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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog5 commentsI 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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By Changing The Industry
The Basics of Owning An Auto Repair Shop - Balancing GP per Hour and Productivity
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By Joe Marconi
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By Changing The Industry
Episode 162 - Lauralee Schmidt on Repair Shop Economics and Social Media Slips
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By carmcapriotto
Thanks to our Partner, Technician Find Building the dream team in the automotive industry goes beyond hiring technicians—it's about creating a culture that fosters growth, respect, and development. Join our panel of shop owners as they share their experiences and strategies in building an outstanding team. Topics include the significance of culture, passive and active recruiting, development through apprenticeship and training programs, and retention strategies like understanding employees' goals, compensation, and creating an enjoyable work environment. Want to learn more? Join Chris Lawson's 'Repair Shop Growth Systems Live 2024' May 31st - June 2nd in Mt. Arlington, NJ. https://www.repairshopgrowthsystems.com/ Chris Lawson, TechnicianFind.Com. Chris’ previous episodes HERE Shawn Gilfillan, Automotive Magic, Kenvil and Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Shawn’s previous episodes HERE Russell Crosby, Russ’s Wrench Auto Repair, Clinton, NJ. Russ’s previous episodes HERE Rob Morrison, Morrison's Auto Rite, Jamaica Plain, MA Roy Niemi, A & D Auto & Body Repair, Haslett, MI Show Notes
Repair Shop Growth Systems Live 2024, May 31st - June 2nd, Mt Arlington, NJ: https://www.repairshopgrowthsystems.com Attracting Employees (00:00:01) Discussion on strategies and stories for attracting skilled technicians and employees to automotive repair shops. Upcoming Summit (00:01:11) Introduction of a summit focused on attracting, growing, and retaining employees in the automotive repair industry. https://www.repairshopgrowthsystems.com/ Personal Stories of Attraction (00:02:26) Shop owners share personal stories and strategies for attracting and hiring employees, including promoting unique employee benefits and culture. Writing Attractive Job Ads (00:10:03) Discussion on the importance of highlighting ongoing training and development opportunities in job ads to attract skilled technicians. Employee-Centric Job Ads (00:14:31) Highlighting the core elements that technicians look for in job opportunities, including compensation, growth opportunities, and respect for work-life balance. Creating an Apprentice Program (00:16:21) Establishing in-house mechanic apprentice program with local institutions and colleges to attract and develop young technicians. Focusing on Personal Growth (00:17:09) Prioritizing individual growth and ambitions, not just automotive knowledge, to attract and retain young staff. Hiring and Fostering Culture (00:18:09) Emphasizing the importance of hiring and fostering culture through team involvement in the hiring process and internal recommendations. Attracting and Retaining Talent (00:19:43) Introducing TechnicianFind.com as a solution for finding skilled automotive technicians and retaining a strong team. Recruitment Strategies (00:21:05) Recruiting individuals with strong work ethic and potential, focusing on personal and professional development, and utilizing mentorship programs. Building a Candidate Bench (00:24:17) Emphasizing the importance of keeping and organizing job applications to build a candidate bench for future hiring needs. Engaging Families and Open Communication (00:29:00) Involving employees' families in company activities, promoting honesty and open communication, and addressing personal well-being through a life coach. Listening and Individual Management (00:31:14) Highlighting the importance of active listening, intuition, and individualized management to improve employee retention. Attracting and Retaining Employees (00:31:57) Strategies for supporting employees' financial well-being and making work enjoyable. Creating a Fun Work Environment (00:32:37) Implementing games, profit-sharing, and unique incentives to make work enjoyable. Recruiting and Developing Future Technicians (00:35:40) Strategies for attracting potential superstars from marginal shops and nurturing talent. Employee Compensation and Long-Term Care (00:40:33) Ensuring fair compensation and care for long-term employees to retain talent. Profit Sharing and Business Understanding (00:45:33) Educating employees about profit sharing and the mechanical perspective of business operations.
Thanks to our Partner, Technician Find If you are tired of struggling to find skilled automotive technicians for your independent auto repair shop, say goodbye to the endless search and let Technician Find be your solution. We are a 'Single Stop To Staff Your Shop.' http://www.technicianfind.com Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on (X) Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX, NAPA TRACS, and Automotive Management Network Recorded at the 21st annual TST Big Event, Robert Kenny Jr shares his journey from technician to mobile diagnostician and educator. Discussions cover the challenges of technician retention, fair compensation, and the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs). Robert Kenney Jr., Ampd Auto Diagnostic Solutions, and instructor at Hudson Valley Community College. Show Notes
Robert Kenny Jr.'s Career (00:01:03) Overview of Kenny's career and his transition to entrepreneurship. Starting a Shop (00:02:24) Kenny's journey to opening his shop and the obstacles he encountered. Technician Training (00:03:20) The significance of training for technicians and its industry effects. Education and Industry Development (00:03:59) Kenny's role in automotive industry education and growth. Mobile Diagnostic Business Growth (00:06:43) The development of Kenny's mobile diagnostic service and its influence on small shops. Balancing Roles (00:08:00) The challenge of juggling teaching, diagnostics, and shop management. Technician Pay Issues (00:10:03) The problem of technician compensation and its effect on new talent. Accountability and Mentorship (00:11:17) The role of accountability and guidance in business growth. Admitting Failure (00:12:31) The difficulty of acknowledging mistakes and seeking assistance in the field. Mobile Diagnostician Benefits (00:14:16) Advantages of working as a traveling mobile diagnostician. Labor Rate Comparison (00:16:09) Analyzing labor rates and their significance in the industry. Flat Rate System Comparison (00:22:51) Contrasting flat rate systems in various shop types and their technician impact. EV Standards Development (00:24:19) Participation in setting electric vehicle charging standards and curriculum updates. EV Technology Importance (00:25:44) The significance and progress of electric vehicle technology in the sector. Training Importance (00:27:05) The consequences of inadequate training on businesses and the demand for specialists. Robert's Mobile Diagnostic Experience (00:32:12) Kenney shares his enjoyment and insights from his mobile diagnostic venture and time at Gill's Garage. Educational Programs and EV Training (00:32:17) Discussion on Hudson Valley Community College's programs and Bronx Community College's EV class development. Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX, NAPA TRACS, and Automotive Management Network Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2024. Mark your calendar now … November 5th-7th, 2024. AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at http://AAPEXSHOW.COM/WEBINAR NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Get ready to grow your business with the Automotive Management Network: Find on the Web at http://AftermarketManagementNetwork.com for information that can help you move your business ahead and for the free and informative http://LaborRateTracker.com Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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