In many instances, when you ask someone what their net worth is they will respond in a monetary value.  However, your net worth is not only the amount of money you have in the bank, but also the cumulative value of your skills and abilities that benefits an employer.  

Increasing your net worth just isn’t some catchy motto or business slogan; it is a path to personal growth and development. Simply put…the more experience you bring to the table, the more you’re worth. It’s a fact; people with more formal education and professional certifications stand a greater chance of ascending to higher levels of management. While every manager should know this, there is a large segment of our technician staff that still remains complacent and lackadaisical about the issue.

I frequently ask my technicians “where do you see yourself in this organization ten years from now”? Most of them give the same answer, senior technician or supervisor. For some reason they have no desire to strive for the top. They are completely content in what they do (whatever that happens to be at that time.)

I was recently interviewing applicants for a vacant supervisor position. I explained to all of them that the reason I chose them over the others was because of their commitment to personal growth and development. I looked for how long they have been working in the fleet maintenance field and what certifications they held. I also looked for technicians who are involved in their national or local fleet associations. Did they subscribe to periodicals that pertain to their profession?

Some will claim that simply having an ASE certification does not necessarily make them a better technician. I contend that a junior technician who goes out of his/her way to study and pass ASE exams displays a higher level of personal drive and motivation, and is worth more than two uncertified legacy technicians who think they know it all. While experience does matter, complacency and not keeping up with automotive technology can rapidly degrade an employee’s usefulness.  

Technicians should acquire as many certifications as they possibly can; not because they will earn money per pay period, but because they will increase their personal net worth while providing value to their employer. If they have completed all their ASEs, encourage them to should seek-out other industry certifications, such as CAFM and CPFP.  Do some succession management and prepare them to one day take your job.

Remember…build-up your net worth today, for tomorrow’s next job.