Becoming an industrial mechanic in 2023 requires a combination of education, training, and practical experience. It won’t be an easy road, but it’s not impossible. You just need to stay focused and determined. In this article on how to become an industrial mechanic, we’ll discuss all the relevant steps you’ll have to take and how to make sure you do them right.
Once you’re done reading here, you’ll know how to become an industrial mechanic and what exactly you’ll have to do to ensure you’ve got all the right skills to be great at your job. Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Obtain a High School Diploma
One of the very first steps in understanding how to become an industrial mechanic is quite straightforward. You need to get a high school diploma or equivalent before you can start pursuing a career as an industrial mechanic. You should focus on subjects like mathematics and physics. If possible, also opt for mechanical technology as a subject.
Enroll in a Vocational School
Once you’ve finished high school, you should do your best to enroll in a technical or vocational school. In such an institution, you can be part of programs in industrial mechanics and other related fields. Programs like that can give you the theoretical knowledge and hands-on training you need to become better and experienced enough to know what you’re doing. You may find that some schools also offer apprenticeship programs, and you can expect some on-the-job training in those classes.
Pursue an Associate Degree
While you learn more about how to become an industrial mechanic, you’ll realize that you’ll need to do a lot of studying. Although not always mandatory, having an associate degree in industrial maintenance or a related field can boost your chances of finding employment. Numerous community colleges and technical institutes provide these programs, typically spanning two years in duration.
Gain Practical Experience
It’s highly recommended that you pursue practical experience by engaging in internships or apprenticeships. Actively seek opportunities to gain hands-on experience in industrial maintenance through these programs. By working alongside experienced professionals, you can acquire valuable practical knowledge and skills in the field. It’s one thing to learn about related topics from books and classes, but actually doing it for yourself and seeing theories in practice can be far more effective. Also, you’ll get to learn from actual experienced professionals who know the finer details of industrial mechanical work and pick up knowledge you won’t find in books.
Obtain Industry Certifications
To enhance your employability and showcase your competence, it’s worth considering acquiring industry certifications that are relevant to your field. Organizations like the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) provide certifications specifically designed for industrial mechanics. Obtaining these certifications can demonstrate your proficiency and make you a more competitive candidate in the job market.
Develop Technical Skills
If you want to know how to become an industrial mechanic, you should know that you’ll need to work on your technical skills. A solid understanding of mechanical systems, electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and other pertinent areas is crucial for industrial mechanics. It’s important to continually enhance your technical skills by pursuing ongoing education, attending workshops, and staying informed about the latest industry trends and technologies. By staying up-to-date and actively expanding your knowledge, you can maintain a strong foundation and remain competitive in the field of industrial maintenance.
Build a Professional Network
All the hard work you put in won’t be worth much if you can’t find the right connections to eventually help you find work. Networking plays a vital role in discovering job opportunities and staying informed within the industry. Take advantage of attending industry conferences, becoming a member of professional organizations, and establishing connections with fellow professionals in your field. This proactive approach can keep you up-to-date with job openings and enable you to forge valuable relationships that may prove beneficial in your career.
Gain Experience
After acquiring the required education, training, and certifications, it’s time to begin applying for industrial mechanic positions. Look for entry-level opportunities in manufacturing plants, construction sites, or maintenance departments. These positions will allow you to gain practical experience in diverse industrial settings, thereby further enhancing your skill set. By actively seeking hands-on experience, you can continue to develop your abilities as an industrial mechanic.
Here are a few steps you can take as well:
Volunteer or Part-Time Work: Look for volunteer positions or part-time jobs in industries or organizations that utilize industrial mechanics. This can help you gain practical experience while also building your network.
Job Shadowing: Reach out to professionals in the field and request to shadow them for a day or a week. Observing their work and asking questions can provide valuable insights and help you understand the day-to-day responsibilities of an industrial mechanic.
Personal Projects: Undertake personal projects that involve repairing or maintaining industrial machinery or equipment. This allows you to practice your skills and build a portfolio to showcase your abilities to potential employers.
Continuing Education: Stay updated with the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices by participating in workshops, seminars, and continuing education programs. This ongoing learning will enhance your expertise and make you more marketable.
Remember, gaining experience as an industrial mechanic is a combination of formal education, practical training, and continuous learning. By actively seeking out opportunities and investing in your professional development, you can build a solid foundation of experience and skills in the field.
Know Why You Should Offer Roadside Help
While discussing how to become an industrial mechanic, we also have to talk about the importance of offering roadside help. You may not get the opportunity to offer auto roadside assistance quite often, but when you do, it’s the perfect chance to show off your abilities and promote your skills and business.
Offer Repairs but Also Spare Parts
When you get the chance to repair anything for a client, you should also offer them spare parts to make things easier for them. If you’re running your own auto accessories shop or have access to auto parts stores that can give you discounts, even better! Offering spare parts can give you a good reputation as a professional industrial mechanic and help you get more customers.
Understand Which Damages Are Covered by Insurance
You’ll probably be working with many different kinds of customers, and it’s important that you’re up-to-date with the insurance they have. It’s not enough to know how to become an industrial mechanic, you need to know about the many different things around industrial mechanical jobs. It’s a good idea to reach out to car insurance agencies to find out where they stand on auto body repairs. Insurance is very important in any kind of repair work, so knowing as much as possible about this topic is essential for any professional and dedicated industrial mechanics.
Find a Mentor
Learning how to become an industrial mechanic from a mentor with knowledge of auto mechanics and who works with a professional and trusted auto repair company is a really good idea.
The guidance of a mentor is paramount in the growth and achievement of an industrial mechanic. Here are some key reasons highlighting the significance of having a mentor in this domain:
Sharing Knowledge and Experience: A mentor, typically an experienced professional in the industry, plays a pivotal role in imparting valuable insights, knowledge, and expertise to an industrial mechanic. Through sharing personal experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, mentors facilitate a deeper understanding of the trade. This knowledge transfer proves invaluable and greatly expedites the learning process.
Career Guidance: Mentors offer valuable career advice and guidance, assisting industrial mechanics in navigating their professional journeys. They provide insights into various career paths, suggest relevant training or certifications, and help identify growth opportunities within the industry. A mentor’s perspective and experience are instrumental in making informed career decisions.
Skill Development: Mentors provide guidance to industrial mechanics on developing and refining their technical skills. They offer hands-on training, teach specialized techniques, and share tips and tricks that may be challenging to acquire solely through formal education or training programs. Practical guidance from mentors makes a substantial difference in enhancing the mentee’s skill set and competency.
Networking and Professional Connections: A mentor in the field opens doors to valuable networking opportunities. Mentors typically possess extensive professional networks and can introduce their mentees to key individuals, including industry experts, potential employers, or colleagues. These connections can lead to job prospects, partnerships, and collaborations, further advancing the industrial mechanic’s career.
Personal and Professional Support: Mentors provide emotional support, motivation, and encouragement to industrial mechanics. They offer guidance during challenging times, share personal anecdotes about overcoming obstacles, and help build confidence in the mentee’s abilities. This support system boosts morale and empowers the mentee to persevere through difficult situations.
Professional Ethics and Values: Mentors instill a strong sense of professional ethics and values in industrial mechanics. They guide mentees in prioritizing safety, quality, and efficiency in their work. Additionally, mentors impart valuable lessons on professionalism, integrity, and responsibility, which are vital traits for success in the field.
Having a mentor for an industrial mechanic offers a wealth of knowledge, skills, guidance, and support necessary for professional growth and development. Mentors bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application, accelerate skill acquisition, and provide invaluable insights into the industry.
Work on the Insides and Outsides of Cars
If you want to be a reliable and successful industrial mechanic, you need to be willing to do interior as well as exterior repairs. You may not have signed up for this kind of work, but it’s beneficial to be flexible. Knowing about auto upholstery repairs is a good thing, although it’s not mandatory.
Invest in an Accessible Location
Once you have enough experience and feel comfortable enough, you can start planning to open your own auto repair garage. In addition to repairs and similar services, you should offer other services as well, such as having a dedicated mobile auto detailer. Expanding your business in this manner makes you more accessible to a wider variety of clients. However, this means you’ll have to be located in a prime spot so you can be easily found by potential customers.
Continue to Learn
We’ve mentioned this briefly before, but if you want to be a good industrial mechanic, you need to continuously learn and adapt. The industry of industrial mechanics is in a constant state of evolution, as it witnesses the emergence of novel technologies and practices. To ensure you remain up-to-date with the latest industry trends and enhance your professional growth, consider participating in training programs and seminars, or pursuing further educational opportunities.
Reasons to Become an Industrial Mechanic
We’ve discussed how to become an industrial mechanic, but let’s briefly look at why you should consider this career:
Work Variety: In the field of industrial mechanics, you will engage in a diverse array of tasks, seldom encountering the same machine or equipment issues repeatedly. Moreover, the ever-present drive for innovation within the industrial sector will compel you to expand your technical expertise and adapt to the captivating new technologies that you will be working on.
Flexibility: As an industrial mechanic, you have the freedom to select your assignments. Would you rather opt for shorter projects that allow for frequent location changes? Or do you prefer a consistent workload that is le
Working Hours: While your working hours as an industrial mechanic may not adhere to standard norms, they offer numerous advantages. By commencing your day at 8 am, for instance, you could potentially conclude your work around 3 pm, granting you the freedom to enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. This arrangement allows you to bypass rush hour traffic and enjoy the afternoons as you want to.
Now that you’ve finished reading all our advice, you know how to become an industrial mechanic and you’re ready to start chasing this career. However, you also know that it’s going to take a lot of hard work and determination. If you have all it takes, nothing is stopping you from becoming the best in your area. You can become an amazing industrial mechanic, just hang in there. Learn as much as you can from this article and use the knowledge gained here to build a foundation for your own journey. Good luck!
