Automotive Mechanic: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a car mechanic?

A car mechanic inspects, maintains and repairs cars and other light vehicles, typically working in garages, service centres or dealership repair shops. Their responsibilities include diagnosing faults, performing routine servicing and replacing or repairing faulty components. They may also advise customers on ongoing maintenance and ensure vehicles meet safety standards.

Why recruit a car mechanic?

You may need to recruit a car mechanic when expanding your garage team, replacing a departing staff member or responding to an increase in customer demand. A skilled car mechanic can help maintain high service standards, ensure vehicle safety and improve customer satisfaction.

Contributions of a great car mechanic:

• Skilled at using hand tools and computer software to fix car faults such as brake issues
• Helping their team maintain a safe workshop environment and staying compliant with regulations
• Provides feedback and advice to customers

Defining your recruitment needs for a car mechanic

Car mechanics are typically recruited on a full-time or part-time basis by garages and repair shops. Some individuals may also hire freelance mechanics if they require someone with specialised knowledge, for example, to work on classic cars or provide mobile services at the client’s location. When defining your recruitment needs, consider the type of vehicle involved: for HGVs or commercial fleets, you may require a more general vehicle mechanic, such as an auto mechanic, or a specialist HGV mechanic.

What are the types of car mechanic?

Car mechanics can specialise in different areas depending on the type of vehicles they service or the nature of their work. Here are some common types:

• General automotive mechanic: works on most car brands and models, handling routine maintenance and common repairs
• Classic car mechanic: specialises in the restoration, maintenance and repair of vintage or collector vehicles
• Race car mechanic: focuses on optimising performance and handling repairs for motorsport vehicles
• Light vehicle mechanic: concentrates on cars and small vans, often working in local garages or franchise service centres

When writing your car mechanic job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on car mechanic jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Mechanic
• HGV mechanic
• Vehicle technician
• HGV
• Automotive
• HGV technician
• Maintenance
• Car mechanic
• Car sales

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Where to find a car mechanic

To find the right car mechanic for your business, consider trying out a few different recruitment strategies:

• Apprenticeship and vocational training programmes: partner with local colleges or technical institutes offering automotive repair courses to target emerging talent
• Trade shows and industry events: attend exhibitions or events focused on the sector to connect with experienced mechanics and recent graduates
• Garage and dealership networks: ask for referrals at local garage networks, dealerships or MOT centres. Recommendations are often an effective way to connect with trusted professionals.
• University jobs fairs: you may be able to network with candidates starting their career as a car mechanic at university jobs fairs
• Local advertising: posting a vacancy in local newspapers or even at nearby parts suppliers and petrol stations can attract mechanics based nearby
• Post your job online: try posting your car mechanic job on Indeed to find and attract quality car mechanic candidates.

Skills to look for in a car mechanic

A successful car mechanic candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• Car fault diagnostics skills
• Hands-on mechanical repair expertise
• Knowledge of vehicle systems and components
• The ability to schedule repair and maintenance appointments with car owners
• Safe use of tools and workshop spaces in line with health and safety regulations

Writing a car mechanic job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular jobseeker search terms and recruitment insights for a car mechanic, you’re ready to write a job description.

A car mechanic job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing car mechanic job descriptions.

Interviewing car mechanic candidates

Strong candidates for car mechanic positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Diagnosing and repairing common vehicle faults, such as brake or engine issues
• Communicating technical problems and repair plans clearly to customers
• Following health and safety protocols in a garage or workshop setting
• Prioritising repair tasks to manage time efficiently
• Using diagnostic tools or vehicle repair software