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Under The Hood
Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?
Our buildings are heated and have fans. We do not have air conditioning in the shops yet.
What is the size of the team I’d be working with?
Robison Service has ten people in the service department, two people in parts and support, a service manager and two office staff.
What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?
People are free to start from 7AM on, and someone is generally here till 6. We can be flexible with the hours for any one worker, as long as we have staff to cover the core hours of 8-5. We can accommodate four 10-hour days or 5 8-hour days.
What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?
Lifts, jacks, stands, hoists, parts washers and all "heavy tools" are company owned. The company owns all necessary scan tools, meters and other diagnostic instruments, and brand-specific special tools. Robison Service runs ISTA factory diagnostics for BMW group, ODIS for VW, Xentry for Daimler Benz, and Pathfinder/Topix for Jaguar/Land Rover. We have fork lifts and material handling gear. Workers do not need to struggle with barrels, engines, or heavy items. In winter, we have company owned plows and loaders and we have staff to take care of our facilities.
What type of break room facility is provided?
There are several break rooms with microwaves, refrigerators, and tables and chairs.
How many bays does your shop have?
There are four main buildings, each with eight bays. The inspection building has two deep bays In addition, there is an office and there are two small storage buildings.
How many repair orders do you average per month?
150
What is your parts ordering process?
We have two parts people who order and receive parts. We use the dealer network, Worldpac, and specialty suppliers
What is your policy on side work?
It's ok on your car and immediate family
Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?
The best thing about our work environment, that we work mostly for enthusiasts who really appreciate us and the work we do. We primarily work for clients who are interested in quality, not price, and who are willing to pay for top-notch work. We have high expectations for ourselves, and we have the environment to make that possible. We are not a flat rate shop.
Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?
We subscribe to available training for Jaguar/Land Rover, Mercedes, BMW (includes Rolls-Royce), and VW (includes Bentley). We pay techs for time spent in training. We also pay for relevant continuing ed courses at local community colleges.
Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?
Since we work on rare vehicles, much of the detail knowledge has to be acquired on the job. That creates the opportunity for any tech to move from an entry level to a more senior level as they acquire skills. We have our first commissions to convert vintage Rolls-Royce and Jaguar to electric power, and anticipate growth and opportunity there, in regular tech work, design/engineering, and fabricaiton. We are beginning to design and make replacement electronic modules for 80s and 90s cars, and see further opportunity in that space. Outside the service department, techs are encouraged to get involved in cars shows and events, and the company has cars and equipment for this. We particulate in many of the major car shows in North America plus shows across New England.
Can you describe your performance review process?
Owner/manager will go over performance and discuss goals for the future at least annually.
What type of safety training is required?
We have a person who serves as safety manager, and he conducts necessary training. Anyone operating a forklift, hoist, or other machinery needs a hoisting license, which we pay for and have training kits for.
Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?
Our staff is all salaried or hourly and are free to support one another without flat rate pressures.
How does your shop get involved with the local community?
We sponsor awards at car shows and other events. We participate in the Eastern States Exposition - New England's State Fair. We help keep our neighborhood clean and safe.
Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?
We work with the University of MA materials science dept on custom design and fabrication, creating opportunities for students there. We do tours and internships with Landmark College from Putney Vt.
Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?
Yes
What do your in-person interviews entail?
Talking to managers and to prospective co-workers in the shop
Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?
We do background checks, driver's license tests (for insurance) and check references. Applicants must have a good driving record and a valid license.
Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?
We may ask the applicant to look at a car or discuss a hypothetical problem with managers or techs to get a sense of problem solving skills and approaches.
After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?
No more than a few days
Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?
Depends on. time needed to check references, driver license status, etc. Usually a few days, sometimes a bit longer.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your hiring process?
We do not have a lot of turnover here. Most people are hired to support growth as opposed to replacing people. We tend to be careful selecting people as we are a small team.
Technician
Pay Range: $25.00 - $55.00/hour
We pay hourly wages, with Christmas bonus, pay based on experience, certifications, and skill set
- Health Insurance Offered
- Tufts
- Dental Insurance Not Offered
- Vision Insurance Not Offered
- Retirement Plan Offered
- Mass Mutual, with up to 3% of gross pay employer matched
- Sick Leave Offered
- up to 40 hours per year, then short or long term disability
- Vacation Offered
- 1-4 weeks annually, depending on time of service
- Paid Holidays Offered
- Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4, Thanksgiving
- ST / LT Disability Offered
- NY Life
- Life Insurance Offered
- Mass Mutual, partial company paid
- Uniforms Offered
- We have company work shirts which are given without charge to employees. We do not require people to wear any specific uniform, preferring to let folks dress as they feel. The company will pay for work books, rain gear, and other special clothing for employees who need it.
- Other Not Offered
