Throughout my career operating Tire and Service Centers, one of my main responsibility was finding, training and developing new talent. I did this for years and hired thousands of technicians for different dealers at all different stages of business.
And I’m not saying it’s an easy thing to do – find and hire great technicians – but there were two things that almost every dealer was doing wrong that was making it way more difficult than it needed to be.
Learn from their mistakes, and start taking the right steps to find and hire the best technicians for your shop.
First, how you attract technicians must be done correctly.
You need to think about hiring technicians like you would attracting customers. You can’t just post an ad on a website these guys (and gals) aren’t spending any time on, and you can’t ask them to do something they can’t or won’t do – like send you their resume.
Nine times out of ten, the best technicians aren’t unemployed perusing job sites. Most of them aren’t even signed up for these sites. They’re employed and realizing that they aren’t happy where they are. The most qualified also won’t have updated (or any) resumes to send your way – so stop asking for them.
Instead, post an ad to Craigslist. It may sound old school, but this has worked, time and time again. Post the ad with your phone number and request the technician call or text you for details.
If you’re thinking about hiring like you would think about getting new customers – you realize you need to offer an incentive to bring new technicians in.
Just like you’ll give a new customer a low-priced oil change, offer a new technician a signing bonus. Structure the bonus with the first half paid out upon signing and the second half after 90 days. Also consider a Flat Rate incentive program.
Here is an example Ad:
Auto Technician – for busy shop – Full Benefits – Signing Bonus
I am looking for 4 qualified mechanics with at least 2-3 years of experience.
Please call/text me immediately @ 555-555-5555 or respond to this posting.
We are paying the following bonuses for qualified new hires:
$1000 A Tech
$750 B Tech
$500 C Tech
*Please call for details
Technicians with at least two years of documented working experience need to apply.
The second and most important step, make yourself available.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but I would repeatedly see dealers post job ads and then not answer incoming calls. Answer your phone. I’m not saying you need to be available 24/7…but, basically, be available 24/7.
Save yourself time and pre-screen candidates over the phone before scheduling a time to bring them in for an in-person interview. I find that most dealers are pretty good at interviewing, but as a refresher, be sure you’re focusing on:
- Past experience & jobs
- What level of technician they’d consider themselves (A, B, C)
- How many ASEs they have
- Work ethic
If you’re thinking about hiring like you would think about getting new customers – you realize you need to offer an incentive to bring new technicians in.
When to hire? I get this question a lot. There’s no cookie-cutter answer from a revenue perspective – this decision varies depending on the services you offer, the technicians you have, etc. But, what I can say with confidence is that if you’re turning customers away at the counter midday – if you’re saying no to business – then it’s definitely time to consider hiring another technician.
Do you have any other hiring tips for dealers? Share them in the comments.
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