Motor mechanic jobs with a twist
Are you looking for a new motor mechanic job but only seeing the same old options? Maybe you’re keen to see what automotive technician jobs are out there but none of them really fit you? We’ve heard plenty of that over thousands of conversations with frustrated mechanics over the years, and our on-demand services might just be the solution.
Techs On The Move offers qualified and experienced motor mechanics the chance to carry out short work assignments in workshops that need temporary help. Our technicians:
- Work when they want to work
- Earn high hourly rates well over the industry standard
- Avoid the politics that can be a distraction from being a good mechanic
Our technicians (we call them Rockstars – in town for a few days and off to the next gig) can be employed by us or subcontract to us through their own businesses. They need to be confident in their ability, able to get around from job to job reliably, and have great communication skills so our clients can enjoy awesome customer service.
We need our Rockstars to think and act like pros, and we respect the amazing work they do. That’s why we pay so well.
We focus on motor mechanic jobs in Sydney and Brisbane, and all you have to do to find out more is contact us here .
Please be aware that we are only able to work with motor mechanics in our on-demand services who are either Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Before we start breaking it down, let’s get to a few basics.
The key to loving your job
Want the short version? Check this out:
It might seem weird for us to talk about how important it is for technicians to love their jobs, and we know it’s a bit cheesy, but we believe it’s worth focusing on.
We talk to technicians in workshops all over Australia, and we also talk to their supervisors. The most obvious difference between techs that are happy and enjoying their work and those that aren’t, and those whose supervisors are happy and those that aren’t, is the way they look at their role and what they are trying to achieve. There’s no attempt at a self-help guide here, just a simple observation:
Automotive technicians who are driven to improve their mastery of their trade, eager to show their professionalism to their peers, and are excited about their automotive futures are always happier people that get better results at work and the praise of their supervisors.
The awesome thing about this observation is that anyone can be that person. It’s not about how many years are under your belt, or how many training certificates are in your bench draw. Anyone from an apprentice on up can show up to work being driven and professional about what they do, and it works wonders.
Unsurprisingly, this mindset is also what our clients across the country want the most, and what we’re trying to identify and inspire in our Rockstars.
If some of this is hitting the mark, keep reading here: https://app-au.techsonthemove.com/blog/
The top 5 things to know about seeking mechanic jobs in Australia
No time to read it, give it to me straight!
-
Job ads are dead
When automotive businesses advertise online or elsewhere looking for technicians, it’s usually because they have nowhere else to turn in the hunt for good staff, or because they have found themselves short staffed at short notice.
Duh, right?
Think about it though – if you are a driven motor mechanic looking to expand your career with a forward thinking, progressive business then this isn’t the best way to start a relationship that will hopefully last for years. The sort of business you want to work with should always be interested in what you have to offer, not just when they’re backed into a corner. The well-known skills shortage in our industry means that any really desirable employer is constantly paying attention when a technician with the right attitude and skills makes themselves known. Rather than thinking “what mechanic jobs near me are available?”, think about where you really want to be.
-
Keep it classy
Ever been told that the worst way to sell something is by bagging the competition? Or to sell on strengths rather than others’ weaknesses? This message is preached because the negativity of doing things the other way makes it pretty much impossible for a salesperson not to look deceptive and untrustworthy, and to damage the value of what they are trying to sell. It doesn’t matter what the item is – a phone, a car, a house, anything – you can’t sell through negativity.
The same can be said when you’re looking for a new job – bag your current employer and you’ll destroy your own credibility and value. It’s much better to say that “my current manager has resisted helping me to expand my career and gain new skills” than to say “my current manager is a dickhead and the whole business sucks.” Fall into that trap and you’re shooting yourself in the foot – it’s impossible to look good.
-
Leave for the right reasons
Motor mechanics too often leave their jobs for the wrong reasons, even though it’s understandable. The common ones are:
– They believe they are underpaid but can’t adequately show why this is the case
– They find that another employee earns more than them and their pride kicks in
– Slow business periods that result in low overtime or bonus are unreasonably held against management
– The performance of co-workers (sometimes techs, but it could be service advisors etc as well)Before you leave the page cussing us out for not wanting techs to get paid, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. We’ve been campaigning for techs to be better paid for decades, and firmly believe that the skills shortage in our industry has a lot to do with this.
However, technicians don’t always handle themselves well with these issues. If you think you’re underpaid, can you make a business case for why you deserve a pay rise – one that doesn’t reference the time you’re been with your employer or make a comparison to anyone else you work with? How does your effort benefit the business, and what do you add to the bottom line?
Similarly, if you’ve been frustrated by management or co-workers, have you worked hard to improve the things you’re critical of and tried to lead positive change, or have you merely pointed these things out and made them other people’s problems? Do that and you’ll be doing the same thing for the rest of your working life and never getting a win.
If you’ve decided to find a new motor mechanic job and some of these issues sound familiar, best you have an honest shot at fixing them first. Even if it doesn’t work and you end up leaving anyway, you’ll learn from the experience and be able to explain what you tried to achieve to your next employer. Alternatively, maybe it’s time to become a Rockstar…
-
Think long term
If you’re just looking for any old auto mechanic jobs, there’s a million out there. Finding a role that pays OK and won’t push you too hard isn’t difficult.
That’s fine, but there’s not much to get excited about. There’s more to going to work than getting paid and staying out of trouble Monday to Friday. When you’re thinking about a new job, why not think as well about what job you’d really like to have in 5 years? Or 10? If you don’t want to be doing the same damn thing 5 or 10 years later that you do today, you’ve got to plan accordingly right now. And that means you should be very selective about where you work and what you might be able to achieve with them in the future.
-
Drive and professionalism
As one of our favourite service managers often reminds us, “you can teach someone to fix a car but you can’t teach them a good attitude. I’ll take the tech with the good attitude every day of the week.”
This is kind of our thing. It doesn’t matter if you’re still green as a tradesperson in the automotive industry, or a master technician who’s seen it all. The most engaging, impressive and satisfied technicians are those who know exactly why they bother to show up every morning, and carry themselves like leaders of their field that should be respected. That doesn’t mean arrogance, it means confidence – show others how much you love the job and want them to do the same, and the results will follow.
Who we help
We are always looking out for automotive technicians that we think our clients across Australia would love to have in their workshop teams. There’s no set formula here, as the needs of every workshop and business are different, but as a rule of thumb we’re after motor mechanics who:
- Have a solid qualification in their specific trade, usually an Australian Certificate III or better. If not, excellent industry experience will be necessary
- Have been in their trade for at least 3 years, which can simply be a recognised apprenticeship. A great candidate need not have decades of experience on the tools (but it doesn’t hurt!)
- Ideally have some additional training under their belt, be it manufacturer accreditation, or some other form of post-qualification learning that sets them apart. Electric vehicle training in particular is a focus for lots of automotive workshops
- Embody our two key character elements – drive and professionalism. These are techs that turn up to the workshop in the morning like they mean it, expecting to learn and help those around them achieve goals
Drive and professionalism
This is the last time we’ll bang on about it – promise!
Techs way too often focus only on their specific technical skills and accomplishments. Whilst these are very important and the basis of success in the trade, servicing and repairing cars isn’t done in a vacuum – you’ve got to bring strong and compelling character traits to the mix to cut it in a real world workshop.
Drive
When a workshop manager is frustrated with a technician in their team, or can’t seem to get the best out of them no matter their mechanical strengths, it usually comes down to drive. Why does that tech come to work every day? What makes them tick? If it’s a pay check and little else the relationship is doomed to fail and that mechanic will likely bounce from one workshop to another, bitter and unhappy and probably earning less money than those that show up for work for more than just an income.
You probably got into being a mechanic because of passion, but this will be challenged by everyday life. Put something solid in its place that you can be proud of.
Professionalism
Ever been called a grease monkey and hated it? Us too.
Those in the know understand that being an automotive technician is a complex trade that requires a combination of old-school know how and modern technical sophistication. Now more than ever, this is not a job that any old person can perform without years of very deliberate and careful study; it’s also an occupation that evolves not just in line with the incredible technology of today’s cars, but with the increasing focus of technicians working directly with vehicle owners to understand and respect the incredible cars they tootle around in.
The old grease monkey term just doesn’t cut it – those in mechanical technician jobs operating at the top of their field can and should consider themselves professionals in their field, commanding the respect of that terms and living up to its standards.
In an every-day setting, this means professional technicians should:
- Focus on what they can improve on and how that will benefit the team they are a part of
- Look to involve others in the process of their own improvement
- Be excited for development opportunities no matter where they come from or if they’re not easy
- Expect those around them to treat them and their trade with respect, but be worthy of it in the way they hold themselves and treat others
The bottom line is this: technicians that carry themselves as professionals and make their drive easy for others to see will go places and get noticed.