Hiring automotive technicians that are skillful, hard-working, and personable is key to winning in the automotive service industry. Shops need qualified personnel on their teams so they can meet customer expectations, handle their workload, and keep the cars regularly, and happily, coming in and out of the shop.
It’s not always easy to retain good employees when they can be found—and even more difficult today because of the technician shortage and misconceptions about what it takes to work in automotive repair. However, there are still plenty of ways to find top talent for your shop. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when hiring a new mechanic.
Technical Skills & Training: What to Look For
Recruiting automotive technicians depends on making sure recruits have good soft skills. We can’t expect every applicant to have 10 years of experience, but we can look for candidates who are always willing to learn. Recruits should have a high school degree, completed at least one automotive training program, and ideally have done other manufacturer-specific programs. Even so, a mechanic’s learning shouldn’t stop when they’re hired. The best employees in auto shops are those who are willing to keep learning throughout their careers. That can mean completing additional certifications, or simply shadowing more experienced members of their team.
Experience
The answer to how to recruit automotive technicians also involves selecting candidates with different experience levels. Of course, hiring technicians with significant experience is useful. However, it’s equally vital to leave room for entry-level candidates who can learn from more experienced techs and grow with the shop. That way, when experienced employees retire or move on, shops aren’t back to square one looking for talent. This requires shop owners to foster an internal shop culture where techs are connected and encouraged to share information and learn from each other.
Specialists and Generalists
When hiring automotive technicians, the goal should be to create a well-rounded team. It’s good to have specialists onboard for technical work, like electronics. Shops should also have generalists who can work in several areas of the business. This way, they can easily fill in for other employees during vacations or when unforeseen circumstances occur.
Problem-Solving
Another important factor in hiring a technician is their ability to problem solve. During interviews, it’s important to ask the candidate about hypothetical situations to assess how they work through a problem. Asking questions outside their specialization areas is another way to evaluate this quality, because it may force them to speculate, or build on what they already know.
Teamwork & Communication
During your interview process, be sure to explore what experience the candidate has with collaborating and being part of a team. In the shop, acting as an effective team member depends on high-quality communication, compromise, and thoughtfulness. This can be especially important for shop owners who are managing multiple auto shop locations.
Dedication to Safety
Safe auto shops keep employees away from harm and workplace accidents. Making sure your potential new mechanic understands best practices for safety, including keeping work areas clean, organized and well inspected can make sure that they’re not impeding the workflow of other team members or putting anyone in danger. Once hired, be sure to review your shop’s specific safety practices with your new employee, including the use of any necessary protective gear.
Tech Talent Shortage
The tech talent shortage is real and impacts shops of all types and sizes. Shops can overcome the shortage by partnering with local junior colleges by offering internships and providing employee incentives for further learning and specialization when possible. Or take a move for Jaime Hjelm, co-owner of Wicked Wrench Co., who always has a "Mechanic Wanted" application open on her shop's website. Over time, she has developed a database of potential techs on file to call for an interview when there is an opening on the team.
Retention Incentives and ARA
Another good tactic for recruiting automotive technicians is to offer competitive wages and retention incentives for skilled mechanics. Experienced techs may also be attracted to shops that are certified members of the Automotive Retailers Association. Knowing their employer is committed to business excellence can be a powerful means of bringing new team members through the door.
Additional Resources
The backbone of your shop's success lies in the hands of your employees—qualified technicians and service writers who ensure that jobs are completed efficiently and meet customer expectations. It's important that your employees have the right skill sets and attitudes to handle their workload, work efficiently, and keep cars moving in and out of your garage.
Interested in taking a deeper dive into establishing a shop culture that attracts and retains top talent? Check out our webinar with Jaime Hjelm on How Culture Fuels Retention, Profit & Customer Loyalty or our Tune Up Podcast episode on The Technician Shortage.
