A career in the Automotive Industry is an excellent career choice for your son or daughter. There is no limit to how far a person with drive and ambition can go in the automotive industry and there is no limit to the personal and financial rewards it offers.

Sitting at the top of this industry are business people responsible for multi-million dollar automotive enterprises. Their salaries and conditions reflect their positions. Highly skilled people are keenly sought after and rewarded with special salaries and conditions. What most of the top managers, top technicians and top business people have in common is that they began in the industry as apprentices.

Working in the automotive trades invariably means a period of time spent "on the tools". Many people enjoy this part of their work and choose to never leave it behind (of course, they might go on to become skilled Senior Technicians). How many people do you see walking around a modern repair workshop in white-collar attire? The fact is, most operations managers, workshop managers and senior technicians began their careers as apprentices: they spent a period of time "on the tools", then moved up into positions of responsibility.

The shortage of skilled tradespeople in the automotive industry means salary packages for skilled panel beaters, spray painters, motor mechanics and technicians are well above the award. The reality is that salaries in the industry are roughly comparable with those in teaching, publishing and the public service. The salary packages of managers and those in positions of responsibility vary according to the size of the workshop. Many workshops have multi-million dollar turnovers.

The technology advances in the automotive industry have increased career and job opportunities. Increasing car sales have also increased numbers of cars needing to be maintained and repaired. In turn, this has increased opportunities for skilled tradespeople and those with management ambitions. There are courses to help trades people to keep up with the rapid changes in technology and business management courses for those who want to move into company management. There has been a drift away from the traditional trades which has produced shortages of skilled tradespeople in the industry. These shortages are expected to become more critical in the years ahead. A career in the automotive industry not only promises great opportunity, but great security.

Additional Information

For information on possible career paths and opportunities within the automotive industry, click here.

For information about the VACC Auto Apprenticeships or to apply for a VACC apprenticeship, click here.

For information about some of the training courses in the automotive industry click here.