Are you the owner of a growing automotive repair shop? Then you must be on the hunt for a team full of accomplished auto mechanics. 

An auto mechanic is critical for ensuring that motorized vehicles, machines, and other equipment at a repair shop are functioning correctly. 

And suppose you manage to get your hands on a technically sound automotive technician. In that case, they can diagnose, dismantle and repair and replace mechanical parts, depending on what exactly is required for your shop. 

Today, we will offer you an ultimate guide on how to hire mechanics for your auto shop.

How To Hire Auto Mechanics – The Step By Step Process

Before running the recruitment process for hiring automotive technicians, you must understand whether the option is feasible. 

Hiring Auto Mechanics – Should You Invest? 

The first step in hiring mechanics should always be to understand whether getting a new team of automotive technicians is feasible. 

As per the automotive service association statistics, many auto shop owners have reported that the shortage of automotive technicians was their top challenge. Other business owners in the auto industry also say that they are struggling to find a qualified auto technician for their business. 

If you’re looking to scale, hiring mechanics should be on the top of your list. Unfortunately, it can be a tough job to find qualified candidates as the demand for them is rising, and the supply seems to be limited. 

Hiring an automotive technician or mechanic will provide you with support for the following tasks: 

• An auto mechanic will run the repair process for customer vehicles

• Build, assemble and repair machines and vehicles as per customer needs

• Enhance the useful life of vehicles and machines by conducting major and minor repairs

• Perform routine maintenance procedures like an oil change

• Ensure all safety protocols are followed

Now that you understand your pressing need to hire an auto mechanic to take your business to the next level, let’s look at the step-by-step process. 

Understanding The Type of Auto Mechanic Your Business Needs 

When you are hiring an auto mechanic, it’s important to understand what you are looking for. It can be a tough job to get the resource that you need. 

Different business needs may require different skill sets and it’s critical to reflect your business needs in the job description. 

Here are the common types of auto mechanics: 

Auto Mechanic

An auto mechanic is the most common type of mechanic needed at an auto shop. An auto mechanic performs general vehicle repairs and maintenance but can also offer specialized services for other mechanical and electrical matters. 

Millwright 

Millwrights are the mechanics that perform industrial machinery repairs. They are usually found in factories, power plants, and construction sites and are responsible for installing and repairing heavy machinery.

HVAC Mechanic 

HVAC mechanics deal with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in office, commercial and residential buildings. They also deal in repairing kitchen equipment and performing general maintenance.

Heavy Vehicle Mechanic

A heavy vehicle mechanic is similar to an auto mechanic but performs repairs on heavy machinery such as farm equipment and marine vessels. 

Handyman 

Usually in high demand, a handyman functions as a service boy to perform light repairs and maintenance usually in households. 

Often, auto repair shops are in need of an auto mechanic or service advisors to build their technical team. However, you can also choose to build your team using other types of mechanics, depending on your business needs. 

Skills To Look Out For When You Hire Mechanics 

Once you know the type of mechanic you are looking for, it’s important to zero in on the skillsets and technical expertise that you are looking for. 

For most mechanics, the set of requirements are the same and include the following: 

• High school diploma or GED

• Vehicle inspection license for the state you are operating in

• Proficiency in diagnosing and troubleshooting problems for vehicles

• Valid Driver’s License

• Familiarity of diagnostic equipment used at your shop

• Ability to perform repair services for vehicles

• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification

Prepare The Job Description 

It’s important to come up with an elaborate description for your job to let the job seekers know what you are looking for exactly. 

You should include the following in this document: 

• Eligibility Requirements include education and experience

• Required skillsets or certifications

• Good to have skills

• What you will be offering to the job seekers including a competitive package and other employee benefits

• Information about your business or shop

You should add a thoughtful summary of the role, the roles and responsibilities of the potential resource, and details of the physical conditions for the role. If you are looking to hire urgently, it’s best to include that information here too. 

You should also add whether your resource is required to have his own tools or you will be offering equipment to your recruited mechanic.

Finalize Your Recruitment Strategy 

Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to finalize your recruitment strategy. This entails finalizing the platforms on which you will advertise your job opening. 

Here are a few ideas to mobilize resources for your job posting: 

Internal Hiring 

It’s possible that you have mechanics who are ready to move up the ladder. Hiring from within also helps in strengthening the motivation of your team.

Referrals 

You can also get other mechanics on your team to refer potential employees for hiring. 

Hire An Employment Agency 

Partnering with an agency can also help in streamlining the process of hiring. However, you’ll have to add the cost of the agency to your budget to hire a mechanic as well. 

Advertise Your Job Online 

Publishing and advertising your job on job boards will also help you in getting applicants. Using job boards will help you get a larger volume of applicants in a lesser amount of time. 

Advertising an open position on job portals and boards can help you in getting applicants in 14 hours, which is lesser than the national average.

Post The Job On Your Website 

Having an online presence in this day and age is critical for all kinds of companies. You should also advertise open positions on your company website. 

You can also utilize social media platforms for advertising the open positions. 

Interviewing The Selected Candidates 

Once you have advertised the opening on platforms for jobs, you need to shortlist applicants based on your eligibility criteria. The selected candidates should be called in for an interview. 

Before you schedule an interview, make sure to finalize your interview questions and grading rubric. Your interview questions should help you in identifying the right candidate for the job. 

Schedule interviews as per your or the human resource team’s availability. You should focus on gauging both, the technical expertise and soft skills of your candidate. 

Run The Selection Process 

It’s now time to decide which technicians you have selected for the final round. For a better understanding of your selected candidates, it is recommended that you run a background check on each one of them.

Based on the results of your checks, it is now time to finalize the candidate for the position. Choose the best bet for your business!

Provide Optimum Conditions 

The auto industry is known to have a high attrition rate for mechanics. So even if you have hired the right technician for your company, your job doesn’t end there. 

You also need to focus on retaining and motivating your technicians. Remember, only motivated technicians will provide your customers with an exceptional service experience. 

To maintain good working conditions, opt for a temperature controlled service bay, provide your technicians with the right tools (including hand tools) and nurture a strong team. 

Focusing on the work conditions and motivation levels of your technicians will support your company in its mission. 

Invest in Training 

Many executives don’t invest in training for their technicians owing to an additional outlay of money. But if you want to stay ahead of other companies in the industry, its important to provide every technician in your team with technical and soft training. 

Training and workshops provide technicians with the professional environment that they need to learn and thrive. This can also support forging a long-term relationship with your team. 

Track Your Hiring Process 

At first, it can be challenging to identify the right platforms to hire or recruit for your company. For example, if you hire an agency for employment services or sign up on a job portal, you can’t be sure whether it’s going to prove to be a sensible decision. 

For future reference, it’s a good idea to track the conversion rates for each recruitment strategy and platform that you’re using. This will help you in keeping a check on your return on investment, for your later recruitment procedures. 

Choosing Between A Full Time and Freelance Mechanic 

If you are operating on a small scale, chances are, that you will be trying to cut down on your human resource costs. Or it’s possible that you don’t require the full-time services of a mechanic.

In such a scenario, it’s probably a good idea to consider hiring freelance mechanics. You can also hire a part-time or a contractual mechanic, depending on the scale of your services. 

Advantages of hiring a freelance mechanic: 

• Helps lower costs

• Not obligated to pay employee benefits

• You can opt for an experienced freelancer

• No repercussions in case the freelancer does not perform well

However, having a full-time mechanic on your payroll can give you the following benefits: 

• You’ll have a long-term resource who will gel in with your company

• You can train a full-time mechanic and invest in him

• It will allow you to operate at a larger scale

So, depending on your budget and business needs, you can opt for either a freelance or a full-time mechanic. Usually, most people prefer to hire a full-time mechanic who they can invest in.