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Best Resource for New Employees...

GENUINE

By GENUINE
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GENUINE Enthusiast

GENUINE

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Where have you all found to be the best resource for hiring new techs? I've found the "want ad" to be very ineffective, bringing in the....less than qualified...Our business relationships tend to be hesitant to recommend potentials.

Suprised in this economy that we aren't seeing more walk ins too....any thoughts?

Dwayne

gravysuckinpig Explorer

gravysuckinpig

Posted
Posted

i have found a simple yard sign out front somewhat effective if your on a fairly traveled street - craigslist is so so but brings in a lot of people with "personal" problems,poor work ethic or little to no experience - once in a while you get a good one though. best source is from past employers- people you've worked with and know a little better than a complete stranger.even current employees who have worked in other shops might know another tech looking to make a move. some might not call this "ethical" - but if its worth fighting for, its worth fighting dirty for, is my motto :unsure:

GENUINE Enthusiast

GENUINE

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with "personal" problems,poor work ethic or little to no experience -

 

This is what we've been running into......amazes me...where are all of the good guys at? All the guys that have lost dealership jobs, independants downsizing and closing? Where are they? Is working out of your garage really that lucrative? If so I may re-consider my strategy here! I know we are seeing A LOT of vehicles coming in for more technical issues (diagnosis of running issues/overheating problems/charging issues/wiring issues/alignments) only to see brand new...brakes, water pump, belt, front end parts, radiator, alternator starter, etc. (The "easy" things" as I was once told....anyone can do the "easy" things)

Are these guys doing these things at home for their friends/family/neighbors because they have the time they didn't before? and are they making enough to offset having a real job?

 

Just curious...struggling to figure this thing out! 10% plus unemployment (depending on who you ask) and unable to find someone (competent) to hire...or even more confusing, the guy that you've managed to keep on through this very lean year (we did NOT see the bump that many of you did) bitching and moaning and generally making life miserable because you can't affor to give him the raise he's expecting....yet he won't leave ( on his own - it may be my decision very soon, though) because there's evidently nothing better for him....I just don't get it.

 

Anyway, thanks for the input, and letting me vent.....A lawn sign!!!! Seems so obvious, but yet I never considered it!

gravysuckinpig Explorer

gravysuckinpig

Posted
Posted

exactly - most ANYONE can do the easy stuff - and if they cant- they know someone who can- and wont charge half as much as we would.

these are the people who i dont want in my shop anyways - the ones who can do the easy stuff - because they know how much THEY would charge to do something in thier driveway - so they feel thats what WE should charge - ei:thats the value they place on "their" labor- well sonny im sorry but with 50k worth of hand tools in this pretty box with wheels and all the shop expenses it aint workin that way. if i had a little toolbox with a handle on it and some rusty mismatched wrenches and a claw hammer in it i might do it for that price. i have found that small country towns and certain areas of big cities have an abundance of do it yerselfers because a)their daddy taught em how to do it and it aint that hard and/or B) they just simply cant afford it.

i market towards businesses for that reason- and if i didnt, i would market towards the upper class neighborhoods because those people 1: dont know a damn thing about cars and 2: they damn sure aint gonna get dirty tryin to learn.

sorry- off topic

anyways - if you have a local community college that has an auto shop program - try there also- they are for the most part "adults" who would love a chance to get their foot in the door and get their moneys worth out of that college tuition, and get some real world experience- talk to the professor- interview some of the students - book smart doesnt always equal "talent" which is essentially what you need. my wife says im too picky about hiring - i always end up telling her the same thing - im not a daycare and i need dependability and motivation. run an ad for a month and see what you end up with.

as for the guy you have who bitches and moans...does he know your looking to hire? if so that may be the cause of his problem - you cant afford him a raise yet your looking for another tech....he doesnt see himself being fired as the reason for this... just explain to him you can only pay him so much out of what he can produce - 2 people would turn out more work which equals more money with which to give him a raise. or- if hes not worth the raise then hire another guy and starve him out. either way - i need to know the whole situation to give any real advice. just my 2 cents - i am seriously looking to open a small bbq restraunt or bbq catering business- and forget this auto repair thing - i loves me some low and slow bbq and my pit is sitting covered in snow calling to me -

GENUINE Enthusiast

GENUINE

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Thanks for your thoughts. As far as my complainer...he's been like this for a long time....really not the new hire issue that's brought it about. He's a good wrench, just has a really bad attitude - always has. Funny, in one breath, he's complaining because of the raise issue, and in the next he's complaining because "if we had another guy out here...." impossible to please NO MATTER WHAT. we've had sit downs several times about his attitude, I even posted here about it some time ago. I'm really looking to replace him - he's not technically aware that i'm actively looking for this reason though. Gotta make a change in 2011 - gotta bring morale up and get things moving in a forward, POSITIVE direction for everyone - especially me.

  • 4 months later...
rsauto Newbie

rsauto

Posted
Posted

I hate that I am so happy at your distress, but we have been having the same problem. I am glad that someone else can't find help in an economy where there are so many supposedly jobless people that are working so hard at finding a job. My eyes are rolling as I type that one. I have posted ads on craigslist, any free classified that I could, facebook, employment security commision and on and on and on and on. No sign in the yard. Funny... my mom suggested the same thing when I kept complaining about all the ads I had placed on the net.

 

This is our situation. Everything was going pretty well until a few months ago. One of the body techs in training talked the mechanic into quitting with him to go work in a textile mill. One day they were gone. No explanation or anything. Needless to say, they were laid off in less than a month from that job. It has been hell since then. We had one guy that was knowledgeable, but not dependable. He came in, here and there, and finally never came back. Next, we hired a very dependable guy that basically fudged his abilities on his resume and during his interview. He cost the company so much many I don't even like to think about it, but he showed up early and would work late. Never really slacked off. He was just in over his head. He couldn't diagnose or even repair most vehicles. He worked on a water pump R & R for about a week. Yes, a week. Everyone else was so busy they couldn't lend a hand, so he took that truck apart and put it back together about five times. It only needed the water pump because he worked on it previously and damaged the water pump. He also put a bolt through a radiator. Almost every vehicle he touched came back. One came back 5 times. There is one out there now that is a comeback from him, but no one can figure out what he possibly could have done. All it needed was new spark plugs. He of course isn't here. He was fired. New guy started and he was 15 minutes early to his interview and I think the boss heard angels singing. He hasn't been on time since. While replacing an alternator, he blew a fuse on the alternator and damaged the power steering pump on a Lexus. The company ate that one, of course. Now, he is having family problems and missing whole days of work. Blah, blah, blah, blah. You know, my exhusband and I separated one night and the next morning I was at work. I was late because my eyes were swollen shut from crying all night, but damnit I went to work! Looked like hell, but I went.

 

Even the body repair techs are lazy and don't produce, so they need replacing. Do you think I can get a resume or a job application filled out? Nope!

 

Where are all those techs that need a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????

 

Just thought I would let you know that we feel your pain.

rsauto Newbie

rsauto

Posted
Posted

Our European Technician came and said he was taking the summer off to work on his house and go Opal mining. Go figure. I put an ad in Craigs List and in our State Employment office. We pay more than anyone in our area and better benefits. I had 3 people call, the first one sounded great, made an appointment, called and cancelled, made another appointment, cancelled and made another and never called or showed up. The 2nd one called, he lived over 30 miles one way from us and wasn't really qualified. The 3rd one called and said he had been out of the field for 7 years, would I send him to school to catch up. We have had several dealerships close in the area, where are those techs? Unemployment is still way up, one of the highest states. We are having a record month, but losing a tech the 15th and our shop foreman is going on vacation. We have tried some of the automotive agencies in the past, but after paying their fee, haven't had any better luck. Any more suggestions?

 

 

We are in a poor county and the unemployment rate is very high. I can't even get unqualified people to apply. There has been tons of dealerships closing in this area. There should be techs looking for a job. I think too many have learned that they can make a decent living at home on unemployment. They won't get rich, but at least they don't have to work for the money that they do get. We are going to loose our behind here if I can't find a tech. Silly kid that was hired after kid that couldn't poor pee out of a boot with the directions in the heal is slooooooooowwwwwwwww! He can't even turn an oil change quickly. Somewhere along the line he thought that 8:00 am meant 9:00 am. This morning the boss' 72 year old father went and changed a tire on a fleet account because silly kid was an hour late. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Sorry for the venting!

Brianp Enthusiast

Brianp

Posted
Posted

Im in the same boat been looking for another top guy for a while with no luck. Guess its easier to complain of no work, lack of tools and equipment then to come to a place with it all.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Technician Shortage Is Our Fault, And It's Time We Own It
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
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      The Technician Shortage Is Our Fault, And It's Time We Own It
      Nearly every day, I hear shop owners complain: "There's a technician shortage. We can't find qualified people. There's no one out there." If that's true, then who's to blame?
      The industry? The schools? The government? I don't know how you feel, but who promised us an endless supply of qualified technicians?
      Another common complaint is that young people do not want to work in the trades. Well, if that were true, then why are other trades such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing growing? What are they doing that the automotive industry is not? 
      Here's the reality we need to face: We do have a problem, but we shouldn't look for someone or any entity to rescue us. Not the government. Not the trade schools. Not the recruiting companies. No one owes us a workforce. If we want great people in our industry, it's up to us. At some point, we need to own up to the truth: Building a pipeline of qualified technicians is our responsibility.
      In this blog article, I will break down the key reasons we are in this situation today and what we, as an industry, can do to solve the technician shortage. Are you ready to look in the mirror?
      Have We Pushed Technicians Away?
      Let's take a look at flat-rate pay. True flat rate, which pays a technician only for the hours they produce, is a controversial pay plan that emphasizes high production levels and creates a competitive work environment that, if not properly controlled, can lead to increased mistakes and a decline in morale and team spirit. Additionally, the stress and physical demands placed on technicians as they age are not favorable to long-term employee retention. What do we do with technicians as they grow older into their fifties and begin to slow down? 
      I have heard all the arguments and pros and cons of flat-rate pay, and I am not going to judge any pay plan. Let the facts speak for themselves. True flat rate has changed in most areas around the country and has evolved into a pay plan that gives technicians some pay guarantee.
      Many shop owners have learned that team morale, along with the opportunity to earn income, is important to technicians and to the company's long-term success. But let me ask you: how many technicians have left or been pushed out over the years because of the old flat-rate pay system?
      Another issue is the workplace environment. I remember being grateful to be hired as a young technician at a local repair shop. While very thankful, the work environment was not ideal. The shop owner kept the bay doors open year-round (I am from New York) unless it rained or snowed. He felt that if the bay doors were closed, customers might think we were closed for business. We had no heat and no hot water. Many of the jobs were done outside, year-round,  in all types of weather. The starting pay was minimum wage, with no benefits, sick days, or vacation pay. 
      Now, again, I need to point out that I was truly grateful for the opportunity this shop owner gave me. I learned a lot working there, and the experience was pivotal in my career. But looking back, I wonder how many people were discouraged by these working conditions?
      While the physical demands of the repair workplace are daunting, perhaps even more critical is the culture. Too many of my generation shop owners preached the mindset of "my way or the highway." We were the business owners, after all. We started our companies, took all the risks, and provided jobs. Why shouldn't we be the ones to set the ground rules our way?   
      Many of us found over the years that the "my way or the highway" mentality was a sure way to isolate employees and make them more likely to look over the fence for greener grass. In other words, it led many technicians to seek employment elsewhere, where they felt they could be appreciated and recognized for their hard work. The issue, however, was that there wasn't much green grass around. Disappointment after disappointment, bouncing from repair to repair shop, eventually led to despair. So, I ask you: were workplace conditions a contributing factor in today's technician shortage?
      Another factor that we are all well aware of is the complexity of the modern automobile. When I started, the work was mostly physical, and you were required to master essentially three vehicle models: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Let's fast-forward to today. The evolution of automotive technology, along with the extensive training and tools required, has outpaced the typical technician's pay compensation, with no clear career path. Again, leading to frustration and insecurity about the future.
      Here is the bottom line: people don't leave their job; they leave their experience. We must do a better job. 
      The News Isn't all Bad; Your Next Steps to Fix the Technician Shortage
      To fix the technician shortage, it will take a combined effort from everyone in the automotive industry, particularly automotive shop owners. Shop owners are in the perfect position to make the greatest impact, not only on their businesses but also on the future automotive workforce.
      First, shop owners must become better leaders and understand that their ultimate success is directly dependent on the people they assemble around them. Any shop owner who mistakenly believes they can build an empire solely on their abilities is destined for serious disappointment. Business owners who think like this will eventually plateau. Without the collective contributions from a team of qualified people, your business will stall; it will not continue to grow.
      Create a workplace that attracts top talent: a clean, professional, well-equipped facility designed to support productivity, teamwork, and a career, not just a job. Build a great reputation in your community by getting involved locally. Become the auto repair shop that people take notice of as "the" place to work.
      Next, shop owners must become more financially knowledgeable. Knowing your numbers and what you need to achieve for a strong bottom-line profit is essential to paying technicians the money they need and deserve. Profit will also allow you to compete with other trade industries by providing a benefits package that has real take-home value and security.
      When it comes to culture, this is where the rubber hits the road. People crave recognition, praise, and a sense of purpose. Despite what you hear, people are not just money-motivated. Once people feel secure in their financial situation, retaining and motivating technicians can only be achieved by connecting with them on an emotional level. You cannot show enough appreciation. Give out praise for a job well done as if your business depended on it, because it does.
      As technicians age, we need to have a place for them. Expecting a 58-year-old to perform like a 35-year-old is unrealistic. We need to be more focused on career pathing. Provide training, skill development, and coaching to develop leaders and mentors within our older workforce. While their bodies may have slowed, the knowledge they have gained is priceless. 
      Our future is dependent on young people entering our industry. We need to give more young people opportunities. Every shop owner across the country should consider hiring an apprentice, then build an apprentice training plan and career path for them. If every shop did this, we could solve the technician shortage within five years. Get involved with the trade schools and high schools in your area. Look into the NAPA Apprenticeship Program. Don't sit on your hands with this one. Do it today.
      Lastly, don't get left behind. Commit to ongoing training for all your employees. Keep up to date with tools and equipment tailored to your business model. Don't try to be all things to all people and all vehicles. Identify your core profile customer and the vehicles they drive, and become an expert on those vehicles and the services you offer.

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