Today’s top automotive professionals know it takes more than just technical handiwork to build a successful garage. It’s all about making real connections with every client who walks through the door, offering truly meaningful assistance, and helping members of their communities extend the lives of their vehicles.
Developing these skills makes business sense and business’ cents. That’s why skilled automotive service advisors are in such high demand. With the right attitude, hard work, and a few simple tips, today’s graduates of automotive service advisor training programs can now easily rise to the role of service manager at any dealership, or privately-owned garage nationwide.
Would you like to turn your passion for automotive technology into a practical, lucrative service career? Here are four ways you can make the most out of automotive service advisor training, and earn the high-paying, stable, and meaningful career you deserve:
1. Auto Training School 101: Know Your Products
To succeed in this career, it helps to have a strong working knowledge of general vehicle functioning, performance, maintenance and more. Considering you’ll be the main connection between clients and automotive centres, you’ll need an intimate familiarity with the auto world in order to explain industry jargon in plain language clients can grasp for themselves.
The right auto training school will equip you with the necessary information about the ins and outs of modern automotive technology. Studying this information along with your customer service training will set you up to be a more effective automotive professional.
2. Focus on the Positive Throughout Your Automotive Career
The tried-and-true method of leading with positive information before introducing critiques, concerns, or negative information is popular because it works! When you begin your future interactions (or ‘touches,’ as industry insiders call them) with good news, it will not only set your future customers at ease, but set the tone for your entire conversation.
A positive, approachable, and friendly attitude sends clients the strong message that their advisor intends to treat them fairly.
3. Be Prepared to ‘Cost-Justify’ as an Automotive Service Advisor
Communicating the cost of particular auto maintenance products and services in a positive, accessible way, can be the toughest part of an automotive service advisor’s career. Today’s best advisors can quickly calculate and create detailed quotes in order to give clients a better picture than the final price alone.
For example, your average advisor may tell clients a particular service is an investment of $600 flat. But a better service advisor training graduate will be able to tell clients that while the service costs $600, it breaks down to just $1.65 per day for one year—a worthwhile investment when it comes to protecting the longevity and fuel-efficiency of their vehicle for years to come.
4. Value People Over Profits During Your Automotive Service Advisor Career
The nature of the auto maintenance industry creates long-term relationships between clients and advisors. No matter how tempting it may be to encourage clients to make unnecessary purchases, it often puts the garage’s reputation on the line. Compromising fairness for profits is a quick way to ensure clients look elsewhere for service the next time, and the time after that.
By earning and guarding each client’s loyalty, by offering current, clear, and comprehensive product information, and developing a positive, approachable attitude, you can be on your way to a great career in the auto service industry in no time.
Are you interested in starting your own automotive service advisor career?
Visit CATI to learn more about our training programs, or to speak with an advisor.
