If you’re starting your automotive career parking cars or assisting customers on the lot, you’re in the right place. Many of today’s General Managers began in entry-level sales or support roles, learning the business from the ground up. The retail automotive industry has many career opportunities that reward ambition, effort, and customer focus more than formal education. If you’re willing to learn and stay driven, your next promotion is always within reach. 1️⃣ Lot Porter o

Running a profitable service department isn’t just about keeping bays full, it’s about knowing exactly how well your team is performing every day. The best Service Managers treat their department like a business within a business, and the data tells the real story. Below are five key performance indicators (KPIs) every successful Service Manager tracks closely, plus how to use them to improve efficiency, profitability, and team performance. 1. Technician Productivity What it

Finding qualified automotive talent has never been more difficult. Dealerships everywhere are feeling the pressure, service bays are backlogged, open positions sit unfilled, and competition for experienced technicians, advisors, and BDC agents is fierce. But while many dealerships are still stuck sorting through stacks of résumés manually, others are quietly outpacing the competition, filling positions faster, hiring better candidates, and improving retention. Their secret?

1️⃣ Tell me about your experience as a technician. What they’re asking:  Can you summarize your background confidently and clearly? How to answer:  Focus on your key skills, experience, and certifications without going into your entire job history. “I’ve been a certified tech for eight years, mostly working on domestic vehicles. I specialize in diagnostics and electrical issues, but I’m comfortable across brakes, suspension, and general maintenance as well.” ✅ Tip:  Keep it f

In today’s dealership environment, your Business Development Center (BDC)  is often the engine that drives sales and service growth. It’s the first point of contact for most customers,  the voice that turns website leads, texts, and phone inquiries into actual appointments. But hiring BDC staff isn’t just about finding friendly voices or good communicators. The skills you need depend heavily on how your BDC is structured  and what technology it runs on . Over the last decade,

Hiring great service advisors is tough, keeping them is even tougher. Across the country, dealerships are facing the same challenge: rising turnover, declining CSI scores, and a service department stretched thin. You can recruit the best talent in the market, but if your advisors burn out or leave within six months, you’re right back to square one. Retaining experienced, motivated advisors is the key to protecting both profitability and customer loyalty. Why Advisor Retentio

In the automotive industry, technical ability gets you noticed, but soft skills get you hired . Whether you’re a skilled technician , service advisor , or manager, employers are looking for more than just what you can do with a wrench. They want people who communicate clearly, work well with others, and represent their shop or dealership with professionalism. What Are Soft Skills in the Auto Industry? Soft skills are personal traits that influence how you interact and perform

In an age where you can apply to dozens of jobs with a few clicks, it’s easy to forget that one of the most powerful career tools is still the same as it’s always been, your network . The automotive industry remains one of the most relationship-driven fields out there. Whether you’re a technician, service advisor, or manager, who you know can open doors faster than any online application. The Industry Runs on Reputation Dealerships and repair shops often prefer hiring through

Discover how Car Guys, Inc. and its AI-powered Dealer Dash platform help dealerships hire faster with automated sourcing, screening, and interview scheduling.

When most shops talk about hiring, the focus usually falls on technicians, and for good reason. But if your customer facing service advisors aren’t performing at a high level, even the best techs can’t make up for the lost revenue and customer churn that follow. A great service advisor is the bridge between the customer and the technician. They translate repair needs into plain language, build trust, and help ensure every bay stays full. Hiring the right one isn’t luck, it’

Looking for your next dealership or repair shop opportunity? The Car Guys, Inc. job board was built specifically for automotive...

1. Make It Worth Their While Offer a meaningful reward for successful hires. It doesn’t always have to be cash, though a referral bonus...

Reducing Turnover Starts with Smarter Hiring and Ends with Better Culture Every dealership owner knows the feeling: you spend weeks...

If you’ve been in the automotive industry long enough, you’ve seen it change. Shops are busier than ever, cars are more complex, and expectations from customers keep rising. Yet for many automotive technicians, it can feel like the pay, conditions, and respect haven’t kept up. Scroll through any social post about the “ technician shortage ,” and you’ll see hundreds of comments from techs frustrated with the same issues: Flat-rate systems that punish you for slow days. Manager

The automotive industry has always been driven by innovation. From the assembly line to electric vehicles, each breakthrough reshaped how we build, sell, and service cars. Now, another major shift is underway, this time in how dealerships and repair shops find and hire talent. Artificial intelligence (AI) recruiting tools are changing the way automotive businesses attract, evaluate, and hire candidates. And CarGuys, Inc. is leading the charge. The Hiring Challenges Facing Aut