Automotive and watercraft service attendants perform maintenance and minor repairs on cars, trucks, buses, and boats. These workers may change the motor oil in a vehicle engine, fill gas tanks, replace lights or wiper blades, any of the many details that are essential to keeping vehicles operational. Attendants also order stock and receive deliveries, sell merchandise, clean vehicles, and keep their work space and customer areas clean. Good customer service is important in this field where developing long-term customer relationships is often a goal. Attendants maintain records, and may follow up with personal reminders about service due on a customer’s vehicle. Much of their time is spent outside, exposed to the elements and working with hazardous equipment or around contaminants. Attention to detail and dependability are crucial qualities, to avoid stranding a customer at sea with a malfunctioning engine. Automotive and watercraft service attendants typically have a high school diploma or equivalent. Related technical certificates may be helpful.
What they do:
Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, refill antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.
On the job, you would:
Collect cash payments from customers, and make change or charge purchases to customers' credit cards, providing customers with receipts.
Check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required.
Perform minor repairs, such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, or changing engine oil or filters.
Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Engineering and Technology
mechanical
product and service development
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Hand and Finger Use
hold or move items with your hands
put together small parts with your fingers
Endurance
exercise for a long time without getting out of breath
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Self Control
Dependability
Analytical Thinking
Integrity
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Time accounting software
Timekeeping software
high school diploma/GED or certificate after high school usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
In the military:
see titles from the Air Force or Marine Corps.
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