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What does a general service technician do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a general service technician do

General service technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for performing maintenance duties for automobiles and other light vehicles. These technicians are required to interact with customers to discuss cost estimates for performing automotive maintenance services. They must conduct visual vehicle inspections and perform any necessary repairs or replacement of automotive parts. They are required to be skillful in operating machines that mount and balance the tires of vehicles. General service technicians must also check the electrical systems of vehicles and should know how to install car batteries.

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General service technician responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real general service technician resumes:

  • Perform quick lube and general service repairs; prepare and sell repair estimates as well as promoting tire sales.
  • Perform maintenance on, mechanical, electrical, air, gas, ventilation, water, and hydraulic systems.
  • Communicate recommendations to customers base off diagnosis.
  • Load proprietary software packages onto various windows base systems.
  • General service technician in a fast-pace automotive lube and service center
  • Supervise work crews during construction and report production and quantity of windows install.
  • Perform general maintenance which include plumbing, construction, electrical and new construction for plant operations expansion for equipment placement projects.
  • Conduct installation and troubleshooting of intrusion, access control, wireless CCTV and theater systems in corporate and industrial settings.
  • Experience with pulling cable and installation, troubleshooting of CCTV products such as cameras, monitors, and DVR's.
  • Identify, diagnose, and repair vehicles to satisfy customer's concerns in a manner accordingly to Chrysler standards.
  • Fill grease and crater tanks on shovels.
  • Perform all service work, warranty and general repairs on new and old BMW 's
  • Perform general auto service on BMW, AUDI, SAAB, MERCEDES BENZ, diagnose general problems and repairs.
  • Adhere to all TLE uniform requirements and safety guidelines

General service technician skills and personality traits

We calculated that 27% of General Service Technicians are proficient in Customer Service, Maintenance Services, and Strong Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Customer-service skills, and Mechanical skills.

We break down the percentage of General Service Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 27%

    General Maintenance on vehicles.-Drain Oil-Rotate Tires/Mount tires-Wheel Balance-Battery/System tests-Light bulb changing-Great customer Service

  • Maintenance Services, 14%

    Performed general preventive maintenance services on passenger vehicles.

  • Strong Customer Service, 13%

    Credited with strong customer service satisfaction, while recommending solutions.

  • Vehicle Inspections, 10%

    Perform oil changes, tire changes, flat repairs, brake inspections, and complete vehicle inspections on customers vehicles.

  • Oil Changes, 10%

    Perform tasks such as oil changes, brake and alignment inspections, battery tests and installations, and various tire services.

  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

    Provide professional and responsible automotive preventative maintenance and repairs in a proficient and highly effective manor.

"customer service," "maintenance services," and "strong customer service" are among the most common skills that general service technicians use at work. You can find even more general service technician responsibilities below, including:

Detail oriented. One of the key soft skills for a general service technician to have is detail oriented. You can see how this relates to what general service technicians do because "service technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing vehicle systems, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments or other easy-to-miss causes." Additionally, a general service technician resume shows how general service technicians use detail oriented: "perform oil changes, tire repair, tire rotation, stocking and interior detailing to customer satisfaction"

Customer-service skills. Many general service technician duties rely on customer-service skills. "service technicians discuss automotive problems—along with options to fix them—with their customers," so a general service technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways general service technician responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "general shop maintenance shuttling customers to and from shop general automotive service"

Mechanical skills. general service technicians are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to general service technician responsibilities, because "service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." A general service technician resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "completed 22 point mechanical and safety inspections on all customer vehicles. "

Organizational skills. For certain general service technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "organizational skills." The day-to-day duties of a general service technician rely on this skill, as "service technicians must keep workspaces clean and organized in order to maintain safety and ensure accountability of parts." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what general service technicians do: "educated on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene by assisting in organizational needs. "

Physical strength. Another crucial skill for a general service technician to carry out their responsibilities is "physical strength." A big part of what general service technicians relies on this skill, since "service technicians must sometimes lift and maneuver heavy parts such as engines and body panels." How this skill relates to general service technician duties can be seen in an example from a general service technician resume snippet: "identified mechanical problems through physical and visual inspections or computerized diagnostic tools. "

Dexterity. Another skill commonly found on general service technician job descriptions is "dexterity." It can come up quite often in general service technician duties, since "service technicians perform many tasks that require steady hands and good hand–eye coordination, such as assembling or attaching components and subassemblies." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day general service technician responsibilities: "operate heavy machine lifts minor car maintenance change oil mount tires maintain shop equipment"

Most common general service technician skills

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Compare different general service technicians

General service technician vs. Motor tune-up specialist

An auto technician specializes in performing inspections, repairs, and maintenance on different automotive vehicles ranging from small cars to light trucks. Their responsibilities revolve around identifying issues using various diagnostic tools to determine which course of action to take, discussing the extent of repairs to clients, and ordering car parts from suppliers. There are also instances when an auto technician may have the task of maintaining the cleanliness of the workplace, or participate in record-keeping and monitoring the inventory.

We looked at the average general service technician salary and compared it with the wages of a motor tune-up specialist. Generally speaking, motor tune-up specialists are paid $14,440 higher than general service technicians per year.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between general service technicians and motor tune-up specialist. For instance, general service technician responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "maintenance services," "strong customer service," and "vehicle inspections." Whereas a motor tune-up specialist is skilled in "data entry," "cash handling," "quality customer service," and "vehicle registration." This is part of what separates the two careers.

The education levels that motor tune-up specialists earn slightly differ from general service technicians. In particular, motor tune-up specialists are 6.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a general service technician. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

General service technician vs. Auto technician

An automotive technician is responsible for maintaining the condition of automotive equipment. The duties of an automotive technician include repairing defective automotive components and inspecting and ensuring the auto's performance, stability, and safety. A tech is also responsible for upgrading the electrical systems to boost efficiency, conducting oil changes and tire checks, and installing batteries. An automotive technician also runs quality checks and improves system designs based on clients' specifications. An automotive technician must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and automotive systems to assist clients with their inquiries and concerns.

On average, auto technicians earn a $13,387 higher salary than general service technicians a year.A few skills overlap for general service technicians and auto technicians. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "customer service," "maintenance services," and "vehicle inspections. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, general service technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "strong customer service," "preventative maintenance," "diagnostics," and "professional work." Meanwhile, an auto technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "taking care," "preventive maintenance," "diagnosis," and "hand tools." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Auto technicians earn a higher average salary than general service technicians. But auto technicians earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $38,823. Additionally, general service technicians earn the highest salaries in the automotive with average pay of $27,804 annually.In general, auto technicians achieve similar levels of education than general service technicians. They're 1.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

General service technician vs. Automotive technician

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

An average automotive technician eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of general service technicians. The difference in salaries amounts to automotive technicians earning a $12,862 higher average salary than general service technicians.general service technicians and automotive technicians both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "customer service," "maintenance services," and "strong customer service," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, general service technicians are more likely to have skills like "preventative maintenance," "diagnostics," "professional work," and "safety standards." But a automotive technician is more likely to have skills like "computer system," "taking care," "preventive maintenance," and "automotive repair."

Automotive technicians earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $39,614. General service technicians earn the highest pay from the automotive industry, with an average salary of $27,804.automotive technicians typically earn similar educational levels compared to general service technicians. Specifically, they're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

General service technician vs. Technician

Technicians typically earn higher pay than general service technicians. On average, technicians earn a $9,997 higher salary per year.According to resumes from general service technicians and technicians, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "oil changes," and "preventative maintenance. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between general service technicians and technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a general service technician might have more use for skills like "maintenance services," "strong customer service," "vehicle inspections," and "diagnostics." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of technicians require skills like "patients," "patient care," "hand tools," and "diagnosis. "

In general, technicians earn the most working in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $46,660. The highest-paying industry for a general service technician is the automotive industry.technicians reach similar levels of education compared to general service technicians, in general. The difference is that they're 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of general service technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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