Photos
Under The Hood
Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?
Heated with conventional HVAC and also waste oil. Air-conditioned in the summer.
What is the size of the team I’d be working with?
Our full staff level includes 2 Service Managers (one for technicians and the other for advisors), 4 Service Advisors, 14 Technicians (3 Team Leaders), 4 Parts Advisors, and 2 Lot Attendants/Service Porter. Our dealership has approximately 60 team members.
What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?
Service department hours Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm Saturday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Sunday: CLOSED Technicians work Monday - Friday and one Saturday per month; when you work on a Saturday, you have a day off during the week. Tech shifts 7 am - 4 pm, 8 am - 5 pm, or 9 am - 6 pm Lunch break is from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.
What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?
Toolboxes and benches are provided, and all modern equipment was updated in 2016. We offer all Chrysler-required special tools for technicians to check out and use. The shop has IDS, Tech Stream, WI Tech, and Tech One.
What type of break room facility is provided?
We have a complimentary coffee, tea, water, and snacks break room. We have a small kitchen to store and prepare food.
How many bays does your shop have?
14 two-post lifts. Each technician is assigned to a bay.
How many repair orders do you average per month?
We write about 1,000 repair orders per month, customer pay, internal and warranty.
What is your parts ordering process?
Our Service Manager and parts department order parts through the Stellanis software ordering system, DealerConnect. We have additional staff to pick up parts when needed.
What is your policy on side work?
Technicians can work on their own or immediate family members' cars after work. All work must be put on an RO.
Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?
Garavel has a great culture of success! Happy employees make happy customers.
Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?
Technicians are paid for web-based training as they progress through levels 1 - 3 and to attend manufacturer Stellanis/Chrysler instructor-led off-site training. Garavel reimburses for gas, tolls, and ASE certifications.
Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?
We will provide the support as long as you provide the will and positive attitude to succeed at being the version of you. Our level 3 master technicians started as apprentices and are now level 3 master technicians and have been with us for over ten years.
Can you describe your performance review process?
New employees receive a 90-day review, + all technicians' performance evaluations are completed every 6 months. Techs also receive a pay increase as they progress through the Chrysler levels of training and when they transition to a flat-rate technician.
What type of safety training is required?
Technicians must complete web-based safety training within the first 90 days of employment through KPA. We also provide on-site quarterly instructor-led safety training through KPA. 1. Emergency Response Training (re-take annually) 2. Hazard Communication Awareness (re-take annually) 3. Automotive Lift Training 4, Personal Protective Equipment 5. Safe Driving 6. A/C 609 Training <--- if the technician doesn't already have the certification
Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?
Team leaders are paired with apprentice technicians to provide on-the-job guidance. Apprentices and team leaders continuously rotate through the shop to learn from different perspectives and view points..
How does your shop get involved with the local community?
Selling cars is what we do. Helping the community is who we are. Each month, when you purchase or lease a vehicle from Garavel CJDR or Garavel Subaru, part of the proceeds are donated to our charity of the month, a local community partner. Garavel-sponsored events include the SoNo Half Marathon/5K, SoNo Arts Festival (Paint a Car!), The Westport Dog Festival, and many more.
Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?
We are committed to building relationships with local tech schools and automotive programs and attending technician-specific careers fairs and events.
Where do you see the shop in five years?
In five years, we will have continued to grow our customer base - focusing on employee training and development will help us meet current demand and allow for increased business.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about career development and community?
We promote from within! Porter -> Apprentice ->Service Technician -> Master tech -> Foreman -> Service Manager Sales Consultant -> Sales Manager - Finance Manager -> General Sales Manager
Do you have an application form and how long does it typically take to complete?
We provide an online application through our career site. The application process was created to be simple easy and mobile friendly. The process should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?
Before scheduling an in-person interview, we phone screen every candidate.
What do your in-person interviews entail?
Garavel candidates typically expect a phone interview, 1 - 2 on-site interviews, and a job shadow . A job shadow interview lets the candidate see firsthand what a day in their new role would be.
Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?
We conduct a pre-employment background/motor vehicle check and a 4-panel drug test.
Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?
We offer a job shadow interview day. A job shadow interview lets the candidate see firsthand what a day in their new role would be like, meet potential co-workers, and ultimately get a feel for how Garavel operates.
After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?
We aim to get back to the candidate within 1 - 2 days after the in-person interview.
Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?
Ideally, we aim for 1 - 3 weeks. This depends on the applicant's availability, reference checks, and satisfactory completion of a background check and 4-panel drug test.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your hiring process?
Please ask questions! This is a two-way interview. We seek individuals who bring new ideas and perspectives to our culture.
A Level Technician
Pay Range: $110,000.00 - $160,000.00/year
This pay range is based on Master Tech skill level and diagnostic 3 across the board. Paid flat-rate technician Paid time and half on warranty work, Paid $50 for each web-based training certification for levels 1 - 3, Additional earning productivity bonus opportunity for achieving 111% productivity or higher, and Team Leader bonus.
B Level Technician
Pay Range: $83,000.00 - $115,000.00/year
($39.90 - $55.29/hr)
Semi-skilled Technician, Paid flat-rate technician Paid time and half on warranty work, Paid $50 for each web-based training certification for levels 1 - 3, Monthly productivity bonus opportunity for achieving 111% productivity or higher.
- Health Insurance Offered
- We offer health insurance plans through United Healthcare, a base plan $2,500/$5,000 POS, and a buy-up plan $2,850/$5,700. We pay over 70% of the premium for the single plan, and the employee is responsible for 30% To reduce your annual deductible, Garavel will cover 50% of the deductible expenses under a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) through a third-party vendor, 90 Degree Benefits.
- Dental Insurance Offered
- Dental and Vision benefits are combined through The Guardian.
- Vision Insurance Offered
- Dental and Vision benefits are combined through The Guardian.
- Retirement Plan Offered
- We offer employees both pre-tax and post-tax Roth 401k plans with a 2% company match through John Hancock. This means we match 100% of what you put in up to 2% of your total pay.
- Sick Leave Offered
- We have 5 PTO days available per year for full-time 40 hour per week employees.
- Vacation Offered
- Vacation pay is paid at your AVERAGE rate, unlike most places which only pay salary. if you do not use your vacation time, it is paid out to you (at your average rate). 2 week of vacation is eligible on your 1st-anniversary date. (10 days, 80 hours) 3 weeks of vacation is eligible on your 5th-anniversary date and after that. (15 days, 120 hours) Technicians can take unpaid time off as well if approved by their manager. We offer flexibility around appointments;
- Paid Holidays Offered
- Holiday pay is paid at your AVERAGE rate, unlike most places which only pay salary. We have 5 paid company holidays,; New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- ST / LT Disability Offered
- Available with AFLAC.
- Life Insurance Offered
- Basic life and AD&D are available through Anthem.
- Uniforms Offered
- We provide 11 uniforms which are laundered weekly. (11) Shirts and pants, (2 ) jackets, and (5) Garavel T-shirts are refreshed each season.
- Other Offered
- $2K Employee Referral Bonus Employee vehicle purchase program Free lunch on Saturdays. Laptop provided Toolbox provided Technicians can work on their own or immediate family members' cars after work.
Shop Talk
This shop has not yet added any Shop Talk posts.