Finding the right fabricator, paint or electrical tech is hard, we'll show you how to up your game and get their attention.

As the owner of an auto restoration, performance, race or restyling shop, if you don’t have an HR department you’re in charge of hiring and training your employees. In the current work climate, it’s harder than ever to find good talented staff. 

Nobody checks the newspaper for a job opening or their local community bulletin board anymore. Most people probably don’t even know what a bulletin board is! Now, talented staff are finding their next job on the internet. 

With the digital age of job searching taking over, you’re going to have to forget traditional methods of advertising open positions. 

Your website, social media, and even your email list may be powerful tools for attracting customers, but they can also be used to attract new employees. In this article, we'll cover the 9 steps you need to take in order to successfully use your online presence as an HR resource.

Today we’re going to show you how you can attract the right kinds of employees using your website, your email, and your social media and show you how to avoid the most common mistakes many shops are making.

So you’ve got your job listing down, and you know who you’re targeting, but do you know where these dream employees hang out online?

It would be a waste of time, energy, and money to post a job listing on Twitter if none of your target audience was there. The same goes for job sites; if your potential employees aren’t checking those sites, then you’re going to waste your time and money. 

So, make sure you’re advertising your job opening on the right social platforms. If you have no potential employees on Facebook for example, then don’t advertise your job there. Instead, figure out what social media platform they like to hang out with and post your job listing there. 

Also, don’t send out a mass email with the sole purpose of advertising the position to your entire email list - not all of them will be looking for a job and might find it irritating. Annoying your audience will only damage your brand reputation. Instead, feature it as a small banner on your monthly newsletter. 

Do some research to find out where your target workforce spends their time online. Remember to keep in mind that they may not be looking for a job, but if your offer is too good to pass up, they might just consider applying.

Job sites like Indeed.com might not be the place where your perfect employee is looking for a job. If you’re looking for a high-end fabricator, you might end up with a bunch of job applications from pipefitters from Texas. Try to look for your perfect candidate in places where they’ll be. No point fishing in a pond with no fish!

Pro Tip: Just because you found employees on a certain platform a couple of years ago doesn’t mean they’re still there now. Do research to find out where your potential employees are hanging out to make sure that each time you’re hiring you find the best team possible.

Showcasing what makes you a unique auto restoration, performance, or restyling shop to work with will attract experienced, talented workers eager to be part of your team. 

They’ll see how amazingly awesome your company is and want to work with you over your competitors.

64% of candidates always research a company online and if you don’t have information available on your shop then you might lose a potential star employee. 37% of candidates will often move on to another job opening if they can’t find any information on the company they’re applying to work for.

To ensure these jobseekers apply to work in your shop: 

• Post interior photos of your shop 
• Show off your work areas 
• Show off images of past and present projects that have been your shop
• Show off awards that your shop has won 
• Give potential employees a sneak peek of what they'll be working on
• Update your website with valuable information about your company

Everybody wants to have employees that make their business shine, and by showing off what makes your company badass, you’ll get the best workers looking to work with you.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to tell your potential employees about all the benefits of working with you too. You can also ask your current employees what they think makes you unique to get a bit of an insider scoop. 

If there’s one thing potential employees will look at when applying for a job, it’s the benefits of working with you. 

These benefits can include things like:

• Flexible working hours
• Personal development activities
• Paid training
• Health care plan
• Vacation  
• Paid sick leave
• Sign on Bonuses and performance bonuses
• Gym memberships
• Company vehicles 

You should also promote a positive work environment and culture and any extra little things you do for your employees.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to ask your current employees what benefits they like the best. Anything your company does to help improve the lives of your employees is worth listing in your job description. 

Did you know that most people these days will look for potential career opportunities on their phones? In fact, 86% of job seekers use their mobile to search for a job.

This means that your careers page has to be accessible from the comfort of a mobile device. 

If a person can’t access the page on their phone quickly, they might decide not to apply for the role. This could mean that you’re missing out on a lot of great potential employees.

So make sure your careers page:

• Can be read on mobile 
• Has a simple application form 
• Has large buttons that are easy to click on
• Makes it easy for potential employees to upload their CVs

You should also make sure your employment page has detailed info about working for you and each job opening.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure how to check if your website or careers page is mobile friendly then simply open it up on your phone and have a quick browse. If it’s easy to use and read then you’ve got yourself a mobile-friendly page if not then you might need to make a few tweaks.