How to Spot a Great Technician Resume in 60 Seconds

austinhayford5
Sep 16
4 min read

Hiring a skilled automotive technician is harder than ever. The shortage of qualified techs means every dealership and repair shop is competing for the same people. When you post a job, dozens of resumes come in, but most won’t be a fit. Wading through all of them can eat up hours you don’t have.

How to Spot a Great Technician Resume in 60 Seconds

The good news? You don’t need to spend an entire afternoon combing through applications. With the right approach, you can scan a technician’s resume in just 5 minutes and know whether they’re worth moving forward.

Here’s how to do it, and how AI tools (like the system we use at Car Guys Inc.) make the process even faster.

Step 1: Check Certifications and Training

The first thing to look at is whether the candidate has the right certifications. ASE certifications, OEM training programs, and hybrid/EV credentials show you they’re serious about their craft.

Green Flag: Certifications are current and relevant to your shop (ASE, Toyota/Lexus, Ford, GM, Tesla, etc.).
Red Flag: Certifications are expired, or missing entirely for the role they claim.

If you’re hiring for advanced roles, you want more than just basic ASEs. But even for entry-level roles, signs of ongoing training are important.

Step 2: Look for Clear Progression

A resume should tell a story. Has the candidate moved from lube tech → C tech → B tech → A tech? Or do they look “stuck” in the same role for years without growth?

Green Flag: Steady career progression, with increasing responsibilities.
Red Flag: A resume that lists “oil changes, brake jobs, tire rotations” for five years straight, with no growth.

Progression shows you the candidate is learning, motivated, and building toward mastery.

Step 3: Pay Attention to Consistency

Job-hopping happens in every industry, but it’s especially important to spot in auto repair. We've all heard the expression "that's why a tech's toolbox has wheels", but if a technician only stays a few months at each shop, it may mean reliability or performance issues.

Green Flag: At least 1-3 years of tenure at recent positions.
Red Flag: A new job every 3-6 months without explanation.

You don’t need someone who stays for decades, but a tech who can commit for at least a couple of years is worth more than one who burns out fast.

Step 4: Match Their Skills to Your Shop’s Needs

Not every tech is right for every shop. A diesel specialist may not be a fit for a retail dealership. Someone trained on EV systems might be overqualified for a quick-lube center.

Scan for keywords like:

Diesel
Transmission
Hybrid/EV systems
Diagnostics & electrical

If their experience matches the kinds of jobs you need to fill your bays, move them forward.

Step 5: Look for Clues About Soft Skills

This is the part many managers overlook. Resumes aren’t just about technical skills, they often include clues about soft skills, too.

Watch for mentions of:

Mentoring or training others (leadership potential).
Customer communication (can explain issues clearly to non-technical people).
Team collaboration (worked with service advisors, parts, or management).

These qualities are harder to measure, but they’re the ones that reduce turnover and build long-term loyalty.

Download the Checklist

Common Resume Red Flags

While you’re doing your 5-minute scan, here are a few things that should make you pause:

Job duties listed with no measurable results (“changed oil” vs. “completed 20+ oil changes per day while training new hires”).
Long gaps in employment without explanation.
Certifications listed vaguely (“trained in EVs” instead of “ASE L3 Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Certification”).
Generic, one-size-fits-all resumes that don’t show real effort.

One or two red flags don’t always mean “no,” but they’re worth digging into during an interview.

Where AI Fits In

Here’s the truth: even with a 5-minute scan, reviewing 100 resumes is still a lot of time. That’s where technology comes in.

At Car Guys Inc., we use an AI-driven system to scan hundreds of resumes at once. The algorithm looks for:

Certifications and training keywords.
Career progression patterns.
Signs of tenure and stability.
Match to the job posting’s requirements.

From there, only the best resumes move forward for human review. That means dealership managers and service directors only see the shortlist, saving hours while still keeping full control of the final hiring decision.

AI doesn’t replace human judgment, but it acts like a filter. You don’t waste time on unqualified candidates. Instead, you start your 5-minute scan on the top 10% that actually deserve it. Because at the end of the day, every bay filled is revenue earned.

At Car Guys Inc., we bring both sides together, AI-powered resume screening and decades of industry expertise, so you get the right techs faster.

Or Call Us At (877) 750-3358

Why It Matters

Every empty bay loses revenue. Every bad hire is a costly turnover. Spending less time on weak resumes means filling jobs faster, keeping your shop fully staffed, and keeping service revenue flowing.

The 5-minute scan helps you quickly decide:

Who’s worth an interview.
Who needs more information.
Who isn’t a fit.

Combined with AI screening, it’s a one-two punch that keeps your hiring pipeline full without draining your time.

Wrapping It Up

Hiring a great technician doesn’t have to mean hours lost to resume reading. In just 5 minutes, you can spot the certifications, career progression, consistency, and soft skills that tell you whether a candidate is worth pursuing.

And when you use AI tools to pre-screen, you get to skip the noise and focus only on the resumes that really matter.

Because at the end of the day, every bay filled is revenue earned.

At Car Guys Inc., we bring both sides together, AI-powered resume screening and decades of industry expertise, so you get the right techs faster.

Or Call Us At (877) 750-3358

CarGuys Inc. is a recruitment agency built exclusively for the automotive industry. From technicians and service advisors to salespeople and managers, we connect dealerships and repair shops with qualified talent faster, using AI-powered tools, nationwide reach, and years of hands-on experience.

With over 500 clients and thousands of hires, we don’t just fill positions, we help build stronger teams that drive long-term success.