Six career choices in automotive

The IMI’s research is constantly updated, highlighting the key trends across the industry, and what’s driving the sector forward. Everything from vacancy rates to education reports.

But the IMI also regularly looks at automotive skills and the most in demand jobs in the sector. The Automotive Skills Profiles report highlights recruitment trends in key occupations in automotive retail, providing information on job postings, top hiring companies and the skills they are looking for.

Here are the top six jobs from the latest research and the skills you need to succeed in them.

1 Vehicle Technicians

There probably isn’t a great deal of surprise to see Vehicle Technicians are on the list. Job postings in April (the latest available) showed there were a total of 17,456 adverts for Vehicle Technicians across the month. But what are the key skills requirements if you’re looking to take up the role?

Being able to maintain a vehicle is obviously a core ability, but beyond that among the top 10 advertised skills needed in order to succeed was customer service abilities, problem solving and being detailed orientated. All key to success.

And who was hiring? Halfords, Sytner and BMW were the top companies looking to bring Vehicle Technicians into their businesses.

2 Vehicle Body Builders and Repairers

With 267 job postings in April vehicle body repair is in demand and there are a few businesses looking to recruit.

Sytner Group, FMG Repair Services, Direct Line Insurance and Stagecoach were all on the hunt for the talented people with the skills and knowledge to help keep vehicles on the road, but what skills are they looking for?

As well as the core knowledge, you need to have good communications skills, be well organised, have attention to detail and apparently, be good at mathematics. Does that sound like you?

3 Paint Technicians

With a strong link to the Vehicle Body Builders and Repairers roles, companies are on the hunt for Paint Technician, with more than 1,200 job adverts for the role posted in April.

And according to the skills requirements on the ads, if you have the technical skills matched to enthusiasm, self-motivation and customer service abilities companies including Arnold Clark, FMG Repair Services and BMW could have a role for you.

4 Fitters

We’re covering a few areas here, but if you’re a tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitter, or want to become one, you could well be in demand. Over 1,000 job posts appeared in April, the latest dataset available, meaning there are opportunities out there.

Kwik Fit, Halfords, Zachery Daniels, Truckforce and National Tyres and Autocare have all been on the hunt for new talent to join their ranks. But what skills, over and above the obvious, do you need?

According the IMI research businesses are looking for a willingness to learn, self-motivation, detail orientated and good time management.

5 Vehicle and Parts Salespeople

Want to work for one of the big dealer groups? Many of them are looking for vehicle and parts salespeople. Sytner Group, Pendragon, Marshall Motor Group and Lookers were all advertising in April.

In total there were 1,934 job postings for the role, showing how much demand there is of you have the right skills – or are willing to learn them.

Top of the list for skills is stock control and selling techniques. If you have them in abundance it could be a career that suits you down to the ground, well, as long as you can also bring good communication, aftersales and customer services skills to the table too.

6 Managers

Last on the list, but with over 1,100 job postings, is firms looking for the managers and leaders.

Halfords, Sytner Group, BMW, Vertu Motors and Arnold Clark were the top hiring companies showing there’s a real appetite for talent among some of the biggest firms in the country.

So, if you’re customer focused, have good communication skills, are detail oriented and can solve problems it could be a role you’d embrace. You’ll also need top organisational skills, an abundance of enthusiasm and be self-motivated, but there are career options out there if you’re looking.

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