Kickstarting Your Automotive Career In The Real World: Meet Tesla Technician Bel Valdez -

Kickstarting Your Automotive Career In The Real World: Meet Tesla Technician Bel Valdez

When Maribel “Bel” Valdez was 16 years old, she was discouraged from pursuing a career as an automotive technician. More than a decade later, she completed her automotive technology education, landed a job at Tesla and isn't turning back.

As a student in an automotive, collision or diesel class, you’re probably thinking about how you can apply your skills in the real world. There are a lot of different jobs out there in automotive, but how does one get there?

Tomorrow’s Technician talked to four people working in very different areas of automotive—two starting out as technicians and two business owners—to give you a look into what it took to get there and how you can, too. In our second story, meet Maribel “Bel” Valdez, a technician at a Tesla dealership. 

Maribel “Bel” Valdez

School: Universal Technical Institute

Job: Technician at Tesla

When Maribel “Bel” Valdez was 16 years old, she met with her guidance counselor to talk careers.

“I just kind of thought that maybe I’d be a mechanic. I didn’t even know what a piston was at that time, but for some reason, I just always had a curiosity about it. I always wanted to know how cars run,” she recalls.

“I don’t know if she said these words exactly, but it was to an extent of, ‘It’s not really for girls.’ If she told me that now, I’d be like, ‘Excuse me?’ but at 16, I thought, ‘Well, you know better than I do. You’re probably right.’ So I kind of just dropped it at that point.”

After years of not pursing the career she originally wanted, Valdez was in her thirties and working for Universal Technical Institute’s collections department in Avondale, Arizona. About six years into the job, UTI was offering free classes to employees, and there were automotive classes offered in the evenings. That curiosity for learning about cars was sparked once again.

Valdez started the 12-month auto program while still working a full-time, 9 to 5 job, and she was taking the classes as a hobby. She was constantly exhausted, tired and overwhelmed, but it was worth it.

After completing the program, UTI has advisors who help students find jobs, but Valdez wasn’t initially looking for a career change because she would have to completely start over. Her adviser, however, kept pushing her to try to find a job in automotive and mentioned that Tesla was hiring technicians.

“Quite honestly I didn’t know much about Tesla at the time,” she says. “I thought it was like a hybrid car. I knew it had something to do with electrical, but I wasn’t 100% sure what it was about, but she was adamant about me applying at Tesla.

“I did my research and I honestly fell in love right away—as soon as I found out this car takes off in 2.6 seconds, zero to 60 miles, and it’s all electric.”

Three interviews later, Valdez got the job and was ready to start a new career and move to Austin, Texas, to work at a Tesla dealership, ending up where she wanted to start all along.

“You just have to put yourself out there and take the chance, take the risk because if you don’t, then you’re never going to know,” Valdez adds. “If it’s a passion that you have, you have to try to figure it out and not give up. Just push forward, don’t stop, don’t let someone else say what you can and you cannot do. It’s totally up to you.”

Check out more “Kickstarting Your Career” stories, here.

You May Also Like

Better Brake Law Update

Learn the latest about the salmon-inspired law.

One of the most transformative laws when it comes to vehicles and technicians is just 12 months away from taking full effect. This law has removed most of the harmful ingredients in brake pads that can impact the environment and technicians. The law has been slowly phased in over 15 years and has not impacted the performance of the brake pads you install. Who do we have to thank? Salmon.

PopQuiz Players Start 2024 With Success

Winners of a $10 McDonald’s gift card were randomly selected from all correct entries.

What Would I Say To My Younger Self?

Hindsight is 20/20 – wouldn’t it be nice to have better foresight?

Tech Rocks Nominations Close January 14th

The Grand Prize includes a trip to Arizona to be recognized on stage at Mecum Glendale.

MindGames Quiz Brings Holiday Presents

Winners of a $10 McDonald’s gift card were randomly selected from all correct entries.

Other Posts

Tesla Model S Suspension

For any electric vehicle, the alignment not only protects the tires it helps to increase range.

China’s BYD Overtakes Tesla in EV Sales in Final Months of 2023

Both BYD and Tesla reported record sales of EVs in the last three months of 2023.

Keep On Rockin’ Into The New Year

Nominations are still open for Vehicle Care Rockstars!

Congratulations To December Guess The Tool Players

The lucky winners of our latest contest each get a $10 Gift Card.