Trouble Finding Techs?

I was speaking to a few fellow shop owners around the country, and there seems to be areas of the country that are in desperate need of qualified technicians. I know that for a long time we have all been complaining. I would think things would be getting better. Just look at the tech schools; UTI (Universal Technical Institute), Lincoln Technical and more. These schools graduate thousands of entry level techs each year. Where are they?

I would like to hear from other shop owners about this problem.

The problem I can tell you Joe is most of the "techs" graduating from these places I wouldn't hire to wash my car. Being fairly close to Nashville Auto Diesel college the dealership that I worked at for a long time use to hire a lot of students for oil lube techs while they were going to school. This is how I got started. In the class I graduated from 15 yrs ago there were only about 1/2 the class that I would even let touch my car. My experience says most of them are looking to get out of the house and party not actually learning to start a career in the automotive world.

The problem I can tell you Joe is most of the "techs" graduating from these places I wouldn't hire to wash my car. Being fairly close to Nashville Auto Diesel college the dealership that I worked at for a long time use to hire a lot of students for oil lube techs while they were going to school. This is how I got started. In the class I graduated from 15 yrs ago there were only about 1/2 the class that I would even let touch my car. My experience says most of them are looking to get out of the house and party not actually learning to start a career in the automotive world.

There should be some type of interest and aptitude test before people are allowed into technical school. Too many kids don't know what they want to do. Working on cars sound nice so they go to school when they have no aptitude for the work. My most productive tech was working for me at 17 changing oil. He went to Nashville Diesel college and came back as a tech. The problem with all the technical schools and universities is it has be came a racket to collect the student loan money. They will take anyone who has the money.

I know the tech school here (Stark State) does very little hands on education (actual repair work) with their students. Most of it is book work, repair theory, learning how to use the new scantools, DMMs, etc... The few cars they do work on are brand new cars donated to them. It isn't bad loosening bolts on a car that is only 8 months old. Try loosening suspension bolts on a car that has seen 7 or 8 good Lake Erie winters. Not so fun.

I have been told they don't do more hands on repairs in the shop due to insurance liability because of past injuries.

Diamonds are rough before polished. Hire attitude and train skill. We are the real world Automotive Trainers. We are training our employees and customers while learning ourselves.

Edited by FROGFINDER, April 25, 2012 - 11:13 PM.

I am certainly having trouble finding skilled help here in NJ

How do shops find techs? What has worked and what has not worked?

The only place I have found anyone worth hiring lately is from Craigslist. The local paper and other media have been a waste of money. But it is tough, tough, tough finding anyone.

The only place I have found anyone worth hiring lately is from Craigslist. The local paper and other media have been a waste of money. But it is tough, tough, tough finding anyone.

True, Sad but true.

Automotive skills. and 100 grand worth of tools , like common knowledge is not so common in today's world.