Career Mirror -- by Mark Sproxton

Carburetors gave way to fuel injectors years ago. Console displays once filled with basic dials and gauges are now digitized and controlled by computer parts. More changes are on their way in the automotive parts business, and Jack Soare will continue monitoring the ever evolving inventory.

"It's all computerized now," said the parts manager for Northland Volkswagen. "But you still have to know the product and the parts and which are seasonal and which are on the way out. You really have to watch it closely so you don't get stuck with slow moving or obsolete parts."

When Soare first began in the industry, inventory was kept by pencil, paper, and a good memory. After working throughout high school at an auto dealership, he soon moved to a parts company and worked his way up the ladder from behind the scenes work, to sales, to parts manager. No parts courses were available in his day. In 1974 he was offered a job with Volkswagen and has worked in Calgary since then. Being in a position of authority doesn't mean he works nine-to-five, four days a week either. "I put in a lot of hours," he said. "I'm in at 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. I do take the odd afternoon off to go golfing, and I don't work Saturdays in the summer, but I do in the winter." Those working in his department put in similar time commitments.

Although the parts department doesn't pay as well financially as some other areas of the automotive industry, Soare said there's just as many other kinds of rewards. "I think dealing with most people kind of makes my day," he said. "If you can make a customer or a technician happy, that's rewarding for you." Earning recognition within the company for work well done also helps the easy-going parts manager balance the worst part of the job, dealing with irate customers. "People are becoming more demanding and expect more," he said.

That's why, when Soare's hiring, he often leans toward someone's character over educational qualifications. "There's nothing more valuable than experience, but I go by personality," he said. When new workers are hired, they begin as a parts driver and warehouse worker before moving to the front counter. "I find people who can deal with people tend to make the better parts people and tend to stay with you longer," Soare said. "That's what this job's all about. You can teach someone part numbers. To teach attitude doesn't happen."

So when he's not dealing with staff, technicians, customers, or reviewing work orders, Soare spends his time on the computer and telephone keeping the inventory well stocked. And if items need to be put away, he does that too. "Everybody helps put things away. We're pretty hands on, and I do anything that has to be done."

Despite the ever-changing nature of the industry, Soare believes there's a good future for those who have basic computer skills, and can deal with others effectively. "There's still a good opportunity for young people to get into the industry," he explained. "The car as we see them are going to be around for another 20 years. It's a good industry. You have to be the right person for the job, but it's done well for me."