Auto Mechanic Shares Her Career Journey with West40 Students
- Chris Coffey
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Hailey Muellner compares working on cars to a big, satisfying puzzle.
“It makes me excited because I get to take it apart, see how it works, and see how all of it connects. It’s never-ending of essentially learning,” Muellner said.
Muellner is a certified auto mechanic who started her career journey in a high school trades program. Later she earned an associates degree in automotive technology and gained valuable experience working at privately-owned auto repair shops and car dealerships. She is now rebuilding complex auto transmissions.
“Automotive in general is such a wide variety that the possibilities are endless. There’s so much you can do. Even if you don’t want to physically ‘wrench’, you could be a parts runner, you could build tools,” Muellner said.
Muellner spoke to West40 students via Zoom as part of our Employability Program’s “Career Spotlight” series, where students hear directly from working professionals about their jobs and pathways. In recent months, students have also heard from an occupational therapist and a master electrician.
“Auto mechanic is one of the most frequently requested interviews by our West40 students. It’s a career that is in demand and our partners at Morton College and Triton College have solid programs that include training for electric vehicles, too,” said Kathleen O’Hara, who coordinates the Employability Program.
Muellner said she’s often the only woman working on vehicles in a male-dominated industry. While the work can be demanding, she said it’s important not to give up.
“Both men and women will be very aggressive with you at times, so you definitely have to take it with a grain of salt,” Muellner said. “You need to assert yourself and say what you’re OK with and what you’re not OK with. A lot of people can be understanding.”
Muellner described the different levels of the auto mechanic’s ladder, from lube tech to master tech. She also talked about the process of buying tools, the value of automotive repair certifications, and how much money mechanics can expect to earn.
According to Muellner, there is always room to grow in the automotive repair industry.
“It definitely is one of the trades where you are continuously learning and if you find a place that wants to invest in you as much as you want to invest in them, you will get very far,” Muellner said.
By the end of the Zoom session, students understood what it takes to become a mechanic and why it pays off to be ready to learn, work hard, and stand up for yourself.
More "Career Spotlight" discussions will be available for West40 students next year, including interviews with a firefighter and a veterans assistant.
You can learn more about the program at this link: