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Under The Hood
Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?
The shop is heated but not air-conditioned. However, fans and large doors provide good airflow on hot summer days.
What is the size of the team I’d be working with?
At our Willmar location, 20-25 technicians work in the shop, and the entire facility employs around 52 people.
What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?
Normal business hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and 8 AM to noon on Saturdays. During the busy spring and fall seasons, we extend our hours to 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday; 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays; Sundays on call only, weather permitting. Staff are rotated to cover the extended hours and weekends. Technician rotate and or volunteer for on call weekends.
What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?
The shop provides all OEM-specific special tools, lifting and rigging equipment, along with other larger and specialty tools. Technicians are only expected to supply their own everyday-use tools.
What type of break room facility is provided?
Our Willmar facility features a spacious climate-controlled break room with an attached locker room and bathrooms. It also includes a kitchenette, vending machines, and a popcorn maker.
How many bays does your shop have?
We recently completed an expansion project at our Willmar facility, allowing us to accommodate over 25 of our largest machines in the shop. All bays are covered by overhead cranes.
How many repair orders do you average per month?
Our work is somewhat seasonal, but we average around 250 work orders per month.
What is your parts ordering process?
We have a fully staffed parts department with dedicated personnel assigned to the shop. Technicians work closely with our parts team to ensure the correct parts are ordered for each job.
What is your policy on side work?
We do not allow our techs to use our diagnostic equipment outside of work. We discourage side work as technicians are allowed as much overtime as needed.
Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?
Our service office in Willmar is staffed by four employees who assist our customers and help keep our technicians efficient. We take pride in caring for both our staff and our customers. Arnolds is a family-owned company with active and accessible owners.
Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?
We provide extensive training from our OEMs on the machines we service. While many of these training sessions are available online, we also cover the costs associated with in-person training, typically held in Omaha, Nebraska, or Ames, Iowa.
Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?
We are committed to promoting from within and have numerous examples of staff who began in entry-level positions, transitioned through various departments, and now hold management roles. We also have relocation opportunities available to any of our other locations.
Can you describe your performance review process?
The formal performance review process is conducted annually, evaluating performance against the previous year. Additionally, we encourage all employees to provide informal ongoing suggestions for process improvement.
What type of safety training is required?
We provide safety training and instruction through our insurance company and several of our vendors.
Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?
Experienced technicians play a crucial role in mentoring younger techs by sharing their knowledge and expertise. They often provide hands-on training, guiding newer team members through complex tasks and demonstrating best practices in real-world scenarios. By not directly linking technician pay to efficiency, we foster a culture of support for entry level techs.
How does your shop get involved with the local community?
Yes we are involved in our local communities. We attend fairs and parades in our local area.
Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?
We are actively engaged with schools to encourage young people to enter our industry. Through tours, equipment needs and guest speaking, we establish these relationships early on. We also have scholarship opportunities available for students to attend technical colleges.
Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?
Yes, we typically conduct short phone screenings with applicants before scheduling in-person interviews. This helps us get to know candidates better and ensures a good fit before moving forward in the hiring process.
What do your in-person interviews entail?
Our in-person interviews offer a comprehensive evaluation of your skills, experience, and fit for the role. Typically, both the location’s General Manager and Service Manager are involved to get to know the candidate better.
Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?
Background checks and drug screenings are typically required for vehicle insurance purposes. But not for the hiring process.
Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?
Not typically. The interview process helps us understand a canidates skill set.
After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?
Not commonly. The interview process allows us to assess a candidate's skill set.
Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?
The general manager and service manager who conduct interviews are empowered to make hiring decisions, allowing for swift outcomes.
Experienced Technician
Pay Range: $26.00 - $40.00/hour
We also allow extra compensations for late and after hours service calls. Hourly pay is based on 40 hour work week. After 40 overtime pay is 1.5 times your hourly rate.
Entry level Technician
Pay Range: $18.00 - $22.00/hour
Hourly pay is based on 40 hour work week. After 40 overtime pay is 1.5 times your hourly rate.
- Health Insurance Offered
- Group Health Insurance from Allstate offers coverage for individuals as well as families. Arnolds pays approximately 80% of individual coverage and about 50% of family/dependent coverage. We also contribute up to $2000 into an HSA/FSA programs for each employee.
- Dental Insurance Offered
- Dental insurance is available, but premiums are solely the responsibility of the employees.
- Vision Insurance Offered
- Vision insurance is available, but premiums are solely the responsibility of the employees.
- Retirement Plan Offered
- A retirement plan is offered, with the company providing a contribution based on base pay . Arnolds encourages its employees to participate in contributing to the 401k plan, but is not required to receive the employers contribution.
- Sick Leave Offered
- Sick leave is part of our comprehensive paid time off (PTO) policy.
- Vacation Offered
- A vacation plan is available in tiers, depending on years of service.
- Paid Holidays Offered
- Employees receive six paid holidays each year.
- ST / LT Disability Offered
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance is available to employees, with the company contributing 50% to these premiums.
- Life Insurance Offered
- Life insurance options are offered for employees, spouses and dependents, with Arnolds covering the cost of the premiums.
- Uniforms Offered
- Company-provided uniforms include shirts and pants, along with laundry services. An annual stipend is also available for Arnolds-branded clothing and/or work boots.
- Other Offered
- Additional benefits include bereavement leave and employee discounts on parts and whole goods. Arnolds rewards funds to technicians based on training completion to be used for tool replacement and upgrades.
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