Q: How many years have you been in the industry?
A: 16
Q: How many years have you been MECP certified?
A: 15
Q: How long did it take you to become a MECP certified Master Installation Technician?
A: 3
Q: How has becoming an MECP Master Installation Technician impacted your career?
A: It has provided a credential that carries weight for the industry that we are in. Having the Master Installation Technician title has made it easier for me to get new jobs. It has definitely impacted my career in a positive manner and I definitely recommend that anybody who has the ability, certify as high as they can.
Q: What do you feel are the big challenges facing the industry?
A: Right now, we have to move in different directions than we have had to in the past. Previously it was easy for the aftermarket to produce products that were in high demand due to the OEMs not having a similar product. This has changed the way we are doing business.
Q: What do you feel are the big challenges technicians face while working in the install bay?
A: Right now, we are facing an industry that is able to adapt to the aftermarket systems in a more rapid manner. This has taken away some of the advantage of the mobile specialist. The second major challenge is the difficulty level that is rising with newer vehicles and the electronics they contain. It is more important that ever for installation technicians to get up to speed on current technology or they face extinction.
Q: What are your comments about other installers who feel like the certification does not apply to them?
A: I have two camps of thought on this. First, you have the Steve Browns of the industry that may or may not have embraced certification but regardless has made a name for himself. This type of person has his work to speak for his abilities and, for this type of person, another certification is not going to do a much for him or his reputation. On the other hand, there is the more typical installation technician that has much to benefit from such a certification and that type of person should be seeking to better their career.
Q: In what areas of your current position do you feel like you excel? What are your strengths or skill-sets?
A: At this point in my career, I my greatest strength is experience. I now have a very well rounded skill set which gives me the ability to take on any project I want. You may be the most talented installation technician in the world but without common sense you are nothing. The time and experience that I have gained from the years I have been doing this cannot be purchased, only earned through hard work. My strongest actual skill set would have to be metal working design with motorization.
Q: As a Master Installation Technician, have you benefited financially in regard to salary, incentives or growth at your current employer?
A: At my current employer, I received a bonus for each level of certification that I achieved.
Q: As a result of your certification, do you feel you have job security or better job prospects?
A: I think that it gives you an upper hand as far as being looked at first. Ultimately, you are going to have to sell yourself when it comes to the hiring process but the certification makes your resume rise to the top.
Q: Do you actively promote your Master Installation Technician Certification to your customers or retail audience?
A: I personally do not; however, my company does.
Q: What is your favorite tool and why?
A: My favorite tool is my Miller Millermatic 251 Mig Welder because it allows me to create endless projects from nothing more than a pile of steel.
Q: What is the most challenging car that you’ve worked on and why? (Include year, make, model and why was it difficult?)
A: 2005 Bentley Arnage. This is just a difficult vehicle due to the fact that there is very little information on it and there is not a large following for it in the forums.
Q: What do you think of our terminology change from “Installer” to “Installation Technician”?
A: I think that this is a great idea and provides a more credible image for the technician of today.
|
