4 Ways Excellent Communication Skills Will Help You Thrive in a Service Advisor Career

Auto service advisors play an extremely important role, as they are the direct link between clients and the service team. As the middleman, ensuring messages are relayed accurately and effectively between both sides is the most vital aspect of their job. 

If you’re considering a career as an auto service advisor, you may already know that having an automotive education is essential to being able to explain technical car issues and repairs to clients. However, the difference between surviving or thriving in this career is not just about your knowledge of cars but also heavily depends on the quality of customer service you can provide. 

Superior customer service relies on effective communication skills to build relationships and establish trust with clients. Read on to learn these 4 ways excellent communication skills will bring you success throughout your automotive career! 

1. A Good First Impression Sets a Positive Tone

Throughout your service advisor career, you will often be the first face clients see as they walk through the door. A frequently overlooked aspect of communication skills is non-verbal. Good eye contact and a warm smile before words are even exchanged set a positive tone for a situation in which clients may already be a little stressed. If you’re busy with another client, be sure to acknowledge new clients when they walk in and let them know you’ll be with them shortly. 

At ATC Surrey, you’ll learn the importance of building relationships with clients through good communication and customer service to retain their loyalty to your business. Starting off on the right foot with your first impression is the first step towards happy, repeat clients. 

2. Listening Is Important in a Service Advisor Career

As a service advisor, you will be interacting with people who have an issue with one of their most valuable assets and may be stressed. Taking extra care to listen not only gives you all the information you’ll need to solve the problem, but it conveys empathy on your part. This interaction isn’t just for you to understand the technical issues that may be occurring, but for the client to feel that they are being heard and valued, establishing trust.

Once you’ve taken the time to fully understand the situation, you’ll be ready to relay the message to the service team, and then explain the repair or service order back to the client.

3. Be Clear and Concise to Better Serve Clients

From communicating with your clients to identify the issues with their vehicle to relaying this information to a technician, and managing the entire process from beginning to end, you must make a conscious effort to be as clear and concise as possible with whomever you’re speaking to.

Many clients have little knowledge about the intricacies of a car. Your service advisor training will teach you, step-by-step, the methods and procedures used during car repairs and maintenance. You must take this technical knowledge and offer clear explanations in simple language that your clients can understand. 

4. Asking Questions Will Help You Uncover Solutions

Whether interacting with the client or service team, if ever you are unsure of something, it’s imperative to ask questions to be successful. As a service advisor, you’ll also be expected to deal with customer complaints. In order to get to the root of any problem and come up with a solution, you’ll need to ask questions to clarify what you can do to remedy the situation and leave customers satisfied.

In addition, customer follow-up and requesting feedback are two more ways you can ask questions to continue building and fostering positive client relationships and help your career thrive.

Approved by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB), and with over 35 years of experience, ATC is committed to producing successful automotive industry professionals. You will be entering the workforce with a competitive edge after completing your program. 

We are familiar with the challenges of the modern-day student, which is why we offer flexible class schedules, practicums for hands-on experience, career placement assistance, and even financial assistance. 

Are you comparing auto service programs to find one that’s right for you?

Contact ATC Surrey for more information!