Need to hire another technician? Take a look below for tips to help you create the perfect job description.
Finding and hiring the right automotive technician can be a challenge for any auto repair shop or dealership in today’s competitive job market. One critical step in attracting top talent is creating an effective job description. As the first point of contact between your business and potential candidates, a well-written and properly structured job description is essential for generating interest and enticing the right applicants.
In this blog, we'll walk you step-by-step through the process of creating an optimal job description and provide additional tips to help you find the best automotive technicians for your shop or dealership.
Job Title
The job title is the first thing potential candidates will see when browsing job postings, so it's crucial to ensure that it accurately reflects the position you’re hiring for.
Choose a clear and specific job title targeting your ideal candidates, such as "Automotive Service Technician" or "Master Mechanic." Avoid just using generic titles like "Technician" or "Mechanic," to prevent confusion and unwarranted attention from other industries.
In addition, be sure to incorporate key phrases relevant to the role, such as "MASTER Mechanic" or "LUBE Technician." Job seekers commonly use phrases like these to search for their next opportunity, and including them in your ad will improve its visibility in their searches.
Introduction
The introduction is your first chance to engage potential candidates and peak their interest in the position. Start with a brief yet informative elevator pitch about your company, emphasizing the main benefits of your shop or dealership.
Showcase what sets your business apart from the competition, such as the technology and equipment used, the size of your client base, the types of cars you work with, or your company culture and values.
Job Summary
Create a concise, easy-to-read job summary using bullet points or short paragraphs to break up the text and enhance its visual appeal. Include a brief overview of job responsibilities, location, work hours, or any other crucial information.
This is also a good opportunity to mention major requirements for the position such as dealer certifications or required minimum years of experience. Be sure to keep it direct and save the majority of responsibilities and qualifications for later sections.
Compensation
Next, describe your compensation plan. It might seem unusual to include compensation before responsibilities and qualifications, but you must present your compensation and benefits early in your job description to keep readers engaged and interested. Compensation details may be brief and presented in a bullet-point format, or even a bold single sentence (particularly if you are offering a lucrative compensation plan, signing bonus, etc). Consider including details regarding:
Payment method: hourly, salary, flat rate, etc.
Annual income amount
Any hourly guarantees
Productivity bonuses or incentives
Sign-on bonuses
Overtime availability
Benefits
Directly following compensation, outline your benefits package and any perks you offer employees. This will help attract top talent and give candidates a clear idea of what amenities they can expect if hired. Even if you don't offer traditional insurance benefits, you can still draw prospective technicians in by highlighting the unique perks or amenities that your shop does provide. Here are some examples of traditional benefits and additional perks/amenities to include:
Health, vision, dental, life, or supplemental insurance
Retirement benefits
Paid time off and holidays
Four-day workweeks
Employee wellness programs
Weekends off
Free lunch on Fridays
Growth opportunities
Healthy work-life balance
Flexible work schedule
Modern, updated equipment
Air-conditioned/heated shop
Clean, organized environment
Offering continuing education and development opportunities is another way to appeal to prospective employees, showing your company's investment in their professional growth. Many candidates prioritize career advancement and may be willing to accept lower upfront pay for long-term growth and advancement opportunities within the company. Investing in employee development and offering clear paths for career advancement can dramatically help attract and retain top talent over the long term.
Responsibilities
In this section, outline the primary responsibilities of the automotive technician position you're hiring to give potential candidates an idea of their day-to-day tasks. Be specific and detailed to help candidates determine how well they're qualified for the job. Depending on the position, common job responsibilities for automotive technicians might include:
Diagnosing and repairing vehicle issues
Conducting routine maintenance on vehicles
Performing safety inspections
Testing vehicle systems and components
Repairing mechanical and electrical system malfunctions
Replacing parts and components
Verifying vehicle serviceability by conducting test drives
Ensuring compliance with state vehicle requirements by testing engine, safety, and combustion control standards
Compiling vehicle records by recording service and repairs
Keeping shop equipment operational by following instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, and performing preventive maintenance
Controlling costs by monitoring warranties and evaluating service and parts options
Maintaining supplies by inventorying stock, placing orders, and verifying receipts
Updating job knowledge through educational opportunities and reading technical publications
Qualifications
Finally, describe the necessary qualifications and experience required for the job, helping to filter out unqualified candidates and attract those who meet the requirements. Be sure to include any specific qualifications or skills required for the role, such as the ability to work with specific types of vehicles or equipment. Common qualifications and skills for automotive technicians include:
ASE certification
Technical or vocational school training
Strong mechanical aptitude
Strong diagnostic abilities
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Excellent customer service skills
Education requirements
High school diploma / GED equivalent
Minimum of [number] years of experience
Call To Action
At the end of your job posting, always be sure to include a clear call to action. Even if it’s as simple as “Apply Now” or “Submit Your Resume Below”, direct and succinct instruction helps guide potential applicants to the next step.
It's also important to provide clear instructions for how to apply (even if it seems obvious) to subconsciously encourage applicants to take action and avoid any confusion regarding the application process.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when creating your next automotive technician description:
Avoid exaggerating or overpromising; honesty is key in hiring and retaining quality technicians
Use engaging, exciting language to create a compelling job ad and capture the attention of qualified candidates
Don’t cram multiple job listings into one listing. Instead, create a separate job ad for each position to avoid confusion and ensure accuracy.
Don’t hide compensation info. Candidates want to know the pay and benefits before taking the time to apply for a new position.
Avoid clickbait job titles like “Rockstar Mechanic”, Automotive Guru”, etc.
In Closing
We know hiring automotive technicians can be a challenging task in today's job market. Fortunately, there are steps that employers can take to ensure they successfully attract and hire the best technicians for their business. By creating a job posting that stands out from competitors, immediately highlights the benefits of your shop or dealership, and speaks to a candidate’s technical abilities, you can still effectively engage quality technicians and dramatically increase your chances of finding the perfect fit.
If you need some help, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team of recruiting experts specialize in sourcing automotive technicians for auto shops and dealerships throughout the country. As a part of our automotive technician recruiting service, we create a custom job description for each position utilizing our A/B tested format proven to maximize the number of applications you receive. We also pre-screen every candidate before applying. If you want help from the pros, schedule a quick call!
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