Meet a young technician: Haiden McMurray
Haiden McMurray wants to become the go-to person for solutions. This NASCAR Technical Institute student believes advanced problem solving is the key to automotive success.
Vehicle Service Pros is partnering with TechForce Foundation to share profiles and perspectives of young automotive technicians who are in the early days of their careers. These students were asked: "What is one skill you would like to master?"
"Most people who do not have an answer usually respond with, 'I don't know, but I know someone who does.' I want to be that 'someone," McMurray says. "My goal in life is to help as many people as I can in any way I can."
His chosen skill reflects this philosophy. "If I could master any skill to advance my career as a technician, I would choose the ability to quickly come up with a solution for any situation, no matter the situation."
McMurray understands problem solving complexity. "I believe every question has its solution, but not every question has just one solution. There are infinite approaches an individual could take to solve one problem.
"Looking at a situation through somebody else's eyes is very helpful in finding solutions to problems. Finally, I ask someone for help and they come up with a solution that never even crossed my mind and I always think to myself, 'why didn't I think of that?' I want to be able to 'think of that' every single time.
"To be a good technician, you must be patient, vigilant, and perceptive. Creative problem solving is very important in finding solutions to anything but especially in fixing vehicles."
McMurray says, "Mastering advanced problem solving and diagnostic skills would be the most valuable asset for advancing my career as a technician. This skill set would not only enhance my ability to quickly identify and resolve issues across a range of technologies, but also improve my capacity to work under pressure."
McMurray is among the students who competed in a Snap-on Tool "one skill" contest with TechForce Foundation.