Best Time to Hire Automotive Technicians
(Hint: It’s Not When You’re Desperate) Most shops decide to hire automotive technicians the moment they feel the pinch — a tech quits, a bay sits empty, the schedule backs up. So the job post goes live that same week, right when the shop needs someone most. There’s a problem with that instinct: it’s exactly…
Yo Shop Owners — Here’s Why You Can’t Hire (the Right) People
Alright y’all. Here we are, three full years into running Promotive, a 100% independent automotive repair shop recruiting agency… or for lack of a better term, head-hunters. We have placed nearly 1,000 candidates and have worked with several hundred shops and ran discovery calls (initial appointments) with over 1,000. We only work with shops we…
Flat Rate vs Hourly Mechanic Pay: What Actually Works in 2026?
If a comp structure change reduces turnover by even one technician per year, it’s almost certainly worth looking at.
The Future of Auto Tech Careers: Emerging Trends and Opportunities
Taking a look at the future of auto tech careers and emerging trends, it’s no surprise that all arrows are pointing to technology. With that said, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage – it’s a necessity. That is especially true for those wrenching in the heart of repair shops. As automotive…
Trailblazers: Women in Automotive Through the Decades
In our male-dominated industry, there is a remarkable community of intelligent, determined, and downright amazing women in automotive. Promotive is a women-led organization and we acknowledge the challenging journey that has brought us to this point. While times have greatly improved, women have historically faced unfair biases. Accordingly, they feel the need to work just…
Advice to Auto Repair Shop Owners Hiring
When you start a business, it usually sparks from an idea—and that idea often comes from a pain point. For Joelle Pollak and me, after over 10 years working with shop owners in our leadership roles at NAPA Auto Care and 360 Payments respectively, we kept hearing the same issues: “I can’t find good techs,”…
Solving Bill McNally Racing (BMR)’s Technician Shortage
INTRO With work piling up for over 2 months, this shop needed quality techs – fast. With jobs coming in and candidates falling short, BMR needed a staffing solution that understood their unique needs and company culture. Promotive stepped in with a targeted, efficient hiring process that saved time and helped owner, Bill McNally, focus…
An Automotive Shop’s Most Expensive Employee
December 2016 was one of the toughest months of my career. At 360 Payments, we had plateaued. It felt like we were working harder than ever but seeing no growth. The long hours, the endless hustle—it was all starting to feel like it wasn’t leading anywhere. To understand why we were stuck in 2016, you…
Recruiting Automotive Techs? Here’s Why January is Your Best Bet
Picture this: it’s Christmas week. Credit card bills are stacking up, and a tech heads back to work right after the holiday, wishing for just a few more days off. There was no Christmas bonus, the shop’s been slow, and now the new year is approaching. The tech starts thinking about their future—spending more time…
Spread Cheer in Your Automotive Repair Shop
Spread cheer in your automotive repair shop! At Promotive, the link connecting skilled technicians with forward-thinking repair shops, we understand the significance of the season and believe in the power of giving back. Here are five thoughtful ways your automotive repair shop can make a positive impact during this holiday season and all year long. …
Automotive Technician Interview Questions: 10 You Should Ask
In today’s competitive hiring market, asking better interview questions can make the difference between hiring a long-term team member and making another costly turnover mistake.
How to Attract Automotive Technicians
The automotive technician shortage isn’t new, but it is getting harder to ignore. As vehicles become more advanced, shops and dealerships are struggling to find technicians with the skills needed to keep up with evolving technology. From EVs and ADAS systems to increasingly complex diagnostics, today’s automotive technicians are expected to do far more than…