An auto body shop must have a few roles and responsibilities to run its business successfully. These include a body technician, a paint technician, and a body shop manager.
Body shops are responsible for repairing and rebuilding vehicle bodies following accidents, including fixing dents and minor structural damage. They also repair other car parts, such as windshields or window glass.
Body Technician
As a body technician, you repair vehicle bodies and related parts. You also replace damaged parts and refinish vehicles so they look new again.
In this career, you work indoors in an auto body shop in Denver, CO. As a result, you may be exposed to dust and paint fumes, so wear protective clothing.
Automotive body and glass installers and repairers restore, replace, and weatherproof vehicle windows and windshields. They also straighten metal panels, remove dents, and replace parts that cannot be fixed.
A high school diploma is typically all you need to start this career. However, many technicians pursue postsecondary education to advance in their field. A bachelor’s degree can improve your salary and expand your employment opportunities.
Paint Technician
As an auto body paint technician, your primary duties are to inspect and prepare damaged areas of vehicles for painting. You use various spray equipment and proven painting techniques to ensure the best results for your customers.
In addition to applying paint and varnish, you may use rustproofing liquids to repair dents or scratches. Some responsibilities include sanding and cleaning the surface, masking or covering parts of the vehicle that require no paint, controlling humidity and temperature, and adjusting the viscosity and flow of the coating or paints.
You can work as a paint technician in various environments, including auto body shops, collision centers, and auto dealerships. As you gain experience and education, you can advance to more challenging positions and earn higher wages.
Body Shop Manager
Auto body shops are where your car is repaired when it suffers damage from a collision. They repair dents, paint blemishes and repaint or restore your vehicle to its original color.
A body shop manager manages and coordinates teams responsible for performing body repairs. These duties include scheduling, ordering parts, and invoicing customers.
The essential skill a body shop manager must have is good people skills. They must manage technicians, vendors, and insurance companies while satisfying everyone.
Great managers make a habit of quoting realistic completion dates for their customers. However, if they have to re-quote those dates, they should immediately call the customer and explain what’s happening.
During their employment, body shop managers may be asked to complete additional duties depending on the company’s needs. These duties can include coordinating the maintenance of large equipment, purchasing new tools and supplies, and ensuring that employees follow safety standards and procedures.
Customer Service Representative
In addition to responding to customers’ inquiries and solving their problems, customer service representatives collect and analyze feedback. It helps to improve customer service and boosts the company’s reputation.
A good customer service representative should have strong communication skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and a positive attitude. They should also keenly understand their company’s products, services, policies, and procedures.
