The Mechanic | Ivelina Dodova
It is an early Wednesday morning in late November. Dimitar Yordanov comes to his workplace at 7:40 sharp — a big car service, called “Ivea Fulda”, near the town center of Yambol. He checks the machines and his laptop, making sure that everything works fine and is in place. While waiting for his colleagues and customers to come, he makes himself a second cup of coffee.
“I make one coffee while I am getting ready at home and now it is my second one so that I can welcome customers awake with a smile”, he laughs.
While sipping from his coffee he looks at the schedule for the day and makes a moderate plan of what cars will have to be repaired physically and what kind of mistakes he will have to either fix or delete from the software of the cars.
His colleagues come at around 7.50 in the morning, settle themselves and look at the schedule Dimitar has made. They have a quick chat while getting ready.
When the first car comes, Dimitar and his colleagues already know how to proceed. The customer drives to the convergence stand (a platform), being navigated from one of the mechanics. Dimitar is the one who is going to repair the car as he has assigned himself for this task.
“Each one of us gets assigned for a car so that we can deliver the best customer satisfaction. Of course, if one of us finishes earlier or experiences difficulties, we help each other. We are a team after all.”
Dimitar puts 4 plates on the 4 wheels of the car and lifts it, while the car is on the platform. He then looks at the screen which is showing that the car has a problem. “This machine repairs the opening of the car’s tires and is fixing them, using a laser. I am just clicking on the computer. It is that easy if you know how to use the technology”, Dimitar explains.
“I love my job. I have been working here for 5 years now and I plan on continue developing in this area. The job is dirty and sometimes very exhausting but this has been a hobby for me for more than 10 years”, Dimitar smiles while explaining.
Dimitar also tells that the job gives him everything — “The salary is satisfying for the standards of our city, I network with people all the time and most importantly there is always place for improvement with new technologies evolving constantly.”
Dimitar is 25 years old. This is his first job since he graduated high school — “When I started working here, I didn’t know anything about machines or software. I only knew how to do basic repairs like changing oil because I have done them to my car or I have helped my father for his car”, he adds.
While working, he was completing his bachelor’s degree in Automobile Engineering. He decided not to go study in another city but rather do it remotely while working because, for him, practice is the key to success in this area. His favorite car is Nissan Z350 but he is more passionate about motorcycles as he is a rider himself, making moto vlogs on YouTube.
Outside of the service, he meets with friends, maintains his Instagram page and YouTube channel (MifataMV), and travels with his girlfriend — Maria.
His plans for the future are starting his own business in the automobile and motorbikes services but more software and technologically oriented because he thinks the “future of mechanics’ career path is there since more and more cars and motorbikes are full of electronics and different software.”
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Ivelina Dodova studies Business Administration and Journalism and Mass Communication at the American University in Bulgaria. She is a big fan of motorsports and cars, which is why she interviewed a mechanic, who is also a motovlogger.
