Call a local auto shop or just drop by and ask if you can talk to someone about being a mechanic. Be ready to ask questions, like what someone who wants to work in this field should do to get started.

Interview a mechanic.

Shadowing an expert in a field can be a great hands-on learning experience. Work with your counselor to connect with a local auto mechanic that would be willing to let you shadow them for a day.

Shadow an auto mechanic.

Try these quick projects from Khan Academy that you can do at home. Build a simple motor, a ping pong ball launcher, or something else from the list!

Develop mechanics knowledge with hands-on projects!

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Tire Repairers and Changers

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Mechanic

If you get a job at a young age, you will be successful.

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Miscellaneous Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.

Place wheels on balancing machines to determine counterweights required to balance wheels.

Identify tire size and ply and inflate tires accordingly.

Replace valve stems and remove puncturing objects.

Hammer required counterweights onto rims of wheels.

Seal punctures in tubeless tires by inserting adhesive material and expanding rubber plugs into punctures, using hand tools.

Inspect tire casings for defects, such as holes or tears.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Recordkeeping software

Project estimation software

Bail cutting knives

Curved-point scalpel knives

Taper point knives

Thermocutters

Heavy duty awls

Pricking awls

Tire probing awls

Bead seaters

Tire irons

Truck tire spoons

Balancing machines

Computerized tire/wheel balancing equipment

Air spray guns

Tire plug guns

Heavy duty T-handle spiral probe cement tools

Insertion tools

Mechanical tire changers

Rim clamp tire changers

Airless spray guns

Rubber patch guns

Bead breakers

Duck-billed bead-breaking wedges

Hand rasps

Stickleback rasps

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

Every day

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Once a week or more but not every day

Once a month or more but not every week

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

Occasional contact with others

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Never

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Tire Repairers and Changers

Overview

Career

What Tire Repairers and Changers Do

Other Job Titles Tire Repairers and Changers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Tire Repairers and Changers

Overview

Career

What Tire Repairers and Changers Do

Other Job Titles Tire Repairers and Changers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Tire Repairers and Changers

Related Leaders