By Glenn Root

While certain hiring suggestions and strategies can help you greatly as you start your franchise journey, don’t forget that the picture is not altogether rosy. Automotive service franchisees operate in a highly competitive market, so making sure your shop has skilled technicians is a key consideration for any would-be franchisee. The point to remember is that not all shops share equally in the pool of quality human resources. Well-run franchises get to pick and choose first; mediocre businesses, on the other hand, are stuck with the leftovers.

As a prospective automotive franchisee, the best thing you can do to mitigate any concerns you have about hiring the right staff is to find the right franchisor. By concentrating your search on franchisors with comprehensive programs, you can find a system that is not only geared to your needs, but also to those who will ultimately make your business a success—your technicians.

Read the full article: Hiring in the Automotive Sector

By Glenn Root

Part of the appeal of joining a franchise system is the instant brand recognition franchisees enjoy. While this advantage will clearly help you attract potential staff (and customers), franchisees in the automotive sector cannot rely solely on a recognized brand to help with recruitment. If you plan to enter this industry, you must look for more than an established reputation from your prospective franchisor.

Look for franchisors that provide equipment programs to help make sure your business (and your technicians) have the right tools and machines, along with industry-recognized repair standards. A top-notch franchise organization will have a national (and, in some cases, North American) equipment-buying program for both its franchisees and technicians. You should also look for a strong field staff; these are the people who will help you choose the right equipment.

That said, the responsibility for hiring technicians ultimately rests with you, the franchisee. Your approach to recruitment will vary depending on your specific situation. For example, if you are taking over an existing establishment, you might retain the current staff, pending recommendations from the previous owner. If you are starting the location from scratch, you will have to do more legwork. Thankfully, there are several options open to you, the majority of which can be found online. Websites such as Kijiji, Craig’s List, justcarjobs.com and even the Human Resources of Canada website can be quite helpful. Of course, there is always the tried and true method of simply putting a ‘help wanted’ sign outside your shop. Your franchisor may also offer individualized websites for all stores, on which you can post job ads (though these tend to yield far fewer leads than other websites).

Another long-term recruitment strategy that could serve you well is to hire a couple of young, promising, inexperienced general-services mechanics and then work with them to develop their skills. You can start these candidates out with simpler services and gradually help them advance to more complicated work. In addition, most high schools have co-op programs that allow you to ‘test drive’ the candidates at little or no cost. Even in a skill-heavy sector like automotive service, sometimes it is best to hire for attitude—you can develop the technical skills later.

Once you’ve found the right candidates for the job, your franchisor should be able to advise you on other key employment factors, such as pay plans and how to identify good candidates. Also remember, when you join a large and successful franchise organization, you get the opportunity to talk with hundreds of fellow franchisees. Odds are many owners will have encountered the same challenges you will face and can offer invaluable advice.

Read the full article: Hiring in the Automotive Sector

By Glenn Root

The key to attracting skilled automotive technicians is being in a position to give candidates the types of opportunities they are looking for—specifically, those that offer a competitive salary, plenty of cars to work on and the chance to grow professionally in a pleasant, clean, well-organized workplace. In short, factors over which individual franchisees have great influence.

As a prospective automotive franchisee, you need to remember that auto technicians are highly trained professionals, and as such, have justifiably lofty standards. These men and women typically make a strong commitment to their profession, undergoing extensive education and training, including five-year apprenticeships. Good mechanics will have tools valued at least $40,000 and often upwards of $80,000, which they constantly upgrade to keep pace with industry trends and innovations. Auto technicians also tend to take great pride in what they do. As a result, they want to work for organizations that demonstrate professionalism and similar pride in a job well done. When these skilled individuals enter the job market, they will gravitate toward shops they feel will help fill their need for growth and where they feel they will receive respect.

In short, good technicians—the kind you want working for your franchised business—are picky. As such, if you are looking into purchasing an automotive franchise, you should limit your business search to franchisors that will fully support you and help you offer gifted technicians what they are looking for. This includes everything from an attractive store with top-notch equipment to well thought out operational processes and procedures to open and frequent communication.

Technicians will also be drawn to jobs that give the opportunity to grow through a comprehensive training program. Franchisors with online education programs, which allow technicians to improve their skills at any time, are far more attractive to potential employees. These courses have the added benefit of allowing you to test a technicians’ skill sets before you hire them, which is particularly helpful if you do not have a background in the automotive business.

Read the full article: Hiring in the Automotive Sector