Blue Check Shops Interview Series uncovers unconventional strategies for attracting and retaining technicians in a challenging labor market
In today’s tight labor market, many independent auto repair shops are stuck in a cycle of technician turnover, unable to find and keep the skilled talent they need to grow. But a select group of top shops have cracked the code on hiring techs quickly and building loyal teams for the long-term.
The new Blue Check Shops Interview Series, hosted by Chris Lawson of Technician Find, goes behind the scenes with these standout shops to unpack exactly what they’re doing differently. The first episode features Phil Webster of Webster Tire and Auto Service, who shares his proven system for onboarding green techs and developing them into A-level talent through in-house apprenticeships.
“Most shop owners know how hard it is to find experienced techs right now. What surprised me was how the top shops we work with have shifted their mindset from scarcity to abundance, and gotten creative about building talent pipelines,” said Lawson. “We realized other shops could shortcut their learning curve by hearing directly from owners like Phil.”
Lawson and the Technician Find team have unique insight into what separates shops that hire successfully from those that struggle, having generated more than 80,000 tech applications for over 150 shops in the past 6 years. The interview series distills those learnings into actionable strategies any shop can apply.
In the premiere episode, Webster pulls back the curtain on unorthodox approaches like:
- Hiring an in-house trainer to get less experienced techs up to speed quickly
- Rethinking compensation to motivate techs beyond just their paycheck
- Enlisting the whole team in recruiting efforts by asking for peer referrals
- Prioritizing a shop culture and benefits that make techs want to stay long-term
For shop owners tired of spending time and money on tech recruitment only to end up back at square one, this series offers a new playbook. Be one of the first to listen: Subscribe to Blue Check Shops Interview Series or watch the full interview on YouTube.
About Technician Find
Founded in 2018 by Christopher T. Lawson, Technician Find offers technician sourcing solutions to auto repair shops nationwide. With services ranging from ad copywriting and geotargeted ad placement to on-demand recruitment courses and coaching, Technician Find is dedicated to solving the talent acquisition challenges faced by today’s auto repair industry. For more information, visit www.technicianfind.com.
