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When looking for a new role as a vehicle technician or MOT tester job in London, it can be difficult to weigh up the pros and cons of working for different companies. Obtaining a good work-life balance is a crucial part of career satisfaction, as well as salary and company benefits. We’ll be covering some of the most important things that you should be looking for in your new automotive role.
1 • Work-Life Balance
Striking the right balance between work and leisure has been an aspect of job searching that has been thrust into the spotlight in recent years. With more and more companies offering some form of flexible working and part-time contracts, job searchers are putting more pressure on prospective employers to offer these perks in their new job. Among the other most important factors in the job searching process are things such as company stability, relationship with superiors, and progression opportunities within the company.
2 • Working Conditions
In the motor trade, there is a prevailing shortage of qualified mechanics across the UK. Even though the automotive industry is one of the most technologically advanced, the damaging misperception of the working conditions in the garage environment has deterred many young people from entering the sector at all. Before you accept any offer, it is always advantageous to check if the garage is keeping up with the times and if its current employees enjoy working for the company. Watch our video with Mandla & Jake on their experiences shines a light on the misconceptions many still have about a career as a vehicle technician, you can watch the video here.
3 • Training and Career Development
Perceptions in the industry are clearly changing, with garages becoming more advanced and immersed with technology due to changing standards and requirements regarding modern vehicles. Changing times also mean a change in the way the industry works to accommodate such changes, which brings us onto our next point, training. When looking for a new role, you should always factor in a potential employer’s willingness to develop the skills of their employees. It is important to be satisfied with the direction that your career is heading in, and being able to learn new skills and receive extra training is a massive bonus in a new role.
4 • Salary
There’s no denying that for the majority of job-seekers, one of the most important reasons for looking for a new job is dissatisfaction with their current salary, with many highly skilled mechanics even deciding to take their skills into other industries to earn more. Without a doubt, your salary should fairly reflect your skills and experience. If you can’t find a new permanent role that would meet your salary goal, consider becoming a contract vehicle technician / MOT tester, which is a great option to both gain experience in multiple working environments and earn a much higher average wage.
5 • Do What You Enjoy!
Another thing to consider when searching for a new role in the motor trade is what you enjoy doing. If you enjoy your work, chances are you’ll be a happier person overall, and best of all, you’ll be doing what you love!
“If you’re happy in what you’re doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you’ll have more success than you could possibly have imagined.” — Roger Caras
6 • Challenges and Development
Having a job that you feel comfortable in but equally feel challenged by is as important to your career development as your work environment. Easy work is certainly that, however, to learn and grow in your profession it’s important to push the boundaries of what you can achieve in your new role. Whether the new job offers opportunities for extra training or perhaps some work in other teams within the company, we believe challenges should be embraced rather than avoided.
While there are definitely more factors to consider when searching for a new role in the motor trade, the points described above are a great way to get you started. At Autotech Recruit, we believe that to fully enjoy rewarding careers in the automotive industry, all vehicle technicians should be paid fairly and offered a better work-life balance. If you are currently looking for a new automotive job, get in touch and we will do our utmost to find the right role for you.
By Jacob Cox,
Social Media Executive, Autotech Recruit