This is what you are looking for – an automotive mechanic job in Canada. Are you confident about your skills and talent? You can start your application as an automotive mechanic in Canada. Canada’s economy is one of the most developed economies in the world, having witnessed numerous positive and significant changes over the years across all sectors. Being in the country to work offers a high standard of quality of life, along with unlimited access to opportunities and benefits. The automotive industry is a big industry to explore for the available opportunities and benefits in the sector.
The Automotive Industry in Canada
The automotive industry has always been changing faces and shifting gradually from the old system to a new system, such as the introduction of electric vehicles, electric buses, and a 30-foot zero-emission vehicle etc. The industry has seen valuable investments in the industry, with over several billion dollars spent to ensure that the sector can compete with other developed automotive industries. There are available job opportunities across the departments of the sectors, such as vehicle assembly, distribution and aftermarket, part manufacturing, marketing, etc. Examples of the big companies in this industry are: Honda, Stellantis, Linamar, Magna International, Lion Electric company, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, etc. The average salary for an automotive mechanic is around $25-$40 per hour, but experienced and talented workers may receive a higher salary than this amount.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Automotive Mechanic in Canada
If you are an automotive mechanic in Canada, your major roles and responsibilities will include:
- Diagnosing and Repairing Vehicles: An automotive mechanic is responsible for diagnosing faults in vehicles with modern diagnostic tools and equipment, thereby clarifying and identifying the problem within the vehicle. They ensure the faults, either mechanical or electrical, are being attended to, repaired, including replacement of faulty parts (such as brakes, steering, tyres, etc).
- Routine Maintenance: An Automotive mechanic is in charge of performing routine maintenance duties like oil changes, investigating vehicles to identify major issues, and recommending repairs and maintenance tips to vehicle owners and the company.
- Good Communication with the Customers: An automotive mechanic works directly with the customer to receive their complaints and explains the concerns to the customer. They help them to analyze the issues and recommend solutions via effective communication.
- Maintaining a Safe Workspace: As an automotive mechanic in Canada, you must maintain a safe workplace by ensuring that your space is cleaned, safe, and putting away all dangerous chemicals and equipment are put away out of hand reach. You must follow all the safety protocols and procedures provided by your employer to prevent injuries and accidents.
- Staying Up-to-date with the Current development: As an automotive mechanic, you must stay up to the new trends and developments in the industry to be able to continue to produce a quality service and adapt to new tools and equipment.
- Recording all work activities: An automotive mechanic must ensure to record all the activities conducted in the workplace, such as repairs, investigation report, maintenance, etc.
- Quality Control: To ensure a good work output, an automotive mechanic along with other staff across departments, confirm that the repairs, products, and other services are of high standard quality and safe to use.
- Teamwork: In the automotive industry, you will work with other mechanics and service staff to produce a good quality service.
The Eligibility Criteria and Requirements of an Automotive Mechanic Job in Canada
If you are looking forward to becoming an automotive mechanic in Canada, you must meet the following criteria and requirements:
1. Education: An automotive mechanic must have at least a high school diploma or secondary school certificate to be eligible for the position. It is also recommended that you have an apprenticeship program certificate as a service technician or another related certificate to increase your chances of success.
2. Work experience: You must have at least 1-3 years of work experience as an automotive mechanic, service technician, or any related position to be qualified for the role.
3. Language Proficiency: You must be able to speak either English or French fluently. You may have to submit language proficiency test results, such as CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF, to prove your proficiency.
4. Medical exam: You have to undergo a medical exam to prove that you are healthy and possess no medical conditions that can threaten your performance or the health of others.
5. Police Clearance reports: You have to prove that you are innocent and not involved in any serious crimes.
6. Certification: There are some important certificates required for an automotive mechanic job in Canada. Examples of these certificates are:
- Driver’s license: You will need a valid driver’s license to work as an automotive mechanic in Canada.
- 310S (Automotive Service Technician) Certificate: Most employers, like Honda, require that their potential employees have this certificate, expressing the competence of their skills.
- Red Seal certification: Having this certificate will increase your total worth as an automotive mechanic.
- Provincially Recognized Journeyman Automotive Mechanic Certificate: Some Canadian provinces require that every potential employee in the automotive mechanic field must have this certificate.
7. Licensing: You will need to be licensed to work or drive certain types of vehicles or mechanical systems.
Skills and Qualities
- Strong Knowledge of Automotive Systems: You must not only be trained as an automotive mechanic but also have a deeper understanding and insight into the system (mechanical, electrical, and others).
- Problem-solving skills: You must be able to diagnose, create solutions, and solve complex issues.
- Communication skills: You must have good communication skills for you to be able to create a good rapport with your customers.
- Physical stamina: You must be physically fit and strong to be able to work under pressure in the automotive industry.
- Attention to Details: You must pay attention to every detail and instructions relayed by your employer and customers.
- Teamwork: You must be able to work with other team members from the departments to produce a quality service.
- Technical skills: You must have a deep knowledge of the system to be able to address technical issues.
How to Apply for an Automotive Mechanic Job in Canada
To apply for an automotive mechanic job in Canada, below are the steps and instructions to follow:
Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility
- The most important and basic thing to do when applying for an automotive mechanic job in Canada, you ensure that you can fulfill all the requirements, such as the education requirements, certifications, licenses, work experience, etc.
Step 2: Job Search
- There are many outlets to use when searching for an automotive mechanic job in Canada, which are:
- Company websites: Some automotive companies have their career websites where any available job vacancies are listed. You can explore their websites to understand the company’s goals, missions, and history. Examples are: CCT Auto-Trans, First Student, AutoCanada, etc.
- Online Job boards: You can utilize different job platforms like Indeed Canada, Talent, Job Bank Canada, etc.
Step 3: Prepare your Application
- You must prepare your application to match the job preferences, including your resume, cover letter, and credentials.
- Your resume must contain all your top skills, abilities, including your certificates and licenses required by your employer.
- Your cover letter must complement the information in your resume and not add to or contradict it.
- Prepare your credentials in the requested format.
Step 4: Apply for the Job
- When you have completed your search and preparation for the application, you can further your application by reading the job descriptions, confirming that you can fulfill all the listed roles.
- You must follow all the instructions outlined by your employer in the job posting.
- You can submit your application after reviewing the whole application at least two times to ensure there are no errors.
Step 5: Preparing for a Job Interview
- You must get yourself familiar with all similar questions and the correct answers for job interviews.
- The interview questions will cover topics around your work experience, skills, and abilities.
Step 6: Follow Up
- You must follow up on your application by responding to all the requests of your employer.
- The processing times for a job application in Canada usually take a few weeks.
Step 7: Job Approval
- You will receive a confirmation message or email to confirm that your job has been approved and some next line of action.
The Benefits of an Automatic Mechanic Job in Canada
When you work as an automotive mechanic in Canada, you will enjoy the following benefits and packages:
- Job Security and Stability: The automotive industry has grown bigger in Canada, and there will always be room for talented and skilled workers who are ready to work and contribute to the growing sector.
- Competitive Salary and Compensation Packages: The average salary for an automotive mechanic in Canada is around $25 per hour. There are other compensations enjoyed by foreign workers in the country, which include pension plans, health insurance, paid time off, employee discounts on services, etc.
- Flexibility: Most automotive mechanic jobs allow workers to choose either a full-time or part-time work schedule, which gives them the opportunity to balance life and work.
- Practical work: The Automotive Industry is full of innovations and practical works, which allow workers to engage more in practical work, which is very good for those who like to work with tools and equipment.