Service Advisor

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary:

Automotive service advisors greet customers, listen to their description of the problems or service needed, determine the type of service required and prepare repair orders. If a vehicle requires additional repairs not covered in the original order, they estimate the additional cost and telephone the customer for permission to do the work. They also advise customers on other available services.

Job Responsibilities

• Advises customers about necessary service for routine maintenance.
  • Helps identify a mechanical problem by questioning the customer or doing a visual inspection or road test.
  • Confers with customers about inspection results, recommend corrective procedures, and prepare work order for needed repairs.
  • Prepares a repair order showing time, cost and labor estimates for service.
  • Writes a brief description of the customer’s concern on the repair order to help the technician locate the problem.
  • Explains the work performed and the repair order charges to the customer.
  • Handles basic customer complaints.
  • Schedules service appointments. 
  • Obtains customer and vehicle data prior to arrival when possible.
  • Greets customers in a timely, friendly manner and obtains vehicle information.
  • Test drives the vehicle with customer as needed to confirm the problem or refer to test technician.
  • Refers to service history, inspects vehicle, and recommends additional needed service.
  • Advises customers on the care of their cars and the value of maintaining their vehicles in accordance with manufacturers' specifications.
  • Provides a complete and accurate written cost estimate for labor and parts.
  • Establishes “promised time”.
  • Obtains customer's signature on repair order; provides customer with a copy.
  • Notifies technician of incoming work.
  • Checks on progress of repair throughout the day. Contacts customers regarding any changes in the estimate or promised time, explains cost and time requirements in detail, and gets proper authorization before any additional repairs are performed.
  • Reviews repair orders to ensure that work is completed and additional work and authorization is noted. Closes repair order as appropriate.
  • Ensures that vehicles are parked in assigned areas. Makes sure they are locked and all keys are marked and put away correctly.
  • Keeps service department forms and pricing guides up-to-date.
  • Implements a quality control process to eliminate comebacks.
  • Maintains high customer satisfaction standards.
  • Handles telephone inquiries regarding appointments and work in process.
  • Inspects all vehicles for body work, informs customer if work is needed and provides an estimate for body work.
  • Maintains a professional appearance.
  • Keeps work area clean.
  • Other tasks as assigned 

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Language Skills 
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

Mathematical Skills
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.