As we move into the holiday season, hiring tends to slow down. But that doesn’t mean your shop’s recruiting efforts should pause—even if your shop is fully staffed.
The end of the year is a natural time for technicians to reflect on their careers and start considering resolutions for the year ahead, which could include making a job change. According to Forbes, January and February are some of the most popular months for job seekers.
By continuing your recruiting efforts during the “slow” months, you’ll give your shop a competitive edge it needs when the market picks up again after the holidays.
How Top Shops Stand Out on Shop Talk, the Online Community for Automotive & Diesel Technicians
At WrenchWay, we partner with some of the best shops and dealerships across the country that understand the importance of ongoing recruiting and transparency with technicians.
Through our Top Shop membership, shops gain access to WrenchWay Shop Talk—a dynamic online community for auto and diesel-related content from technicians, shops, schools, and other industry professionals. Top Shops use Shop Talk to stay top-of-mind with technicians—regularly posting content to keep their recruiting efforts consistent and visible.
10 Types of Recruiting Posts to Attract Technicians
Below are some of the most effective recruiting posts shared by top shops in November 2024, along with insights into why they were successful in attracting potential technician hires.
What all of these posts have in common is that they go beyond the typical, “We’re Hiring!” message. Instead, they give potential hires a real sense of what it’s like to work at the shop, using a variety of content types and topics—from technician spotlights to partnerships with schools.
1. Tom Wood Subaru: Technician Spotlight
Tom Wood Subaru features one of their technicians, Logan Payne, who discusses how he started in the industry, his goals, and where he is now in his career.
Featuring your technicians in a spotlight post is a great way to show that your shop values and appreciates its staff while highlighting their achievements. It also shows off your team’s knowledge, background, and skills, not only to others in the industry but also to your customers.
2. Toyota of Corvallis: Ceramic Coating Service
Toyota of Corvallis showcases their ceramic coating services and the benefits they offer to customers.
Showcasing new equipment and technology in the shop is an excellent way to attract potential hires. It gives technicians insight into the tools and resources available to them, allowing them to produce high-quality work. Additionally, it highlights the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology they may not have used before.
3. Walser Honda: Celebrating Certifications
Walser Honda celebrates Jack’s achievement of becoming a Honda Master Certified Technician.
Celebrating the advancement of your staff’s certifications showcases your shop’s commitment to ongoing training and professional growth. This not only highlights dedication to helping technicians advance in their careers, but also serves as a strong attraction point for potential hires. Plus, it reassures customers that your technicians are up-to-date with the latest industry standards and training.
4. Jaguar Land Rover Indianapolis: Halloween Contest
Jaguar Land Rover Indianapolis showcases participants of their Halloween contest, showing off the fun and festive atmosphere at the shop.
Sharing festive social posts demonstrates that your shop embraces holiday celebrations and encourages a sense of fun and friendly competition. Technicians are often drawn to workplaces with a positive, engaging culture, and hosting events like a Halloween costume competition shows that your shop fosters this kind of environment.
5. Town Toyota: Recap of Last Month
Town Toyota highlights some recent accomplishments and recognizes recent stand-out technicians.
Sharing monthly recaps on shop performance and staff achievements demonstrates your shop’s commitment to transparency and communication. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page and knows how their work impacts the overall goals of the business.
6. Truck Country of Oak Creek: Favorite Tool Brands
Truck Country of Oak Creek polls technicians asking about their favorite tool brands.
Posting questions and polls demonstrates your shop values and is open to feedback. Being heard by employers is very important to technicians, as it makes them feel valued and validated. Additionally, posing questions to industry professionals helps you stay on top of trends and preferences.
BONUS: Technicians who participate in any poll questions on Shop Talk are automatically entered to win WrenchWay’s Monthly $1,000 Giveaway. All responses are anonymous.
7. Woody Anderson Ford: Working with Schools
Woody Anderson Ford partners with Hudsonville City Schools to ensure the auto program, housed in the new Huntsville Career Tech Facility, is fully equipped to train the next generation of technicians.
Publicly showing your shop’s support for local schools demonstrates a commitment to the education of future technicians in your community. The more shops can get involved with instructors and students, the more they position themselves as a good option for a potential employer after graduation.
8. Cavender Auto Family: Testimonial
Technicians from the Cavender Auto Family shared their experiences with the training and technology available in the shop and how it helps them better serve customers.
Hearing directly from technicians in a video makes testimonials feel more personal and authentic. Technicians can relate to their peers, which adds credibility. These testimonials also show that the staff is proud to represent and share their experience working at the shop.
9. Schierl Tire & Auto Service – Weston: Work Anniversary
Schierl Tire & Auto Service – Weston celebrates an auto technician’s seven-year anniversary.
Celebrating a technician’s work anniversary demonstrates to potential job candidates that your shop recognizes and values employee contributions. It also shows appreciation for your staff’s commitment to the shop. The fact that technicians choose to stay with your shop long-term speaks volumes about the shop’s culture and work environment.
10. Audi Indianapolis: Shop Chili Cookoff
Audi Indianapolis shares some pictures from their 18th annual shop chili cookoff.
Showing off your shop’s fun gatherings and group activities gives potential hires a genuine glimpse into your shop’s culture. While many shops claim to have team events regularly, sharing these moments publicly is far more impactful than just listing it as a bullet point on a job description.
Staying Consistent to Build a Pipeline of Top Talent Year-Round
As we approach the busy hiring months ahead, it’s important to keep your recruiting efforts active—even during the slower holiday season. Technicians are reflecting on their careers and considering new opportunities, with January and February being peak months for job seekers.
Consistently sharing authentic, engaging posts that highlight shop culture, achievements, and community involvement, gives potential hires a real sense of what it’s like to work at the shop. These posts not only attract top talent, but they also help establish the shop as an employer of choice, setting you up for success when the hiring market picks up again.
