If you enjoy working with customers, can communicate well, and have an interest in the automotive industry, a career as a service advisor could be for you.
Service advisors work as part of a customer service team, dealing with motorists and corporate customers and ensuring their vehicles are serviced to the highest possible satisfaction. These jobs are usually based at franchised car dealerships or independent automotive workshops and garages. Service advisors act as a liaison between the customer and the mechanic working on their vehicle. This role requires a great deal of product knowledge, good communication skills, selling skills, and customer service skills.
Responsibilities
Qualifications
Skills
Salary
Career prospects
What does a service advisor do?
Day-to-day responsibilities might include:
- Handling enquiries from customers.
- Communicating with customers in person and over the phone.
- Advising customers on the maintenance and servicing of their vehicles.
- Acting as liaison between customers and mechanics and explaining which repairs have been advised.
- Offering customers additional products and services.
- Administrative duties such as updating client accounts.
- Explaining the estimated time and cost of the vehicle service and any necessary repairs.
What qualifications do you need to become a service advisor?
The minimum requirement for a junior service advisor is an education to GCSE level. A-levels or even a degree in subjects such as Business, Management Studies, or Marketing would help strengthen your application.
Relevant experience in a customer service role will be very beneficial for your CV. Some understanding of mechanical terms would also be useful.
What skills do you need to become a service advisor?
Communication skills: You will need the ability to speak to customers both in person and over the phone. You will also need to be able to explain technical terms to customers to help them make decisions about the advised repairs.
Customer service skills: You must be motivated to provide the best possible service for the customer.
Sales skills: In some service advisor roles, one of your duties will be selling additional products or services to customers.
Technical knowledge: In order to act as an effective liaison between customer and mechanic, it would be useful to have some technical knowledge of the vehicles your company services.
Organisation: You will need to be able to organise yourself effectively in order to provide the highest level of customer service while keeping up with your administrative duties.
How much does a service advisor earn?
Starting salaries tend to be in the region of £18,000 per annum. For senior positions, this can rise to £40,000 to £45,000. Often company benefits and bonus schemes based on performance should be factored in for these types of roles.
According to our latest annual report, the average salary for a service advisor in 2019 was £27.462.20.
What are your career prospects as a service advisor?
As you gain experience, you could be promoted to more senior positions with increased responsibility. For example, you could move into a supervisory role, looking after other service advisors and setting them targets. If you have a head for business, you could move into a business management role.
