By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
Pennsylvania Body & Frame - St. Marys, Pa.
www.pabodyandframe.com
This site implements many unique features including a FLASH animated introduction and Customer Satisfaction Indexing (CSI) mechanism, complete with text and voice testimonials. The employment section outlines employee benefits and specific openings in the shop. The appointment scheduler also makes this site convenient for customers.
Web Wise
Qualified Employees Can Be a Click Away
In our industry, finding qualified candidates to fill available positions in your shop can be difficult. The Internet is an excellent first step for job hunters.
According to iLogos Research, 79 percent of companies now recruit on their corporate Web sites - up dramatically from 29 percent just three years ago. If you maintain a shop Web site, adding an employment section is your first step in recruiting qualified technicians. Depending on your overall resources, adding an employment application can be as simple as a downloadable or printable form that can be filled out by hand, or as complex as adding a form that can be filled out online. If you place an ad in a local newspaper, be sure to let candidates know they can apply for the job online at your Web site. This offers them a convenient way to submit their qualifications to you, providing you with more applications in the long run.
Some of the best employment sections on shop Web sites include a listing of specific benefits the shop offers its employees. Also, be very specific about the qualifications you expect. Does the candidate need to be ASE certified? Should the candidate have several years of experience? This can help ensure that the best-qualified personnel are applying, and save you time in the hiring process.
Although online employment services have been available since the Internet's inception, it should be noted that more and more of these companies now cater specifically to the automotive industry. Be sure to research these companies before submitting any information. If the company is a national recruitment service, does it allow you to place ads based on geographic region? If they charge for their services, is it more cost-effective to use the service than to run an ad in your local newspaper? Also, find out how long the ads are posted online. If they expire after a certain amount of time, be sure to mark that date on your calendar and resubmit the ad if necessary.
These companies usually use a system that is twofold. Job seekers can also post their resumes on these sites. Perhaps the person you are looking for has already posted their information. These companies maintain a vast database of candidates that can be searched for a nominal fee.
Many newspapers publish their classifieds section online as well. If you are placing an employment classified in your local paper, find out if it costs any more to be included in their online version. Even if there is a fee, it may be worth it.
In today's society, more and more people are turning to the Internet to fulfill their employment needs. In looking for qualified personnel, don't leave the Internet out of your search.
Net Numbers
According to a recent report, 92 percent of online job seekers are willing to spend more than six minutes applying for a job of high interest.
Source: iLogos Research
ASA Web Ways
ASA Employment Classifieds
One of the best resources for Automotive Service Association (ASA) members to fill a position for a technician, manager or administrator in their shop is the Employment Classified section of the ASA Web site. Using their six-digit member number, ASA national members can post a “position available” advertisement in 19 different categories free of charge. These postings include past experience and certifications/education required, along with any additional information. Technicians looking for a job can also post free advertisements using the “Positions Wanted” form. Ads automatically expire 30 days after posting.
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Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.
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