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Under The Hood
Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?
Well-heated and air-conditioned shop. Thermostat is set permanently at 65 F in winter months, and 76, during hot days.
What is the size of the team I’d be working with?
Right now it is just me an a service writer. Would like to have 2 full-time techs, one A tech, and a B-C tech.
What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?
Shop is open 7:00am-6:00pm, 5 days a week, suggest you work at least 8 hrs a day.
What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?
We have 4 scanners, 2 4 channel scopes, trans flush, coolant flush, brake flush, on-car brake lathe, 2 transmission jacks, torch, welder, and most specialty tools, tech must provide day-to-day tools.
What type of break room facility is provided?
We are a small independent shop out in the country, off a paved road. We do not have a break room. Techs eat in the shop, in vehicles, or in towns 5 miles away.
How many bays does your shop have?
4 with lifts, 1 flat bay, an alignment rack, and room to work on cars behind bays.
How many repair orders do you average per month?
Currently by myself 75-80, with myself and one B tech, 110-150.
What is your parts ordering process?
Most parts are ordered electronically by the service writer, others are called in.
What is your policy on side work?
You can work on your vehicle after hours, or when time permits, and pay the cost of parts. We can help you out on family vehicles, as long as you respect me, I will respect you.
Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?
We use Tekmetric shop management system and do vehicle inspections on all vehicles. We have two laptops in the shop with Tekmetric, Mitchell On Demand, and Identifix, available to you. We stress excellent communication between service writers, techs, and owner. We have been a busy, successful shop for almost 20 years, and plan on continuing to do so for at least as many years.
Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?
Yes, currently a member of MWACA, they offer online, and in-person classes. We have parts suppliers who offer online and in-person classes.
Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?
A master tech will have an opportunity to buy the business in 10-15 years. A B or C tech will have mentors, and classes offered to move them to a master tech position.
Can you describe your performance review process?
I have an open discussion policy, about what I can do better to serve you. I will let you know what you are doing incorrectly, and commend you for doing repairs correctly, and in a timely manner.
What type of safety training is required?
Good common sense does not need safety training
Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?
A young tech will shadow an A tech, and learn basic operations from all techs in the shop. We will let them perform tasks by themselves when progress is shown.
How does your shop get involved with the local community?
I sponsor many local fundraisers and events.
Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?
I have visited a local automotive class at a local high school.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about career development and community?
We have a nice, quiet, comfortable, shop out in the country, that is proud of what it has become, and look forward to growing into a business customers drive to for great service. I would love to give someone the opportunity to buy into the business I have created.
Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?
I'll discuss employment over the phone, but would ultimately need to be an in person interview.
What do your in-person interviews entail?
Learning your personal experience, skill set, and value to the shop. Would also like to know what you enjoy doing away from work.
Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?
Yes background checks.
Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?
NO. Skill set is determined through the interview process
After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?
1-2 days.
Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?
1-2 days
C Level Technician
Pay Range: $29.00 - $39.00/hour
Flat-rate, based on a two week pay period. 0-40hrs $29.00 40-45hrs $29.50 45-50hrs $30.00 50-55hrs $30.50 55-60hrs $31.00 60-65hrs $31.75 65-70hrs $32.50 70-75hrs $33.25 75-80hrs $34.00 80-85hrs $35.00 85-90hrs $36.00 90-95hrs $37.00 95-100hrs $39.00 100-200hrs $43.00
Student Tech / Apprentice
Pay Range: $12.00 - $17.00/hour
Tech will start out at $12.00-$14.00 per hour, depending on interview and tools supplied by employee. Wages witll increase to $15.00-$17.00 per hour, then tech will be moved to commission pay.
A Level Technician
Pay Range: $32.00 - $45.00/hour
Flat-rate, based on a two week pay period. 0-40hrs $32.00 40-45hrs $32.50 45-50hrs $33.00 50-55hrs $33.75 55-60hrs $34.75 60-65hrs $35.75 65-70hrs $36.75 70-75hrs $37.75 75-80hrs $39.00 80-85hrs $40.25 85-90hrs $41.75 90-95hrs $43.00 95-100hrs $45.00 100-200hrs $45.00
B Level Technician
Pay Range: $31.00 - $43.00/hour
Flat-rate, based on a two week pay period. 0-40hrs $31.00 40-45hrs $31.50 45-50hrs $32.00 50-55hrs $32.50 55-60hrs $33.25 60-65hrs $34.00 65-70hrs $34.75 70-75hrs $35.50 75-80hrs $36.25 80-85hrs $37.25 85-90hrs $38.25 90-95hrs $39.50 95-100hrs $41.00 100-200hrs $43.00
- Health Insurance Offered
- We pay 40% of your personal health insurance. Would be an individual, Blue Cross, policy, and would be pretaxed.
- Dental Insurance Not Offered
- Vision Insurance Not Offered
- Retirement Plan Not Offered
- Sick Leave Not Offered
- Vacation Offered
- Two weeks the first year, 3 weeks after 10 years of employment.
- Paid Holidays Offered
- Paid all major holidays.
- ST / LT Disability Not Offered
- Life Insurance Offered
- We do pay for a small life insurance policy..
- Uniforms Offered
- Pay full uniforms.
- Other Offered
- We pay for training, and will pay for food, and board if we attend weekend training.
Shop Talk
Hoping to get some feedback on other shops hiring process. After you hire a technician, do you put them on probationary period for 60-90 days? Order uniforms for them right away? Do you keep hiring the least experienced technicians so at least they can do oil changes, tires, etc? Or hold out for the experienced technician you are crossing your fingers for? Is a warm body better than nobody at all?
Spring is here! Here at the shop we have been doing a lot of "spring cleaning" in other words catching up on work! One of our bigger jobs was replacing engine in a 1988 Chevy Blazer, which is now considered an antique at 36 years old! We put a Jasper remanufactured 5.7/350 V8 engine. We proudly support Jasper Engine & Transmission.
Top Shop Challenge: Does your shop help out any local schools? Share some of the things you do to help fuel the next generation.
To help our schools we save all of our WIX filter box tops and give them to our local FFA chapter. During the fundraising period, WIX will donate $.25 to your FFA chapter for every official WIX box top redeemed.