Lots of people have a love of cars and would also like a job in the industry. The problem is, not everyone has that all-important technical knowledge you need to become an engineer, mechanic, or even an assembler on a factory line. But the reality is that the automotive industry is enormous, and there are a whole bunch of job sectors that it needs to thrive.

So, if you failed at mechanics school or didn’t get the grades you required for an engineering degree, don’t panic. There is still a route into the car industry available for you – let’s take a look at some of your options.

Marketer

Let’s start with something that is vital to the car industry: marketing and advertising. As goauto.ca point out, we all have our favorite car adverts, of course, and there are many different agencies – both in-house and out – that create them. And if you get a job in marketing or advertising for a car manufacturer, the rewards can be superb. Money is well paid, of course, but you might also find yourself getting invites to huge industry events, and depending on who you are working with, maybe even tickets to the rally or race.

Writer

Why not express your love for cars by starting a blog about them? We’ll be honest, the car blog sector is pretty full right now, and you also have to bear in mind that the major publications are focusing a lot of their efforts to online, too. But if you have a unique voice and something original to say about cars – or a particular niche – then there is no reason why, over time, you can get some great exposure and a large audience.

Finance director and accounts

Once you develop a good name for yourself in business, the world is, effectively, your oyster. Start with a bookkeeping job at the likes of partsengine.ca, work your way up the corporate ladder, and become a financial director of a huge car-related company and you might end up being in with a shout of your dream role. Many financial directors are able to climb the ladder and make switches like this easily because ultimately, business is business, no matter what field you are working in.

Valet

On the face of things, a valet job isn’t all that much to write home about. But that all depends on how you go about your business. You can set up a cleaning service in your local mall, of course, where speed and quick cleaning will be your ultimate tool to earn a great living. But if you want to take things a little further try seeking out alternative markets, such as being a valet for luxury cars. When people drop a few hundred thousand bucks on a new car, you know they’re going to want to keep it clean. And if you build up a reputation for yourself, you will find yourself driving and cleaning some incredible cars that could be beyond your wildest dreams.

As you can see, there are plenty of other careers in the car industry you could choose – let us know if you can think of any more!