Hinds Community College Blog

What do you want to be when you grow up? If you’re still exploring your options, that’s okay! With thousands of career choices out there, it’s hard to decide! Do you enjoy being a “weekend” mechanic or just “tinkering” with your car? Let’s take a look and see if a career in the automotive field might be a “good fit” for your skills and career goals.

Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair all types of motor vehicles. Service technicians work on engines, transmissions, and drive belts. However, they must also be familiar with integrated electronic systems such as accident-avoidance sensors, braking, transmission, and steering systems. Service technicians sometimes specialize in a particular type of repair including automotive air-conditioning, brake repairers, front-end mechanics, and transmission technicians to name a few. 

Are the jobs out there?

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the number of jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics is projected to increase 9% nationally and 6% in Mississippi through 2020. Many job prospects will be available as mechanics and technicians retire or change employment. Entry-level service technicians will be needed to perform basic maintenance and repairs as the number of vehicles on the road continues to rise. Job prospects are going to be best for those with postsecondary training, good problem-solving and diagnostic skills, and computer and electronics knowledge and experience. Hinds Community College has an excellent Automotive Technology Program that is well respected in the metro area and beyond!

Possess these qualities……this might be the career for you

• Customer-service skills
• Detail oriented
• Dexterity
• Mechanical skills
• Troubleshooting skills

Which degree option is right for you?

Automotive Technology is an instructional program that prepares individuals to engage in the servicing and maintenance of all types of motor vehicles by providing classroom instruction and laboratory experiences using equipment comparable to that found in industry.  

Degree options in the Automotive Technology program include a Career Certificate option, Technical Certificate option and AAS Degree option.  All program options are written to nationally recognized, industry-based certifications.  The goal is for the student to earn a “credential of value” during their time at the community college.  That “credential of value” is the Associate of Applied Science degree, a Technical Certificate, a Career Certificate, and/or license/certification recognized by business and industry.  The credential should be a step along a career pathway offering students ongoing opportunities to increase their earning potential in the job market. 

For more info about the Automotive Technology program on the Raymond Campus, contact Steve Miller at SMMiller@hindscc.edu or click the button below:

Note: This program is also offered at the Rankin and Utica campuses
Rankin - 601.936.5522 • Raymond - 601.857.3299 • Utica - 601.885.7009

Automotive Machinist Technology…..Career training, credentials—and a paycheck in your pocket!

I was thinking…..what do you want to be when you grow up?  What about a career as an automotive machinist? Let’s take a moment of your time to explore this option and see if it might be a “good fit” for your skills and career goals. The automotive machinist would be hired to order to build, maintain, repair or rebuild engines. They have been trained to know how engines operate, diagnose problems, and make repairs. The job of the automotive machinist can vary somewhat depending on the type of engine, but generally, he or she will have all the skills and knowledge necessary to address any issues an engine might have. Occasionally, the automotive machinist may be responsible for creating new parts for an engine requiring the machinist to use computer numeric controlled machines. The machinist must be capable of working on both gasoline-powered and diesel-powered engines.

Employment Potential
Typical jobs filled by students who have completed the Automotive Machinist program include working for local automotive machine shops doing cylinder block work, cylinder head work, and tear down/inspection/assembly of automobile engines. Approximate salary range for beginning entry level employees would be around $12 per hour.

Possess these qualities….this might be the career for you! 

Analytical skills. They must understand highly technical electronic and written blueprints, models, and specifications, so they can craft precision tools and metal parts. 

Manual dexterity. The work of automotive machinists must be highly accurate machining parts to an accuracy of .0001 inch which requires workers’ precision, concentration, and dexterity.

Mechanical skills. Machinists must be mechanically inclined.

Physical stamina. The ability to endure long periods of standing and performing repetitious movements is important for machinists.

Technical skills. Machinists must understand computerized measuring machine.

For program information, contact Thomas McBrain at 601-857-3439 or TMcBrain@hindscc.edu or visit the Automotive Machinist Technology website.