Professional credentials, the difference between a job and a career
By Todd Ramsey
MECP Program Manager

For many mobile electronics installers who have been in the business for more than five years, questions are always looming. “What’s my next move? Where is my next opportunity?” It’s a common condition of tenure in the installation bay where the daily routine can regularly leave you speculating about what you might be missing by not working elsewhere, what kind of work other technicians are doing that you aren’t, and if you should even remain in the industry for the long term. For the last few years, naysayer’s have said that mobile electronics continues to be on the decline. Yet if you take a look at retailers like Benchmark Motoring in Seattle, Security and Sound Systems in Honolulu, or Definitive Audio in Phoenix, things couldn’t be better. These shops are busy, they do top notch work, and they are far from “cheap.” So, what do these retailers have in common that attracts so many customers and puts the naysayer’s to shame? Perhaps the real question begins with who does the work at these stores and what makes them different.

As an installation technician, ask yourself this – “If I don’t actively pursue growth in my profession, where will I be at this time next year, or the year after that?” If you are not actively training to better yourself then you are really just hoping that what you know today will carry you through tomorrow. Professional installation is a career long learning experience that is paced by the challenges that new vehicles and technology provide. Vehicles being produced today are continually becoming more complex. Taking the time to enhance your training now will equip you to handle the problems you will face in your future.

There are many success stories about people willing to push their own comfort zone and strive for that next level of excellence. Here at MECP, we see everything from exemplary leaders like Brian Murphy, a 12-year veteran at Best Buy in Texas, who is now training other stores in his region to replicate his own high installation standards. There are also independent specialists like Master Installer, Dave Evans, who is starting his own retail store, Adrenaline Autosound, in Clayton, North Carolina. Dave is marketing himself as one of the few MECP Master Installers in his region. In either case, both Brian and Dave are leveraging their MECP credentials to further their professional careers. Other busy MECP content development professionals like Chris Yato, Steven Yiu, Bryan Schmitt, Kris Bulla, and Mark Eldridge are working to provide the industry with better examples of how the work you do is validated and improved upon on a regular basis. It is a known fact that possessing an MECP credential earns you more respect, and typically more income, than having no credentials at all. The difference between just talking the talk and actually walking the walk is only a certification away.

Some installation technicians suspend their pursuit of MECP certification with the Basic Installer level because it is what they need to gain employment. The real opportunity lies beyond that level with Advanced and then Master Installer certifications. With the achievement of these levels of certification, along with the required experience to obtain them, you’ll become a valuable and credible source of service your employer can market to eager customers willing to pay for high quality service. Everyone wants a rewarding work environment and achieving a sustainable, nationally recognized MECP Advanced or Master Installer credential speaks volumes about your commitment to a career rather than just a job. It’s the difference employers and even retail customers seek. Everyone’s time is valuable and historically speaking, the time spent with someone who has the MECP Master Installer certification is the best money a customer can spend!

If you haven’t given thought to the MECP Advanced and Master certification in a while, why don’t you take another look at the program? Use it to set yourself apart from your competition and market to your advantage. Remember, customers you really want also prefer professionals with a recognized credential.