Not every young person is crystal clear on his or her career path — especially in automotive and tire service. Offering internships can help introduce students to the field, allowing them to get a taste of the career and a better understanding of the skills and training necessary to be successful.
There are two types of internships: paid and nonpaid.
Nonpaid internships are well suited for individuals who haven’t figured out what they’d like to do yet but are interested in learning more about the tire service industry. The best audience for nonpaid internships is high school juniors or seniors, or those who are planning to enter vocational school.
For a few hours each week, the nonpaid internship allows students to work in a real-world environment alongside technicians and shop managers. They can get a taste for how things are done, observe employees in action and learn how to perform specific tasks, such as vehicle inspections, vehicle maintenance, properly completing paperwork and more.
Paid internships are designed for those who already have committed to a career in tire and/or vehicle service or have graduated from or are preparing to graduate from a vocational school.
Much like apprenticeship programs, paid internships allow individuals to earn as they learn, increasing their skill set and applying what they learned in the classroom to the job. Once the internship is complete, the shop may hire the individual to work full time.
Internship programs help introduce and expand the skills necessary for a successful career in automotive service to the next generation. As increasing numbers of technicians retire, internship programs are an easy way for shops to source and train new talent in an increasingly competitive hiring environment.