As an automotive writer and influencer, Chaya Milchtein is driven about sharing her knowledge with her followers. Now she has authored a guide to car ownership that puts her advice in the hands of everyday people.
Written in mind for those who need a car, but also might be financially strapped, āMechanic Shop Femmeās Guide to Car Ownership: Uncomplicating Cars for All of Usā (Little, Brown Spark) teaches how to manage this major financial investment without any jargon. This paperback answers important questions such as whether to lease or buy a car, how to find a good mechanic and when parts such as your tires should be replaced.
At first, Milchtein didnāt envision a future in automotives when she created a GoFundMe fundraiser upon turning 18. She was aging out of the foster care system and desperately needed to find a job.
āI had never any intention to do anything with cars; in fact, I didnāt even have a driverās license,ā remembered Milchtein. āI really firmly believed that Iād never be able to afford a car.ā
Milchteinās life changed when a woman who saw her GoFundMe reached out and asked how she could help. Milchtein replied that she needed a job and that person put her in touch with a human resources manager at a Sears.
āI got this interview, and she asked me what department I wanted to work in,ā she said. āAnd I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind, which was whichever one makes the most money, and she offered me automotive or appliances.ā
After landing a job at a Sears Auto Center in Glendale, Wisc., Milchtein has built up an over-seven year resume of advisory and managerial roles in repair shops, dealerships and collision shops in three states. It also instilled in her a love for helping people with their cars.
Milchtein took her interest in educating others about autos online through launching a blog in 2017. āA career coach recommended that I start a blog to share my knowledge since I was already answering people’s questions in Facebook groups and my DMs,ā she remembered. āI called that blog, āMechanic Shop Femme,ā and it stuck.ā
When she was laid off in 2020, Milchtein turned her blog into a full-time job and her website grew into a virtual automotive educational resource. She also built up her social media, first on Instagram and then on Tiktok.
Her paperback also reflects her missionāto empower every car owner with insider knowledge. āIt explains things your mechanic tried to explain but in a way that you can actually understand, and it answers questions you probably didn’t even think to ask,ā said Milchtein.
Despite having a strong writing portfolio and staying on top of industry trends and new vehicle models, Milchtein has gotten pushback from those questioning her credibility.
Milchtein, who identifies as a queer woman, said that she has encountered sexism while on the job and harassment through online comments. However, she has found community within other mechanics through a Facebook alliance group, where members can share their stories.
Milchtein also pointed to how fostering an inclusive work environment at auto repair centers might help solve another problem. She stated that the U.S. automotive industry is experiencing a continuous shortage of unfilled technician roles. āAnd you know what would fix it?ā she exclaimed. āIf they would only welcome women and queer folks to work in their repair shops, and that has to be done on so many different levels.ā
Milchtein might have found a solution. In honor of her mentor Jill Trotta, an ASE certified master mechanic who wrote the forward for her book, Milchtein is starting a scholarship fund for women and queer people entering the automotive industry.
To promote her book, Milchtein will kick off a 16-city book tour on April 9 with meet and greet events at women, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-owned mechanic shops across the country. The tour begins in Boston and ends in Milwaukee. Tickets are required and cost $5 with proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Buy them in advance here.