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The perfect fix-up
Five tips for finding and retaining top technicians
Hiring a good technician can be a huge investment in how well your business — and your coaches — run. Yet placing an ad in your newspaper's classified section may not be the best way to find top talent.
With its ninth service center about to open in Atlantic City, and its eighth, in Nashville, opened only recently, MCI has had to do a lot of hiring lately. "Finding — and keeping — good technicians is an industry-wide challenge," says Jerry Cignarella, vice president of MCI Service Centers. "We've given a lot of thought to it, and we're willing to share our experience."
Here are five things, most of which is based on what has worked for MCI, that you can do in your own shop to attract the technician that's right for you:
Work with recruiting agencies
Consider building relationships with recruiting agencies, especially those that specialize in placing former military personnel. These agencies do much of the preliminary screening and have a vested interest in offering viable candidates that are both skilled and disciplined.
Establish a relationship with local automotive training schools
If you're lucky enough to have a good mechanic-training program in your area, it can be a good source for technicians, especially if you're willing to hiring entry-level personnel. Make contact, or advertise with their placement office. You may even be able to benefit from internship programs.
Take advantage of training
All technicians can benefit from continuing education, and many job seekers will consider it a benefit that makes you a more attractive employer. MCI's own technicians get up to 80 hours of additional training each year, and much of that expertise is available to customers as well. Click here for a detailed description of MCI's technician training program, complete with schedule.
Make sure technicians have the right tool for the job
Have good equipment on hand, and be willing to work with your mechanics. Tool vouchers or allowances can be the icing on the cake that brings a technician into your shop rather than someone else's.
Once you find a good technician, work to keep him or her
Know what your market pays, and make sure to match or improve upon the going rate. Also consider consulting outside sources (the Mercer study on competitive wages across North America is one) to create a pay scale that's both fair and attractive. Also consider incentives. MCI uses performance-based incentives that take into account work quality and productivity — it's a win-win situation for the technicians and those who depend on them.
Finally, know that you can always hire out. MCI has a growing network of service centers that are staffed with skilled, dedicated technicians you can trust. Click here if you'd like to locate a service center near you.
The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com. |
