Pub. 3 Issue 1

28 www.glancda.org everything from hybrids to advanced clean-diesel engines. The job requires solving sophisticated problems in complex systems. These cars are sometimes controlled by thousands of lines of code running on 20 microprocessors or more. Someone who is already inclined toward technology might be very interested in work that is much more than just reading a diagnostic screen. Hiring millennials means understanding the way their minds generally work, and persuading them that your dealership can provide them with a good future. The fact that auto repair is actually going high-tech is in your favor; so is the fact that this is one job that is securely and permanently located on U.S. shores. Demand is growing, too; the Bureau of Labor Statis- tics expects 17 percent growth between 2010 and 2020, which means 848,200 mechanics and 124,800 new jobs. Someone who is qualified and knows how to troubleshoot is basically guaranteed a job. The key word, of course, is “qualified.” The highest demand (and the highest pay) is for master techni- cians. Advocating within the School System High school students are your future employees. That means you have every reason in the world to take an interest in their education. Get involved. If there are local programs or advi- sory committees, participate in them. Sponsor career days. Provide students with opportunities to job shadow or to work as interns. Talk to school administrators — preferably, as part of a group. People are more likely to take groups seriously, and to hear what they have to say, than they are to listen to one person, especially when that one person is talking about an expensive program. Math and science skills are vital for potential technicians, but so are seats in auto repair and specialized courses. Anything you can do to recruit students and to strengthen existing  Young Technicians — continued from page 23