Tools

• Shops in which auto mechanics work almost never supply tools. For this reason, mechanics themselves must invest in a complete tool kit, which often includes specialty tools that may only be used for one purpose on one vehicle. Mechanics' tools are prohibitively expensive, particularly when the mechanic is just starting his career. Tool theft is another major concern, making co-workers of new mechanics hesitant to loan out their tools.
  
  

Advancement

• Auto mechanics typically do not advance far, which can lead to a feeling of stagnancy in the workplace. While a mechanic might advance to being a shop manager, this is often a move made after an injury, because shop managers can at times make less than the mechanics who work for them. This is because mechanics get paid per the job, rather than by the hour. Basically, the more quickly mechanics works, the more money they make. A manager earns an hourly wage or yearly salary.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Many shops are not well heated in the winter and are not air conditioned in the summer. Mechanics also work underneath vehicles, as well as with electrical components and sharp objects. This exposes them to hot vehicle components, dripping liquids and sharp rusty parts. There is an almost constant danger of bruised and bloody knuckles, cuts and items being dropped on feet. Mechanics most comfortable in a shop environment are those technicians who have invested in seasonal sets of protective clothing such as steel toe boots, work gloves and insulated or non-insulated coveralls, which act both to comfort and provide safety for the technician.
  
  

Training Requirements

• Training requirements for automotive repair technicians include post-secondary education or other specialized training, which is often as expensive as attending a traditional state college or university. For many hopeful automotive technicians, this means having to take student loans. While this training is comprehensive, it does not bring certification. Certification requires extensive testing, primarily through Automotive Service Excellence certification centers, for which the technician is usually responsible for paying. In some cases, the technician must obtain ASE certification prior to being offered work in a shop.