Just this week, a story broke about a high school vocational class in Medford, Mass., that restored a Zamboni machine for the state Department of Recreation and Conservation — the second Zamboni they've worked on the past few months. They're also restoring a Corvette to be used as part of the D.A.R.E. program for the local police.
When I read stories like that and think about the interest young people show for custom paint and body work, and automobiles in general, I have to ask, "Why are we having such a tough time recruiting new techs into our industry?"
Attracting, alone, isn't the problem. It's retention. Unfortunately, it's no surprise why we can't keep new technicians in collision repair.
On one hand we're dealing with bright, talented people who want to combine art and automotive work and who crave the challenges collision work offers. Just look at the articles this month covering foam repair, hazardous waste disposal and frame pulling. It takes some serious brain power to survive in this industry.
We're asking these same special people to work in an industry marked by suspicion and debilitated by the influence of big insurers. Most shops are so focused on an ever elusive bottom line that they take no time to rethink their businesses or try something different. In the battle between quick money and fresh ideas, dollars trump dreams. Survival for the day matters first. Survival down the road isn't an issue many shops have time to visit.
There are, of course, shops run by visionary owners and management who are changing the industry little by little. They can be difficult to find, and because they tend to be very successful, their current technicians stay on for the long haul. Potential new hires typically must wait till they expand to find a job.
Little wonder that so many talented technicians test the industry, give it their best shot and then move on to work elsewhere. When these people leave, they don't come back. Awaiting them elsewhere are other automotive segments and industries chomping at the bit to hire trained, motivated people.
Granted, we don't know for certain what will happen to the collision repair students in Medford or anywhere else. Some will choose other careers upon graduation. Others will move on later after deciding collision work just isn't for them. That's normal. It's all part of being young and finding your particular path in life. But of the remaining interested students, the motivated, the best and the brightest — can we really expect them to stay in this industry in its current form?
This is just one more of the high costs involved with doing business as usual. It's the price all of us — shops, insurers and customers — will continue to pay until enough of us say enough is enough and work for real change.
Tim Sramcik
