If you're planning your next career move in the automotive trade, check out our job search section today. Below are just a few of the exciting opportunities up for grabs right now. If you haven't done so already, why not upload your CV so you're in with a chance of being contacted by employers, and for the very latest job vacancies, sign up for our daily email alerts. It pays to be in the loop if you want that new job!

Production Manager in Cheshire

ADR Accident Repair Centres has an opening for an experienced Production Manager to be based at the firm’s Macclesfield site. The company is looking for an experienced manager who will take on the responsibility of managing and coordinating the workshop throughput of jobs.

Day to day the job will involve preparing production schedules and managing throughput in line with the schedule, to ensure consistent delivery of on time repairs that meet our quality process and customer expectations. The Production Manager will also be working with estimating, parts, reception and transport teams to deliver customer satisfaction.

A generous salary of £38,000 and company car will go to the right person for the job, so if you have previously worked within at management level within a Bodyshop or Accident Repair Centre and would feel confident managing a site in the absence of the Site Manager, this could be for you.

ADR Accident Repair Centres are the largest independently owned accident repair group in the UK, with 11 repair centres across the Country, repairing over 25,000 vehicles per year. The company has Investors in People accreditation and has a good track record in developing and support its employees.

Car Sales Manager – Colchester

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic salesperson with proven management skills and the drive to progress their career. A Suffolk-based independent motor vehicle retailer is looking for a Car Sales manager for one of its franchised main dealerships. This position would be ideal for an experienced Senior Car Sales Executive wishing to move up to the career ladder.

Agency Automotive Placements is handling recruitment for this job, and says applicants must be very good at customer care, have outstanding communication skills and be able to proactively generate sales.

It will also help to have a presentable appearance, and a full UK driving license. The job will include supporting the manufacturers programmes, confidently selling finance products and complying with FSA regulations.
» Read more: Latest automotive job opportunities

Social media has become a valuable tool in most career sectors now, used both by job-seekers to track down opportunities, and recruiters to find great candidates. Recruitment experts in the automotive sector say that having a professional profile online – details about you which potential employers will like the look of – is just as important today as attending job fairs, fact-to-face networking, and sending out CVs to prospective companies.

Helen Westhead, marketing manager at automotive recruitment specialist Holt Recruitment says: “We have a Facebook presence and a Twitter feed and it’s clear that candidates for automotive jobs want to sign up to these. They understand that it’s a very efficient way to keep in touch with the market and hear about jobs as soon as they crop up.”

Recruitment agencies are using social media to speed up communications but these social networking tools can also be used for networking – making connections and getting known to employers so that you’re front-of-queue when jobs become available. Many car manufacturers, auto engineering companies, dealerships, and automotive service companies are starting to realise that they need a presence in the world of social media as a means of attracting talent. Jaguar Land Rover and Ford are taking a long-term view. They are active on Twitter and LinkedIn and have both built lively Facebook career pages. They have 3,367 and 8454 ‘likes’ respectively on these Facebook sites, and provide detailed information about job prospects, the company culture and the kinds of skills they’re looking for. These are great places to start showing your interest in a particular brand or organization.

http://www.facebook.com/JaguarLandRoverCareers

http://www.facebook.com/FordMotorCompanyCareers

“Networking has always been important but with the explosion of social media, its importance has dramatically increased,” says Nicola Deas, practice leader of career management at Right Management, a talent and career management consultancy which recently researched the subject.

A recent survey of recruiters and HR managers by Right Management found that the most useful social networking site was LinkedIn (used by 61% of recruiters questioned) but surprisingly Facebook was cited by over half (52 %) as the second most useful site. This shows that social media networks and data sources are being used increasingly for direct recruiting.

“It’s critical, particularly in this difficult job market, that job seekers develop the right skills and have access to the right opportunities to find employment,” says Deas. “It’s never been more important to learn how to effectively network with peers – online and offline – as well as being able to create a great online profile with compelling messages that will get noticed by employers and recruiters. It’s not enough to have just to have a good CV today.”

Increasingly people in the automotive industry are browsing on their smart phones for car sales jobs, mechanic jobs, fleet management jobs, or bodyshop jobs – and this is likely to affect how the social media tools become used in the future. “Job tweets and SMS alerts once you have signed up to the right job sites and social networks will help you stay ever-more connected,” says Westhead at Holt Recruitment. “More and more people are using their smart phones for job alerts and browsing. It’s very quick and convenient, so we expect mobile and social to work together more and more in the future.”
» Read more: Can social media help me find an automotive job?

A new multimillion pound government initiative looks set to create over 500 apprenticeships in the North West’s automotive industry.

According to the Manchester Evening News (MEN), the Northwest Automotive Alliance will create an apprenticeship scheme focusing on vehicle manufacturing. It is aimed at creating an opportunity for young workers to meet the needs of the sector at companies including Bentley motors, Leyland Trucks and GM Vauxhall.

Over 500 apprenticeships will be created which will go up to degree level and they have been made possible after £340,000 was secured to deliver the scheme.

The money supplied is part of the £25m Higher Apprenticeship Fund which was announced in July and will also fund 19,000 higher apprenticeships nationwide. The fund is targeting sectors including construction, advanced engineering, insurance and financial services.

Business Secretary, Vince Cable, announced that winning bids from around 250 employers totalled £18.7m and a second round of bids for the fund will be invited in the New Year.

Dr Cable told the MEN: “Investing in skills is central to our drive to boost business and productivity and make the UK more competitive.

“By radically expanding the number of degree-level apprenticeships for young people, we will put practical learning on a level footing with academic study.

“This is an essential step that will help rebalance our economy and build a society in which opportunity and reward are fairly and productively distributed.”

Photo by Bisgovuk

Modern cars are hugely complicated and in many cases nowadays, there are automotive technician jobs available that focus on the electrical systems of cars. It may be the case that an automotive technician job like this will be with a car manufacturer. To find out more about automotive technician jobs, read on. Automotive Technician Jobs

• These automotive technician jobs require an in depth knowledge of car electrics and these skills are often learned via an apprenticeship and apprenticeships are by far the best way to get your foot in the door of automotive technician jobs.

• You will require certain qualifications for automotive technician jobs such as good GCSEs and further qualifications in the form of NVQs or City & Guilds. Those with automotive technician jobs need to have certain skills as well. The ability to work in an organised and methodical way is absolutely essential as car electrics can be confusing at the best of times.

• Unlike other aspects of car repair, there may not be obvious signs where the problem of the car electrics is so those with these automotive technician jobs need to have excellent analytical and practical skills to identify and fix problems.

• An automotive technician job that deals with car electric will also require knowledge of various diagnostic tools, especially computers so good IT skills are advantageous. Car electric systems can often be very different depending on the manufacturer of the car so most of these automotive technician jobs will be with car manufacturers such as Toyota, VW etc.

• Electrical automotive technician jobs will require hours of 9am – 5pm and through an apprenticeship, the salary will be roughly £10k pa which rise to somewhere in the region of £16k pa upon completion. You can search for a wide range of automotive technician jobs here on InAutomotive.

Car mechanic jobs encompass everything to do with car repair and maintenance and sometimes other vehicles such as trucks and motorcycles as well. The large majority of car mechanic jobs are with car garages, either private or affiliated to a certain brand of cars. Car mechanic jobs require a set amount of skills and qualifications, to find out more about working in car repair, read on. About Car Repair

• Those with car mechanic jobs are expected to look at a car that has malfunctioned, find the problem and then go about the car repair accordingly. This part of car mechanic jobs means that the individual needs to have excellent analytical and practical skills to assess and fix problems. On a lot of occasions, customers will visit car garages without being aware of the problem and those with car mechanic jobs will have to work out the problem.

• It is important that those with car mechanic jobs undertake their work methodically and with safety in mind. Car garages have to sign of car repair to ensure that it is carried out to a good and safe standard. A methodical and organised approach to work is essential for those with car mechanic jobs.

• Car mechanic jobs in the UK require necessary GCSE’s as well as further NVG or City & Guild qualifications in relevant subjects. A lot of people choose to start their journey in car mechanic jobs by enrolling in an apprenticeship scheme and this is an excellent way of gaining the relevant experience and qualifications whilst still earning money working in car repair.

• Some car mechanic jobs are involved with MOT testing which is a requirement for all vehicles on UK roads that are over three years old. MOTs are undertaken at car garages and it involved testing the vehicle against a checklist to ensure that it is roadworthy. In cases where the car fails the MOT, the car garages will carry out the car repair and re-test (with the permission of the owner).

• Car mechanic jobs will involve getting dirty and working in cramped conditions but the overall job security in car repair is very good because as long as there are cars on the road, car mechanic jobs will be available to fix them.

• The wages for char mechanic jobs can vary dramatically, those with entry levels jobs in car repair will earn between £13k and £16k per year depending on experience while higher level, supervisor jobs can earn £20k+ per year. You can search for a wide range of car mechanic jobs here on InAutomotive.

Fleet management jobs are in place within organisations like businesses, institutions and government agencies. The fleet manager is in charge of vehicles used by their particular organisation. The size of these fleets can vary greatly, with some reaching numbers into the thousands. For more information about fleet manager jobs, see the following guide. Fleet Management Jobs – The Work A fleet manager controls the policies and standards with regards to the operation of vehicles in their organisation. They are also expected to directly report to certain directors that they work for. Working Environment of Fleet Management Jobs In general, the fleet manager is responsible for a staff team of around 2 – 10 people. Most of the work is carried out from an office. However, some time is spent out of the office when checking vehicles. Duties of Fleet Manager Jobs • Purchasing or leasing appropriate vehicles and necessary equipment • Arranging insurance • Preparing annual budgets and reports concerning the operation costs • Controlling the Keep employees informed about their fleet programmes and progress • maintenance and repair of vehicles in the fleet • Organising replacements and disposal of damaged or old vehicles Skills and Qualifications It is common to find that fleet management jobs will be given to those with degrees in particular disciplines like marketing, sciences, business and technical subjects. Several years of experience working in a fleet team is normally required in order to become a fleet manager. As well as this, experience as a manager or supervisor is usually needed. Other skills required include computer literacy, strong communication and excellent interpersonal skills.

Fleet management jobs are responsible for the group of vehicles that are used by large organisations such as business corporations, government agencies and educational establishments. A fleet manager can be in charge of any number of fleet sizes, ranging from tens, to thousands of vehicles. For more information on fleet manager jobs, see the following guide. The Job look after the fleet administration standards and policies regarding vehicle operation within the organisation. This manager is expected to report directly to certain directors of their workplace, such as the transportation director. Main Responsibilities of Fleet Manager Jobs •    Purchasing or leasing appropriate vehicles and necessary equipment •    Controlling the maintenance and repair of vehicles in the fleet •    Preparing annual budgets and reports concerning the operation costs •    Organising replacements and disposal of damaged or old vehicles •    Arranging insurance •    Keeping employees informed about their fleet programmes and progress Fleet Management Jobs – Work Environment Generally speaking, a fleet manager will be in charge of a team of staff of up to 10 people. The main work is done from an office, although some time will be spent travelling outside when checking vehicles. Skills and Qualifications for Fleet Management Jobs •    Employers tend to hire those who have degrees in certain relevant fields including: sciences, marketing, business or technical subjects. •    You will need a few years of experience working within this type of operation so that you have the first-hand experience of how it works. •    On top of this, supervisory or managerial experience is necessary. •    Computer literacy, strong communications skills and exceptional interpersonal skills are all a must to become a fleet manager.

A fleet manager is responsible for the vehicles that are owned by large companies, government agencies or any other major organisation or institution. Fleet manager jobs could require the control of a range of fleet sizes – from tens, to thousands of vehicles at a time. If you are interested in fleet management jobs, see the following job description for more information. The Work The fleet manager of a company will be expected to report directly to certain directors of an organisation such as the transportation director. They look after the fleet administration standards and policies regarding vehicle operation within the organisation. Other Responsibilities of Fleet Management Jobs •    Preparing annual budgets and reports concerning the operation costs •    Purchasing or leasing appropriate vehicles and necessary equipment •    Controlling the maintenance and repair of vehicles in the fleet •    Organising replacements and disposal of damaged or old vehicles •    Arrange insurance •    Keep employees informed about their fleet programmes and progress Fleet Manager Jobs Working Environment Generally speaking, a fleet manager will be in charge of a team of staff ranging in their numbers from about 2 to 10 people. The main work is done from an office, though some time will be spent travelling and checking vehicles outside. Skills and Qualifications for Fleet Management Jobs Employers will tend to hire those who have degrees in certain disciplines including: sciences, marketing, business or technical subjects. You will need a few years of experience working within this type of operation so that you have the first-hand experience of how it works. On top of this, supervisory or managerial experience is necessary. Computer literacy, strong communications skills and exceptional interpersonal skills are all a must to become a fleet manager.

The job of a motorcycle mechanic is not really any different from those undertaken by other mechanic jobs, apart from the machines you are working on. Motorcycles are much smaller than cars and from a physical sense, they can be easier to work on, their compact size however means that motorcycle mechanics need to be able to work in fiddly conditions. To find out more about motorcycle mechanic jobs, read on. Working As a Motorcycle Mechanic

• Motorcycles are nowhere near as common on UK roads as cars are but there are still roughly a million registered motorbikes in the UK, all of which need mechanical work done to them from time to time and the large majority will have to have an MOT yearly.

• To work as a motorcycle mechanic, you will have to have undertaken the same training and qualifications as those with car mechanic jobs but obviously the machine itself is very different. Many people who work mechanic jobs may be competent at working on both.

• Motorcycle mechanics require the same personal skills and traits other mechanics jobs such as good practical skills, the ability to analyse and solve problems as well as the ability to work under pressure safely and quickly. The work of motorcycle mechanics also requires the ability to use similar tools as those with car mechanic jobs.

• Motorcycle mechanics may also be required to undertake MOT tests on motorcycles. For obvious reasons this test is different from the one that cars undertake but the principle is the same, to ensure that the motorbike is suitable for use on the road.

• Motorcycle mechanic jobs are not as common as mechanic jobs on cars but they are no doubt common and a good career can be had as a motorcycle mechanic. Generally, the starting wage for these motorcycle mechanic jobs is between £13k-16k per year but experience motorcycle mechanics can earn £25k+ per year.

You can search for a wide range of motorcycle mechanic jobs here on InAutomotive.

Automotive technician jobs are hugely important and as long as there are cars on the road, people will still need a car mechanic meaning that job security amongst automotive technician jobs may be higher than some other jobs. The job of an automotive technician requires plenty of training and experience but can lead to a long career. To find out more about automotive technician jobs, read on. Car Mechanic Jobs – What to Expect

• Those with car mechanic jobs need to possess a number of key skills to find success such as being good at practical work, have good analytical and problem solving abilities as well as the ability to carry out a good job under pressure.

• To become an automotive technician, you will have had to do undergo the relevant training and in the UK this is done via an apprenticeship at a garage and undertaking qualifications at a college. Qualifications required to become a car mechanic can either be City & Guilds or NVQs.

• The work of a car mechanic often involves working in cramped conditions such as under a car and it is undoubtedly a dirty and messy job but with experience and hard work, good wages can be earned.

• Automotive technician jobs also require the ability to operate a wide range of tools from simple spanners to things such as wheel balancing machines, compressors, welders and angle grinders to name a few. Some car garages will specialise in basic things such as tyre fitting/exhaust changing etc while others will undertake much larger jobs.

• Another route to go down in automotive technician jobs is that of an MOT tester. The MOT tester will be qualified car mechanic and will inspect a vehicle according to a checklist to determine whether or not the vehicle is fit for use on the road. In most cases, the car mechanic will then be employed by the vehicle owner to carry out the repairs. Modern car electronics are hugely complex and involve countless computers. It is not uncommon then for a modern automotive technician to specialise in car electronics and the computers.

• The average wage for automotive technician jobs begin at roughly £12-15k per year and this can rise to around the £20k per year region for an experienced car mechanic and those that own their own garages can earn significantly more.

You can search for a wide range of automotive technician jobs here on InAutomotive.