Back to Basics: How to hire the best

Avehicle is an expensive machine and most owners take it very, very seriously. After all, we all want to feel safe behind the wheel, which is why everyone is trying to find the right mechanic to check and repair their vehicles.

However, only one bad experience is enough to push a customer to start looking for a new technician. This is exactly why almost 90% of clients are willing to pay more for excellent customer experience.

If you are running an auto shop, you should know that well trained and professional mechanics are key to the success of your business. A single bad apple in the basket can spoil the entire team, so you better do your homework, find and hire the best. Here are some tips to ensure your shop’s needs are being met when it comes to staff.

The Skills You Really Need

Before talking about how to hire the right candidate, we need to figure out the traits of a real pro mechanic. Technical abilities are the first thing to look for here. A mechanic is supposed to be a skilled technician who can quickly identify a problem and offer the appropriate solution.

Secondly, they must have an eye for details to spot even the smallest discrepancy. This doesn’t only make drivers safer but also helps your business earn more by fixing more. Of course, you also need a technician who can complete work on time.

Another important thing is to find an individual who can handle pressure and deliver in a timely manner. Also equally important: a mechanic with solid communications… because, at the end of the day, this is what will help your team work well together. Communication skills are the oil in your team’s engine. It also helps if the person you hire is able to explain the problem to the client.

How To Attract The Right Technician

Now that we defined the traits of an ideal car repair employee, you need to start shuffling through CVs and identify the right person. Here are a few tips that hopefully will help you in that process:

DON’T BE TOO CASUAL

When recruiting, the first thing you want to do is to make the process be official. What do you mean? You need to ask for diplomas or certificates, letters from training institutions or apprenticeships programmes…. Anything that proves a candidate has the right education in the field you are hiring for.

Double Check Employment History

This is the best way to see who you are dealing with. You should explore various details: Ask Google about previous employers in your candidates’ CV and what that specific garage’s professional reputation is. Will a mechanic from a shop with a bad reputation bring that reputation along with them?

References And Referees

This is critical: Is your candidate a problematic person who cannot stay anywhere for a long time? These are the main questions you need to ask about work experience, but feel free to pose more questions about personality types, punctuality, how they handle constructive criticism and beyond.

The Interview Process

An interview is where you can find out a lot about your job applicants. This is the perfect chance to ask for detailed explanations about every aspect of the work, their previous employment, their education and test their knowledge. For instance, you can learn whether your new mechanic specialises in a specific car type or acts as an all-rounder. The list of questions is almost endless, so it’s up to you to come up with a list of inquiries that suit your style and business type.

Make the candidates solve a practical, everyday problem that would normally come through your doors. The way they solve the problem, the steps they take to diagnose and seek a solution will reveal the best applicants, so you don’t have to worry about making the final call. For instance: Ask candidates to name a few of the common causes of a sputtering engine, of alternator failure and squeaky brakes. If they are applying for more senior roles, get them to come up with possible scenarios for more complex problems that you have seen come through your own business.

A Tiebreaker

If you have that great problem of having more than one great candidate, it is time for a soft-skills tiebreaker. Ask yourself these questions: Are the candidates communicative enough to explain the problem and to convince customers that they’ve come to the right place? Are they trustworthy and honest? (nothing like a cowboy to destroy your shop’s reputation). Are they team players and can they have a laugh with the crew?

ARE THEY PHYSICALLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE ROLE?

Make sure that the candidates are physically able to perform their duties in a safe manner and that your shop has all the requirements to make their specific physical abilities comfortable and safe at work. Hiring the right candidate is one of the most important tasks for every car repair shop. It is crucial to create a wide base of loyal customers who trust your services and keep returning for maintenance and repairs. They won’t do it if they perceive your staff as poorly trained, bad communicators or, even worse: untrustworthy.

Finding quality mechanics is a demanding task that requires quality tests and processes as well as… let’s be honest… a bit of a gut feeling.