Implement these strategies to find and hire qualified technicians, even in the current competitive market.
It’s no secret that there is a nationwide shortage of automotive technicians. Shop owners and dealers alike are struggling to find a solution and fiercely competing for available talent. As an automotive repair shop owner or dealer, this means it's time to step up your game, get strategic, and proactively approach the hiring process.
In this article, we discuss seven strategies for finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians.
1.) Career Websites
This is the most common and traditional strategy for finding new technicians. Posting jobs on career websites historically has been an effective way to recruit technicians for your business. Sites such as Indeed, Craigslist, ZipRecruiter, and Autojobs.com all provide job boards where you can list available positions.
However, due to the popularity of this method, competition is high and recent trends have seen a reduction in overall productivity. Causing shop owners that post job listings to receive very few overall applications and/or a high volume of non-ideal applicants. To overcome these issues, take the time to create a compelling and appealing job description that clearly highlights and emphasizes the benefits of the role. Doing so will help you to stand out from other nearby shops and increase your chances of finding an ideal applicant.
2.) Targeted Online Ads
Your prospective technicians are watching less TV, listening to less radio, or most likely no longer reading the newspaper. They are getting their information online and spending their free time on social media. Put your shop and hiring message in front of as many of these technicians as possible with a targeted advertising campaign through online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google AdWords. Not only is competition lower on these platforms, but results can be much more impactful.
For example, consider running a targeted Facebook or Google AdWord campaign advertising your open position to technicians currently or previously employed at other shops nearby. Or if you happen to live near a trade school (and you’re looking for entry-level technicians) try running Facebook ads targeted at people in those areas who have expressed interest in automotive repair. Note that to maximize success, you need a thorough understanding of each advertising platform, as using them the wrong way can be expensive and ineffective. However, the proper application of these tools can be invaluable for your business. If you need assistance creating and managing an online ad campaign like this, just let us know. We specialize in online advertising strategies to find and recruit automotive technicians and would be happy to help.
3.) Referrals
Asking for referrals from current employees, former employees, customers, and vendors can also be an effective way to find new technicians. The advantage of this approach is that you are receiving the referral from a mutually trusted source, which provides many benefits including increasing the likelihood of the referral showing up for an interview. The disadvantage is that it doesn’t guarantee immediate applicants and make take some time to produce results.
To maximize your chances of getting referrals, consider building a referral program that incentivizes referrals with rewards like discounts, credits, or even cash. You can also get creative and provide rewards to current staff such as tools, extra vacation time, and special privileges if they are able to bring in successful hires. These incentives make staff more eager to refer others and encourage friends to come in for an interview.
4.) Social Media Content
Having a consistent and current presence on social media is another way to attract and recruit automotive technicians. To maximize success, post relevant content that highlights the work environment and perks that come with working at your shop. While this is more of a long-term strategy, it can be worth investing in as it can yield great results over time.
Be sure to also share new job listings on all of your social media pages, including Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok (when targeting younger technicians). Encourage friends, family, customers, and employees to share these posts on their social network as well to reach as many potential candidates as possible. Sharing your job listings on popular local Facebook group pages can also help draw in new applicants. By combining all of these strategies, you can significantly increase the chances of finding the right technician for your auto repair shop or dealership.
5.) Local Trade And Vocational Schools
There are most likely trade schools in your area that offer automotive repair training and help graduates find jobs. Consider partnering with these local trade schools by sponsoring a specific program, or even providing food and beverages for students to make a personal introduction. Although this would not provide experienced mechanics, it gives you the chance to bring in promising future talent and help them grow with your business at a lower cost.
For those in search of experienced technicians, connecting with schools that offer continued education programs may provide access to skilled technicians looking for work or unhappy with their current employer. This can be especially beneficial since technicians participating in continuous education have already demonstrated their dedication to self-improvement and professional development.
6.) Offer A Strategic Signing Bonus
Signing bonuses can also be a great way to attract new technicians. However, it's important to remember that no matter how attractive a bonus may be, it won't be effective unless it is used in combination with a promotional campaign that spreads awareness of the job listing. In order to capitalize on the effectiveness of this bonus, it should be strategically paired with a strong advertising plan that helps increase the visibility of the job listing and reaches a wider range of prospective technicians.
If offering a signing bonus with a delayed payout, be sure you establish clear expectations and payout guidelines. For example, a $5,000 signing bonus could be paid out at $2,500 after 90 days and $2500 after 6 months. This strategy can be extremely effective as it incentivizes strong performance from the technicians, helps form positive habits, and guarantees a significant return on your investment before paying out the full bonus.
7.) Hire An Automotive Technician Recruiter
Recruiting skilled technicians can be a daunting task, which is why more and more businesses are now entrusting the process to an automotive technician recruiter. Using the expertise of a recruiter is often the most sensible and profitable choice, especially when considering the competitive nature of the current market. Rather than spending hours researching strategies, testing different approaches, and learning by trial and error yourself – it may be far more beneficial to utilize an expert's skills and knowledge to just get it done.
If you're considering hiring an automotive technician recruiter, don't hesitate to get in touch with our team. Our automotive recruitment specialists are experts at finding mechanics for automotive service centers, dealerships, and franchises, and are ready to find the perfect technician for your business right away. Schedule a quick call today or click here to learn more about our services and how we can help you quickly hire your next technician.
Conclusion
Recruiting automotive technicians in today's market can certainly be a challenge. However, with the right approach and strategies, you can still find talented technicians who will be a great fit for your business. Taking the time to consider these approaches can help ensure you have the top talent needed, and as a result, ensure that your customers get the best service possible. We hope this article has provided you with some innovative ideas on how to attract and recruit the best automotive technicians for your auto repair shop or dealership.
コメント