Women in Auto Care | Advice for joining the Automotive Industry

Women in the Workforce

Since the 1920s, women have been increasing as part of the workforce, and in 2021, women made up 57.8% of the workforce in the United States. However, even though women account for over half of the jobs in the United States, in the automotive industry in 2020, they only made up 26.1% of the workforce. Only 9% of those jobs were in the automotive repair and maintenance sectors. That highlights one of the most significant opportunities to increase diversity and inclusion in the automotive repair and maintenance field!

There is still a Technician shortage.

It’s not a secret that there is an ongoing technician shortage in the automotive industry. According to Universal Technical Institute, most of the technicians of retiring age are leaving the industry, leaving a deficit of a predicted 100,000 jobs. Significant numbers of retiring technicians coupled with an expected 4% decline in employment in the automotive sector by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a decrease in technical school enrollments means a considerable need for educated, qualified technicians.

One answer to the growing technician shortage is the opportunity to break barriers and introduce more women to the automotive industry. However, women face many hurdles when joining the automotive industry. So we reached out to women who work at VIP Tires & Service and asked for their advice for women who might consider joining the automotive industry.

What advice do women have for other women?

What are the biggest challenges you’ve overcome in joining the automotive industry?

Alexis Verrill, Automotive Service Advisor in the Augusta, ME store, said, “Entering in this industry, the generic reaction of men in any shop is that you can’t do what they’re capable of. So breaking that stereotype and building relationships with them was a huge challenge that I’ll be forever grateful I got the opportunity to do.”

Rachel Sargent, Automotive Service Advisor in the Skowhegan, ME store, added, “Getting into the automotive industry was very difficult. Most companies did not consider me for positions without going to a trade school since I did not have enough experience. I wanted to get into the mechanical side of the industry but was given an opportunity to be an apprentice at a restoration/custom shop for doing bodywork and paint. Once I had my foot in the door, it was much easier to stay in the industry when I moved from a different state.”

Emily Doody, Service Manager II in the Old Town, ME store, said, “There is still a stigma that women don’t know anything about vehicles or how to fix them. Slowly but surely, I’ve been winning over our customers with my knowledge of the parts and repair process. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when the men back me up!”

What advice would you give to another woman interested in the automotive field but scared to take that first step?

Alexis had some great advice: “Jump on it; life is too short. You never know what may come of it; there’s not enough time to hesitate. This field is more than willing to help you with open arms. This [automotive industry] has been one of the most supportive work fields I’ve ever entered. Break the stigma that women can’t work in the automotive industry; we can do just as much!”

Kerry Meagher, Service Manager I of the Merrimack, NH store, added, “I would give the advice never to feel like you aren’t going to be good enough. Learn to adapt to the team you are working with and use them as tools to help you learn more and become one of the best leaders in the automotive field. Don’t ever be scared to learn, and don’t get discouraged when obstacles arise.”

Emily adds, “There are more of us here than you realize, and most of the men will welcome you wholeheartedly. Most of them realize that women are better at finding things they may overlook. Reach out to any of us, and we are more than happy to talk to you about anything!”

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Alexis encourages, “Never be afraid to get a late start, always reach for your dreams. Don’t be scared to take a big leap when you think you can’t do it. Never say never.”

Rachel advises, “Call the schools you applied to for automotive (technical high school and colleges) because I found out my family lied saying I wasn’t accepted, hoping I would apply to state colleges for more of a white-collar career. If I did, I might have been able to get into the field much sooner.”

Emily adds, “It is not a men’s world. It’s not “unladylike” to do what men typically do. Just do what you want and be good at it!”

What’s a common misconception about the automotive industry that people have?

Alexis had some great insight, sharing, “A common misconception is that we set out to take people’s money on situations their car doesn’t need. That being a young female coming in for an oil change, you get told your car needs $1,000 worth of work, and it’s solely because we enjoy ripping people off. Another common misconception is men walking in to see a woman working in the industry, thinking we’re incapable of helping them because of a lack of knowledge. In all reality, that mindset sets women back from taking that first step to joining the field. It’s nice to see younger women coming in hesitant about service being able to make them feel more comfortable in this environment. I have had countless women thanking me for just making their visit more enjoyable and showing them the industry isn’t out to get them. I get that so often from elderly and younger women. ”

Emily from the Old Town store added, “​[A common misconception] you need to have all the training to work in this industry. Not true – I would rather have someone with no experience who hasn’t developed bad habits yet than someone who is set in their ways and is close-minded to anything new. ”

The key is that it’s never too late to do what you love and get started in a new field if your passion is vehicles or automotive service!

What’s the BEST thing about the automotive industry?

Emily’s favorite part of being in the automotive industry is, “Being able to make someone’s bad day better by fixing their vehicle is amazing. I have so many customers who expect to pay a small fortune to fix their cars, and they are pleasantly surprised when we quote them a much lower amount than expected and get it done sooner than they thought!”

And Alexis out of the Augusta, ME store says the best thing about the automotive industry is, “The endless opportunity of learning, and relationships you can build. Seeing a customer come in devasted and helping them leave happier than they were before their car gave them issues. This field is a people field, and this is better than anything I could’ve asked for. The industry is opening up more and more for women, and it’s truly so rewarding to be a part of the change. ”

Ready to Join the Automotive Industry?

Are you a woman who is interested in joining the automotive industry? Don’t know where to start or where to turn? Turn to VIP! We have 17+ women currently working in various positions who can mentor, provide insight and advice, and coach women passionate about vehicles, helping people, and developing a career in the automotive industry! We’re always hiring applicants with the right mindset and passion for helping people. Apply today!