For Youth - Career Information
Are You Right for the Job?
All in a Day's Work
The Stats
Debbie White - New Waterford, Nova Scotia - "Saf-Way Auto Parts"
Parts galore -- "It is better to try" is the motto of the town of New Waterford, Nova Scotia. A motto that Debbie White believes in, and it could well explain why she often says, "I love my job. I'm one of the few people that enjoys going to work!"
Debbie learned about cars in her father's garage. From the time she was young, she messed with parts, figured out how to change tires and pump gas. By the time she had her license, she could do all the basic maintenance on a car. No wonder she landed a job in the parts department of Saf-Way Auto Parts in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
How to be the Best
"I'm the kind of person that didn't stop at just parts. I looked over every bit and aspect of the business so I could do everything including office work, parts, inventory control, purchasing, shipping and receiving." Debbie started to memorize the numbers of so many parts that her colleagues and customers called her "the walking computer."
Four years ago, a branch of Saf-Way Auto Parts needed a manager in the shop at New Waterford, the town where she lived. Debbie saw this as the perfect time to advance with the company--and be in her own backyard. At first, when customers asked to speak to the manager, they would be dismayed when a woman came out to greet them. Not any more! Now they make a point of asking for her specifically.
Are You Right for the Job?
Parts warehouse personnel should:
- have good people skills
- have computer skills
- have a natural ability to work with numbers
- have a basic knowledge of how vehicles work
- be "quick on the draw" with their minds and hands
All in a Day's Work:
Debbie's days are full. Although she manages the shop, she also puts in a lot of time behind the counter and working with customers. A typical day runs something like this: scan the stock to see how the inventory is holding; find out what has been ordered for the day; help the staff identify those difficult parts that come in; organize the day's deliveries; read the latest industry news and keep the staff up to date; file new product data sheets; balance the day's sales; prepare the week's advertising; clean; do inventory control ... and that's only part of it. Customers who need paint mixed for their car are also likely to end up in Debbie's hands as she is highly trained in the art of colour shading and automotive refinishing.
"If you are interested, you can have a ball. Everyday is different." She fondly remembers when a gentleman came in who had a 1934 Chev. He wanted to change his brakes, which required that he go from an older style drum brake to a modern day disc brake. Debbie's staff didn't think it was possible to get the right parts. "Never say you can't get it--always look. If it's made, we can find it." Of course, it wasn't long before the customer was on his way, happy as could be with exactly the right part.
The Stats
Essential Skills:
Reading; Document Use; Writing; Computers; Working with Others; Numeracy (Math); Oral Communication; Continuous Learning; Problem Solving
Skills and Abilities:
Significant use of memory; hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity; artistry
Salary 1:
Starting: $6 To $9 an hour; After five years: $10 To $15 an hour; Starting (per year): $12,480.00 to $24,960.00; After five years (per year): $20,800.00 to $31,200.00
Related Occupations:
Warehousing, stockroom and Sales in a variety of industries and retail sectors; service writer for dealership or garage; Auto Sales
High School Subjects:
Math, Computer Science, Business, English
Post Secondary Training:
Community college; Apprenticeship
1 The salary analysis of each occupation is based on a 1999-2000 pan-Canadian average. Salary information will vary due to the many factors that determine salary; including province of residence, experience, employer, and specific job responsibilities. The salary indicated for each profile should be treated as a guideline only.