you send a signal that you are not ready to commit.
Companies like to invest in people who see their career goals align with their corporate goals. Job-hoppers usually cannot see their career path beyond the next year.
Decreasing the Incidence of Job-Hopping
One of the best ways to quit job-hopping is to truly know what you want. Once you know that, you will have singular focus in the pursuit of your career goals. Of course, it is understandable that as a fresh graduate or newbie at work it is tough to know that. You may be interested in some other industries.
If there are other fields that you are interested in then make a plan to find out about them. Start with the Internet, and then ask friends who may know people in those fields. Speak to them; ask them about the expectations of the company and the role of the position you are interested in.
You may not have all the answers but at least you get some idea. That would decrease the chances of you job-hopping.
Make Learning a Key Objective
If you are new in the work force and have been job-hopping quite a bit, my advice to you is this – truly find out what you want. Once you know that, find a company that is willing to train or how they are willing to commit to their employees career in the long term. If they have structured training programs, join them.
Make learning the relevant skills and knowledge in that industry your key objective. The skills and knowledge that you learn will contribute to your career success in the long term. It is something that you can bring with you the rest of your life. Once you see the benefits of committing to a company who is willing to train you for more than two years, hopefully you wont be job-hopping often anymore.