From school to tools: upgrading your service career

Making the change from schoolbooks to tools is a big step, and when you’re just starting out, it can also feel like you’re shaping the rest of your career.

The good news is that there has never been a better time to train for a trade, with high demand in Australia’s automotive and trucking industry due to ongoing shortage of skilled technicians and mechanics.

If you are looking to join the ranks of technicians and mechanics servicing trucks on Aussie roads there are jobs at Original Equipment Manufacturers such as Isuzu Australia, who offer opportunities from mechanic to senior management, with further opportunities for career development.

Starting out as a trainee mechanic at 15 years old, Isuzu Australia Limited’s experienced National Training Manager, David Smith, has a chat with us about his career progression from under the cab to the front of the classroom—and how he’s putting his mechanical background into training the next generation of truck technicians in Isuzu’s Dealer Network.

IAL National Training Manager, David Smith

Hi David, you’ve been in the industry for several decades now. What did your early years as a mechanic look like?

After leaving high school at 15, I began an apprenticeship as a car mechanic in Melbourne’s east, which took four years to complete. So, I had my certificates by age 19.

After that I decided to look further afield and gain experience at a specialised tuning company. I then branched out into another workshop to keep my skills sharp.

From there, I joined the Royal Automotive Club of Victoria (RACV), driving ‘a little yellow van’ as a roadside assist mechanic for the better part of a decade. I also undertook supervisory roles at the RACV, which led to my first ever training role.

From the moment I started that job I absolutely loved it, even though I had my doubts on whether I was up to the task!

How did you progress to becoming the Training Manager at Isuzu after this?

The Holden College had an opening for a technical trainer for the Holden-badged Isuzu light commercial vehicles, and that became my first job in a training role.

I also became a training course developer, helping to write the courses that the trainers would implement with the students. I got involved in developing courses for Isuzu Trucks and after my predecessor retired, I put my hand up for the role as National Training Manager at Isuzu Australia.

I was 40 years old before I stepped foot in front of a class, something I never thought I was capable of, but here we are. I guess it shows that it’s never too late to upgrade your career from starting out as a mechanic or service technician.

How valuable is having a strong mechanical background in a management role such as yours, as Isuzu’s National Training Manager?

My mechanical experience assists me every day in understanding what the service techs in the workshops need, or what would assist them in doing their job better. I can put myself in their situation and develop programs that suit their needs.

You could technically do this type of role without having worked as a mechanic or service tech, but it is so valuable to have that strong grounding.

It’s definitely a must for the trainers and the developers who work with me—they would find it difficult to deliver the training successfully if they didn’t have that experience of being in the workshop behind them.

What inspires you about having a job in service with Isuzu?

My team and I try to supply training programs that open up different career avenues and we try to provide a good range of opportunities for personal development—this makes me feel like we’re doing valuable work that makes a difference.

If you love the workshop, love the engines and that side of the job, we have avenues for career development such as the Master Technician course, which is a terrific path to realise your potential.

There are also exciting opportunities and challenges like the National Technical Skills Competition, the I-1 Grand Prix in Japan representing Isuzu Australia on the international stage, and the V8 Supercars pit crew experience.

If you’re keen to get into a supervisor role or out from under the cab, there are careers like Service Advisor roles and Parts Consultants, which can be a good way to move up the management chain.

We try to have a wide variety of options that suit different personalities. We find that’s a great way to keep talent within the company and keep people interested in progressing their careers.

What advice do you have for young people looking to get a foot in the door or wanting to change their career path in service?

My advice will always be don't be afraid to give something a go. You can always re-skill and do something else.

Have a look, try new things and see where you fit best.

Interested in working with us? Take a look at careers with Isuzu here, or take a look at this blog exploring a career as a senior technician.