Automotive Service Manager Training Will Help You Succeed

By Ben Pate

Mechanics and service technicians who want to get to the next level in their career should consider automotive service manager jobs. Of course, there are several skills that are learned on the job while servicing cars. But there are different skills necessary to be a good manager and a training program can help with this.

Some innate qualities are necessary to do well in a management position. Among them are having leadership ability, being well organized, being able to multi-task and being proficient in computers and math. If this sounds like you, management training will help you make the most of these qualities.

While you work as a mechanic, you enhance your skills of servicing cars. But when you enroll in a manager training program, you will focus on the business aspect of automotive servicing. In the manager position, you work with the vendors, customers, mechanics and more to be sure that everything is functioning at optimum.

Dealing with your customers is of vital importance in this position. Service starts from the moment appointments are taken and orders are written up. There are always customer complaints that you need to solve and this needs to be done as calmly and efficiently as possible. Your solutions also need to be such that they make both customer and company happy.

Employee motivation is another important thing to learn, in addition to knowing when and how to discipline. Some employees are harder to work with than others and you need to understand how to deal with them all. You may have been working next to these same people who are reporting to you now, which makes it a bit trickier. You need to learn how to have them respect you but still have a good working relationship.

Training on inventory management will also be part of your course load. Inventory tracking is of vital importance, especially knowing when to order additional parts. You will also need to troubleshoot and problem solve. For example, if you are having a problem with the parts, it will be your job to resolve this with your vendor.

A service manager training program will also include training in accounting. If you are working for a large dealership, there will be a separate accounting department. However, you still need to understand how the accounting works within the service department and how that affects the rest of the company.

Marketing is also an area that will be covered, even though larger businesses will have separate marketing staff. However, the sales department has a huge effect on the marketing effort that you need to understand. For example, if the service department has a poor reputation, it is going to be hard to market it. - 21396

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The bottom line is, to progress in your automotive servicing career, you will need some a course in automotive service manager job. By showing the motivation and ability for management and investing in the service manager, you are more likely to be offered a position.