Why Can’t I Find Good Automotive Technicians?

A Real Talk Guide for Auto Repair Shop Owners

Finding good Automotive Technicians is one of the biggest challenges facing Auto Repair Shop Owners today.

If your inbox is full of applications that go nowhere, or your shop feels understaffed no matter how hard you look, you’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.

In this episode of Owner Optional, James Stephenson and Nick Edwards break down the real reasons shops struggle to hire and retain skilled techs, and what owners can do about it.

This post covers the ideas from that conversation in a way that’s easy to read and apply in your shop — whether you’re in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, or beyond.

The Hiring Problem Starts With Demand — Not Supply

Many shop owners believe the problem is “there are no good techs.”The truth is more complex:

There are technicians — but most don’t want to work in environments that feel chaotic, unsupported, or unpredictable.

Techs have options now. They want:

• Respect

• Clear expectations

• Fair pay

• Predictable workflow

• A team that actually works together

If your shop doesn’t have these things clearly established — even a good tech might avoid you.

People Don’t Join Shops — They Join Teams

One thing Nick emphasizes is this:

People don’t choose a job because of pay alone — they choose a culture.

A technician wants to know:

• “Will I be treated fairly here?”

• “Do these leaders know what they’re doing?”

• “Will I be supported when things are stressful?”

• “Is this a place I can grow?”

If your shop hasn’t answered these questions — even implicitly — good techs may never apply.

Why Traditional Hiring Approaches Fail

Posting a generic job ad usually gets:

• low-quality applicants

• the wrong skill sets

• people who quit fast

• lots of wasted time

That’s because most shop owners still approach hiring like:

“We need a warm body to take more cars.”

Instead of:

“We need the right person who will help us grow, serve customers better, and make the whole team stronger.”

The mindset shift matters.

You Need a Hiring System — Not Just a Job Board

A hiring system includes:

1. Clear Role Definitions

Techs perform differently when they know:

• what success looks like

• how performance is measured

• what the path to growth is

  
  

2. Transparent Expectations

Not vague hopes like:

“We want reliable techs.”

But specifics like:

“We expect X hours/day at Y productivity and Z quality standards.”

3. Consistent Training

Even good techs need sharpening.

Training builds confidence and retains talent.

4. A Path Forward

Technicians stay when they see a future:

• pay progression

• skill advancement

• stability

How This Affects Your Shop Culture

When hiring is weak:

• quality drops

• customer complaints rise

• the owner fills gaps

• other techs absorb the stress

That’s how owners end up still running the work, not the business.

But when you hire and retain the right way, techs:

• stay longer

• produce more

• help train others

• improve shop reputation

• reduce owner interference

So Why Is It Still Hard to Find Good Techs?

1. Bad or vague job ads don’t attract real talent

2. No clear hiring process means inconsistent results

3. Some shops expect techs to train themselves

4. Culture often prioritizes speed over quality

5. Techs want workplaces that match modern expectations

   
   

The old “pay more and they’ll come” strategy is outdated.

Today’s technicians want clarity, progression, and respect within a system that supports them.

This Isn’t Just Recruiting — It’s Leadership

At Lotus Consulting, we help Auto Repair Shop Owners:

• define roles that attract the right techs

• build repeatable hiring systems

• train teams so performance improves predictably

• create the kind of culture good techs want to stay in

• grow a business that doesn’t depend on the owner to solve every problem

This isn’t a quick fix or an expensive job board refresh — it’s coaching rooted in real shop experience.

Contact Us for Help

If you’re tired of struggling to find good techs, or you feel like your hiring process keeps bringing the same problems back, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Lotus Consulting helps Auto Repair Shop Owners build systems that attract, retain, and develop the technicians you need to grow.

Learn more and start the conversation by Contacting Us Today.

Listen to the Full Episode

For more insight, listen to the Owner Optional episode

“Why Can’t I Find Good Technicians?” wherever you listen to podcasts.

Written by James Stephenson, Master Technician, Multi-Shop Owner, and Founder of Lotus Consulting.

James actively owns and operates Auto Repair and Automotive Service Businesses across Massachusetts and Connecticut.