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A good example of how the electrical age is very helpful as well as hurtful, But honestly those comments are not very far off base are they? I have been at it for over 27 years and can't say I make but a few pennies more than I did 15 years ago.. Of course a major problem is the pay , cars have become way more technical and takes a very dedicated well trained person to diagnose, fix, and confirm the repair. That brings us to the schooling which from what I have heard from many sources that it is still basically the same as when I went to school a long time ago. 

Of course it is not totally the owners faults , it is the schooling, the people ( willingness to put in a lot of hard work and learning) , the industry , and the general public. It was stigmatized as a job for the "losers" and "rip offs" we know that is not true , but that stigma has not changed why pay "losers" and " rip offs" good money ? 

The way I see it is this industry is like any other, It booms and it crashes, We are defiantly in a crash period and have been for a long time and it is only going to get worse before it gets better. There are a lot of things that need to change in every aspect from schooling, the industry , and the public. That is a huge feat to change all this and it will take a very long time once it starts, but I don't think it will start till the "shit hits the fan"  and that will be when the industry is at rock bottom and techs can't be found.. The only silver lining to this is that the ones in the field and are good will benefit since they will be more sought out and be able to make a better living for themselves.. 

Years ago I use to make money working on cars and was able to put money away and save, now I pay bills that is all !  The cost of living has gone way, way up over the last 10-15 years but our pay has only crept up. How do entice someone into an industry like that? I know I would not do it again knowing what I know now, but that being said I will not give up and I will continue to be the best I can and keep learning all the new stuff the industry throws at me.. If I never get the financial reward at least I will have the pride in knowing I was the best I could be at what I did ! 

Put simply there needs to be a HIGHER STANDARD across the board in every aspect of this business !

 

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1 hour ago, skm said:

A good example of how the electrical age is very helpful as well as hurtful, But honestly those comments are not very far off base are they? I have been at it for over 27 years and can't say I make but a few pennies more than I did 15 years ago.. Of course a major problem is the pay , cars have become way more technical and takes a very dedicated well trained person to diagnose, fix, and confirm the repair. That brings us to the schooling which from what I have heard from many sources that it is still basically the same as when I went to school a long time ago. 

Of course it is not totally the owners faults , it is the schooling, the people ( willingness to put in a lot of hard work and learning) , the industry , and the general public. It was stigmatized as a job for the "losers" and "rip offs" we know that is not true , but that stigma has not changed why pay "losers" and " rip offs" good money ? 

The way I see it is this industry is like any other, It booms and it crashes, We are defiantly in a crash period and have been for a long time and it is only going to get worse before it gets better. There are a lot of things that need to change in every aspect from schooling, the industry , and the public. That is a huge feat to change all this and it will take a very long time once it starts, but I don't think it will start till the "shit hits the fan"  and that will be when the industry is at rock bottom and techs can't be found.. The only silver lining to this is that the ones in the field and are good will benefit since they will be more sought out and be able to make a better living for themselves.. 

Years ago I use to make money working on cars and was able to put money away and save, now I pay bills that is all !  The cost of living has gone way, way up over the last 10-15 years but our pay has only crept up. How do entice someone into an industry like that? I know I would not do it again knowing what I know now, but that being said I will not give up and I will continue to be the best I can and keep learning all the new stuff the industry throws at me.. If I never get the financial reward at least I will have the pride in knowing I was the best I could be at what I did ! 

Put simply there needs to be a HIGHER STANDARD across the board in every aspect of this business !

 

Thank you for the excellent and well thought out post. Before the thread gets to far off topic, I need a new tech.  Is anyone willing to help me write an advertisement or help me with postings, over the phone or through e-mail?

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yes sorry didn't mean to get off topic...  I can only give my $.02 be very honest about who you are looking for and your business. Be realistic with your expectations of them and what you want from them and yourself. Don't give in and fluff an ad to get someone. I have seen many people find "greener grass" from reading an ad and then be very upset when either the employee or employer didn't' meet the expectations . Then you are looking again. 

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This is the most recent add that we put up on a number of locations. It was effective for me:

Regards, Mike

Import repair Technician well versed in diagnostics.

Company Type: Independent Repair Service
Start Date: Immediate
Posted by: Michael Moench

Technician would be responsible for inspecting, diagnosing and estimating repairs while working with a top notch service manager. Technician would be trained on all shop diagnostic equipment. Training and continuing education from multiple sources is available and is paid for by employer. $18 to $30 per hour plus benefits. Vacation pay plus shared health care.

We believe in hiring the right talent and letting them make their money! Tired of working someplace where you're just a number? We are a family owned and operated shop that's looking for you!

We are looking for an experienced Technician who wants an environment where they can be the professional that they are.

Pay is based on experience and ability. Great opportunities for all Techs and we are e$pecially interested if YOU have European and Asian import experience. Why else consider J B Import Automotive Repair? How about:

  • 5 day work week
  • NO Saturdays or Sundays; our Techs make great pay without cutting into family or personal time
  • Modern shop
  • Well-maintained equipment
  • Plenty of room and lifts for our Techs
  • Bright well maintained work areas
  • All the latest software and computer terminals in our shop
  • Professional Service Advisors who respect our Techs
  • Our customers trust our shop so we always have plenty of good business for our Techs year-round

*Even if YOU have never worked in an independent shop, we invite you to talk to us to find out more about our shop, our work and our area!

*Techs, retail warranty work here. Get paid fairly on EVERY job!

*Submit YOUR resume with confidence that all contacts with us are completely confidential. Do it TODAY!

Our benefits include:

  • Health Insurance
  • Disability Coverage
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Provided Uniforms
  • Continued Paid Training
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 Several other shops recommended Indeed to me .  They  had hired excellent  technicians  from the applicants provided. My experience was not good. After several hundred dollars spent not one viable applicant was produced. After two months  I followed the directions provided on the web site to cancel our account. Yep, next Billing cycle on our credit card was another $115 dollar charge. When I called for an explanation , I felt like I got a BS response. No refund . So, lesson learned 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/24/2018 at 5:30 PM, Topauto said:

 Several other shops recommended Indeed to me .  They  had hired excellent  technicians  from the applicants provided. My experience was not good. After several hundred dollars spent not one viable applicant was produced. After two months  I followed the directions provided on the web site to cancel our account. Yep, next Billing cycle on our credit card was another $115 dollar charge. When I called for an explanation , I felt like I got a BS response. No refund . So, lesson learned 

I have been giving Zip Recruiter a try. I had them send me an email promising a refund in writing if it does not pan out, so far nothing, I get lots of applications from folks with experience in oil fields and fork lifts.

@Mike the Mechanic  Thank you for this, I added a lot of it to my ad, hopefully it gets me more results.

 

What platforms have you guys had success with in finding new recruits?

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One of the most successful shop owners I've met gave me a basic template idea. He states what he wants, what he can provide, and how much an A, B, or C level Tech can make if they're good. He pays to move their tool chest in and will pay to have it moved out wherever it needs to go after 6 months if the Tech isn't happy. He'll pay them a healthy sign-on bonus, half on their first day and the other half after 3 months. He clearly writes no drunks, no drugs, no excuses. It works for him and it has worked for me. 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
34 minutes ago, Transmission Repair said:

Off and on from 1999 to 2011, our shop had a booth at various technical colleges’ career fairs.  We hired several students to train as R&R techs with the hopes of moving them up to rebuilding.  We didn’t have a very good experience with ITT Technical College in SLC nor WyoTech College in Laramie, Wyoming.  The best employee we ever hired out of a technical college came from Salt Lake Community College.  Both ITT and WyoTech are for-profit colleges.  WyoTech is part of the Corinthian College system.

 
Around 2014 or so, both ITT and WyoTech filed for bankruptcy and eventually went out of business, but I didn’t really understand why until now.  The story of why these colleges failed is the subject of a half-hour documentary on PBS’s Frontline.  Before you decide to get involved with a for-profit college, I would like to suggest to watch the short documentary, A Subprime Education, online at https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/a-subprime-education/   
 
It will also make sense why our federal government has also instituted a “student loan forgiveness” program to help students who can’t find a job in the field they were allegedly educated in.  Sad, sad, sad.

yes they are more interested in attendance than training... A sad state of affairs, money money money .. I could go on and on ranting about this kind of stuff but will spare everyone 

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  • 8 months later...
On 4/23/2018 at 10:42 AM, Mike the Mechanic said:

This is the most recent add that we put up on a number of locations. It was effective for me:

Regards, Mike

Import repair Technician well versed in diagnostics.

Company Type: Independent Repair Service
Start Date: Immediate
Posted by: Michael Moench

Technician would be responsible for inspecting, diagnosing and estimating repairs while working with a top notch service manager. Technician would be trained on all shop diagnostic equipment. Training and continuing education from multiple sources is available and is paid for by employer. $18 to $30 per hour plus benefits. Vacation pay plus shared health care.

We believe in hiring the right talent and letting them make their money! Tired of working someplace where you're just a number? We are a family owned and operated shop that's looking for you!

We are looking for an experienced Technician who wants an environment where they can be the professional that they are.

Pay is based on experience and ability. Great opportunities for all Techs and we are e$pecially interested if YOU have European and Asian import experience. Why else consider J B Import Automotive Repair? How about:

  • 5 day work week
  • NO Saturdays or Sundays; our Techs make great pay without cutting into family or personal time
  • Modern shop
  • Well-maintained equipment
  • Plenty of room and lifts for our Techs
  • Bright well maintained work areas
  • All the latest software and computer terminals in our shop
  • Professional Service Advisors who respect our Techs
  • Our customers trust our shop so we always have plenty of good business for our Techs year-round

*Even if YOU have never worked in an independent shop, we invite you to talk to us to find out more about our shop, our work and our area!

*Techs, retail warranty work here. Get paid fairly on EVERY job!

*Submit YOUR resume with confidence that all contacts with us are completely confidential. Do it TODAY!

Our benefits include:

  • Health Insurance
  • Disability Coverage
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Provided Uniforms
  • Continued Paid Training

Nice Job Post!

With your permission, I would like to use it.

Best Regards.

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On 4/19/2018 at 3:57 PM, Hands On said:

I need to find some employees fast and I am having no luck, anyone willing to help me write an advertisement or help me with postings, over the phone or through e-mail, please let me know.

Just found this, not feeling good about this.

https://www.indeed.com/forum/job/automotive-technician/can-t-do-it-anymore/t459836

So... .what are you guys complaining about a mechanic shortage for?  Do you think it's better to be in an industry with an over supply of labor forcing prices down or an industry where you're in demand? I think you should embrace the shortage. A really large computer manufacturer where I live adjusted from making computers to tech services because anyone could buy chips and an operating system and there wasnt any profit in it for them anymore. They went from being unique in the beginning to just another commodity. Now we have the chance to be more in control of our pricing because of the shortage. Dont ignore that. If you're a real pro with quality at the top of your list you're in demand. Realize it and charge for it. You deserve a good living and sometimes smaller is even better. You can purge yourself of the low quality customers while you're shorthanded, charge an amount that's more fair to you and build from there. 

That's my old and tired perspective. ........

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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