If you are an automotive mechanic who wants to improve and gain the skills and certifications that Suzuki dealerships, other service centers, and automotive technician jobs in general are searching for, you might consider getting Suzuki dealership certified.
Like all mechanics, you probably want the peace of mind that comes from knowing there are always automotive technician jobs out there waiting for you. This sort of knowledge means you can continuously improve your auto mechanic salary simply by considering what opportunities are out there. It also ensures you have job security, something that is often far more important than how much you actually get paid.
If this sounds like you, then focusing your attention on learning about Suzuki automobiles, motorcycles and ATVs would be wise. The company has been around for well over 100 years and remains popular all over the world. Becoming Suzuki dealership certified will not only give you the ability to work on a number of different vehicles but also a credential recognized by employers all over the country.
Becoming Suzuki dealership certified
The good news is that the steps toward this certification are actually pretty straightforward. Like so many other automobile manufacturers, Suzuki largely trusts their certification process to a company called Universal Technical Institute. UTI has been around for over 50 years and during this time has built a reputation that is beyond reproach.
Over 200,000 mechanics have graduated from UTI since its inception. During that time, it’s become common knowledge that graduates from this organization make more than their fellow technicians, provided they get decent grades. Therefore, if you want a bigger auto mechanic salary, you can’t do better than UTI.
For those who want to work on Suzuki vehicles, the FAST program is perfect. It will only take you 12 weeks to get through the entire thing. Suzuki does their part to keep this program updated with any changes they’ve made to their best practices or new technology they may have introduced. As soon as you become a student, you’ll also receive access to all Suzuki ServicePRO dealer training necessary for achieving Bronze Technician Recognition. If this is something you want to work toward, you’ll be given six months’ worth of tenure credit toward being certified at this level. Doing so will cut the amount of time it would normally take in half.
Once you achieve Bronze status, you can move on to Silver. You can actually begin working on the modules for this level and Gold while you are in the FAST program. However, to receive Silver status, you’ll also need to spend six months working at a dealership. Gold can be acquired only after you have a year of dealership experience.
The FAST course curriculum
As we mentioned earlier, Suzuki is constantly revising their FAST course through UTI to make sure that students are learning about the most recent technologies and systems in use. The company has been doing this in concert with UTI for more than 20 years at this point so you can trust that the system in place is sound and designed to give you the best possible chance of landing automotive tech jobs upon graduation.
That being said, at the time of this writing, the course has four sections to it. These sections are:
Section 1 – Learning the company’s history and about the significant technological contributions it has made to the automotive, motorcycle and ATV industries. You’ll also find out about the dealership network and regional service organizations.
Section 2 – Covering the skills, techniques and principles necessary for diagnosing, repairing and troubleshooting Suzuki engines and drivetrains.
Section 3 – Learning about the electrical systems integral to the operation of Suzuki vehicles. Once again, this will involve understanding how to diagnose problems, make repairs and troubleshoot when the source of the problem is allusive.
Section 4 – Learning the essential skills required to succeed at entry-level technician jobs. This will include understanding the application and even interview process so you know how to make your strong points stand out.
As you can see, the course goes to great lengths to make sure that students graduate with a comprehensive understanding of Suzuki as a company, its vehicles and what it takes to find and keep work at a dealership.
Of course, you’ll also be positioned to continue on to Bronze, Silver and Gold certification. Any one of these will only help your job prospects in the future.
If you’re sold on the benefits of becoming Suzuki dealership certified, you’ll need to take classes at either their Phoenix, AZ campus or the one they have in Orlando, FL.
Automotive mechanic jobs can be tough to come by and, once you land one, it often seems like opportunities for advancement simply don’t exist. If you already have an affinity for Suzuki vehicles, then you could actually do your future a big favor by deciding to make them your specialty. The popular manufacturer is more than happy to help as evidenced by their UTI classes.
If you’re already a certified mechanic and you’re interested in working with YourMechanic, submit an online application for an opportunity to become a mobile mechanic.
