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High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics cluster Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance pathway.

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There aren't really any educational requirements in the automotive recycling industry. "It's more of a-learn-as-you-go job," says Barry Reppnack. He owns his own automotive dismantling business.

However, a few people working in salvage yards may have training as mechanics or welders. It also helps to have experience in sales.

Those looking into owning their own business will find an education in accounting and management to be very helpful. Generally, workers also need to have some basic computer skills.

"A background in automotives would really help," says Reppnack.

Automotive recycler Pam Schneider agrees. "I think you need a passion for vehicles to really enjoy the work here," says Schneider. She encourages students interested in the area to take shop courses in high school. She also highly recommends shop courses that have co-op programs. "This really is a hands-on business," she says. "You won't know if you like working out in the yard until you've tried it. Co-op gives you a chance to do that."

Jay Camarena is president of the Inland Auto Dismantlers Association as well as owner of an auto salvage yard in Pomona, California. He advises anyone interested in entering automotive recycling to start early because it can take a couple years to learn the business. But once newcomers start to learn the ropes, it fairly easy to move up and around in the industry, he says. "If you work in this field, it's really easy to jump into an auto parts store, [work as a] mechanic, in transmission repair, and most any automotive business," he says.

Being in the industry for more than 20 years, Reppnack also has a few words of advice. "Try to work on your customer skills, your personal skills, your phone skills because you're dealing with the public quite a bit," he says. "It's the mainstay of our business."

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