We know that finding qualified technicians is not always an easy job. This is why it is so important for shops to create a job posting that is effective at attracting the right technicians. We’ve identified some of the common errors, and came up with 15 tips on how you can write an effective automotive technician job posting. (And really, these can be used for diesel technician job postings, too!).
15 Tips for Writing an Effective Automotive Technician Job Posting
1. Use Proper Formatting
Your job posting should have a structured and organized layout. It can be very difficult to read a job posting that is one never-ending paragraph. Be sure to use titles, subtitles, links, and bullet points to keep your job posting organized. This will make the job posting a lot easier for technicians to read.
Sample Job Posting Layout:
2. Sound Like a Human
No one wants to read a job posting that sounds like it was written by a robot. The point of your job posting is to attract technicians, so show some personality! Avoid sounding too corporate-y, and make it personable and unique.
Note: This doesn’t mean you can’t use AI tools like ChatGPT to craft amazing job descriptions. By writing a descriptive prompt and providing key details to include and what tone to use, AI tools can produce a great starting point for your job descriptions. Just make sure to edit it carefully and give it a human touch where needed.
3. Keep the Job Title Straightforward
Use a job title that is going to be easy for technicians to find. If you’re hiring for an “Automotive Technician,” then that should be the job title in the job posting. Job titles such as, “Hardworking Awesome Technician” are not going to show up in search results because that’s not how the technicians are searching for jobs.
4. Show Off Your Company Culture
Be sure to include details and descriptions that are going to show what it is like to work for your shop. Technicians want to be pretty confident that a shop is going to be a good fit BEFORE they even apply. Here are some ways shops can show off their shop culture:
- Include videos and photos of the team
- Highlight shop efforts around employee recognition, work-life balance, and unique perks
- Customize your company description to speak to candidates, not customers
5. Explain the Job Responsibilities
Technicians want to know the day-to-day responsibilities of the job. Using a bulleted list with a description of the different position duties is a great way for technicians to put themselves in the shoes of someone who works at your shop. They don’t want to be blindsided and not know the type of work they will be doing on the job, so make sure your list of responsibilities is all-inclusive.
Bonus: “Day in the life” videos have been increasingly popular on social media sites like TikTok and YouTube. Consider filming a simple video following around one of your technicians for part of the day and having them talk about what a typical day on the job looks like.
6. Include Required Qualifications
If there are specific certifications, degrees, or programs that a candidate needs to have for the position they should be clearly listed. No one wants to waste time filling out an application just to find out they didn’t have the required skills for the position in the first place. This step will ultimately save you and the candidate time.
7. Avoid Asking for References in the First Contact
The job posting and application should be an opportunity for you to get a brief background of the technician and their qualifications. Save asking for references until further in the hiring process. There is no need to waste people’s time asking for references you’re not going to call.
8. Describe the Hiring Process
Good technicians get swiped up quickly. Don’t miss out on a good technician just because they have no idea what the next step in your hiring process is or how long they have to wait to hear from you. Make sure candidates know how quickly you’re looking to make a decision, when they will hear back from you, and what steps they will go through in the hiring process. Most importantly, communicate with them every step of the way to keep them engaged.
9. Include a Realistic Pay Range
Let’s cut to the chase—technicians only want to take the time to apply to a shop they know will meet their needs. This is why it is crucial to include a reasonable pay range in your job posting. Most technicians won’t even apply for a job that doesn’t have a pay range listed. Do your research to ensure you’re confident your technician pay is competitive. (WrenchWay’s free online technician pay comparison tool makes this super easy!) Don’t forget to include details about any bonus potential as well.
10. Explain (Don’t Just List) Your Benefits
Just as important as pay range, benefits should be included in your job posting. If you offer great benefits, you’ll want the technicians applying to your shop to know that. Having a clear list of the benefits that you offer will make it easier for technicians in their decision-making process. But many times, a list of benefits isn’t even enough.
Stand out from your competition by including more details, such as providers, percentage covered by the shop, 401(k) matching, and even perks like catered lunches, tool allowances, paid trainings, etc.
11. Include Contact Information
Including contact information for the hiring manager or whoever is doing the hiring is a good habit to get into when creating a technician job posting. That way if the candidate has any questions, they know exactly who they can reach out to.
12. Keep it Simple to Apply
Get this: 60% of candidates abandon complex and lengthy job applications. Simplify your technician job application process as much as possible. There’s no need to gather all their information initially. As candidates progress in the hiring process, you will get the information you need.
Want some tips on how to simplify your application process? Check out this article → Want More Mechanics to Apply for Your Job? Make it Easier!
13. Avoid Using Internal Jargon
It’s important to let your company personality shine in your job posting, but you still need to be professional. Refrain from using slang words, acronyms, or internal jargon as some candidates might not understand what they mean or what they stand for. It’s best to use clear language that all applicants will be able to understand.
14. Don’t Exaggerate
While you should try to “sell” your shop in job descriptions, you want to keep it realistic. Job postings that sound too good to be true are a red flag for technicians. Make sure to be very straightforward when it comes to important details like:
- Responsibilities
- Pay
- Benefits and perks
Exaggerating on your offering will only lead to wasted time and money hiring someone who ends up leaving the shop because they were oversold on a job.
15. Add a Link to Your Top Shop Profile
Most automotive technician job postings look the same. Even the best technician job posts don’t give technicians a full picture of what it’s like to work at your shop. WrenchWay Top Shop Pages are a great way to stand out from the competition and attract more technicians to your shop.
Sample Automotive Technician Job Posting
Editor’s Note: Last updated August 2024. This article was originally published in November 2022 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehension.
