September 30, 2024
Written by:
David Boyes
Everyone on your team brings something different to the table. Their varying skills, experience levels, and even weaknesses make your team strong, but these differences can also make training a bit of a headache. How do you make sure each person gets the training they actually need for their specific job?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when you’ve got a shop to run and not enough hours in the day, but it doesn’t have to be so complicated. With a clear plan and the right tools, you can create customized training that fits each person’s role without driving yourself crazy in the process. Let’s talk about how to make that happen.
Table of Contents
Every team member is at a different point in their career, so a one-size-fits-all approach to training just won’t cut it. A customized training program that adjusts to all experience levels ensures your team gets the tools needed to do their best work. Here’s how to approach training for different levels in your shop:
When someone is new to the automotive industry, they’re stepping into a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment that requires a strong foundation. Training for entry-level employees should be designed to help them build confidence while mastering the basics. Rushing them into more complex tasks can overwhelm them, so it’s critical to focus on the essentials first.
Everything is new at this stage, so the first priority is to lay a solid groundwork. Customized training for entry-level employees should cover:
One of the best ways to help entry-level employees succeed is by pairing them with more experienced team members who can offer real-time advice and support. This mentorship approach makes sure they’re learning in a hands-on, practical way that’s guided by the experience of others.
This type of dynamic training is ongoing and adaptable, allowing new hires to gradually take on more complex tasks as they gain confidence.
Once your employees have mastered the basics, it’s time to help them take things to the next level. Intermediate-level employees already have a solid foundation, so the goal is to build on that by teaching them more advanced techniques that are directly relevant to their day-to-day work. This stage is all about helping them become more self-sufficient and start to hone their skills in specific areas. Here's how to approach training for this group:
Now that these employees are comfortable with the fundamentals, it’s time to introduce them to more complex tasks. For example, they’ve probably nailed basic maintenance like tire replacements and oil changes, so they’re ready to handle things like:
The key is to gradually increase the complexity of the tasks they’re tackling without throwing too much at them all at once.
As intermediate-level employees grow in confidence, it’s important to give them opportunities to specialize. Maybe one employee shows a knack for electrical work, while another is great with diagnostics. This is the perfect time to let them dive deeper into those areas and really hone their skills. Customized training can be tailored to each person’s strengths, allowing them to develop expertise in the areas they’re most interested in.
When it comes to your experienced employees, it’s not just about sharpening their technical skills—they’ve already mastered those. At this point, the focus shifts to leadership, communication, and staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends. These employees have been around the block and are key players in your shop’s success, and retention of these valuable team members should be a priority. Here’s how you can keep them engaged and growing while also using their expertise to benefit the whole team.
By now, your seasoned employees know their way around a vehicle, but leadership and communication are just as important as technical skills at this stage. They may already be the ones others turn to for advice or troubleshooting, so it makes sense to help them build on those natural leadership qualities.
While leadership is a big part of what you’ll want to focus on for experienced employees, don’t forget that staying sharp with advanced technical skills is still important. The automotive industry is always evolving, so giving these employees opportunities to stay current with the latest tools and techniques is essential.
Advanced Technical Skills Focus |
What to Include |
Why It's Important |
Staying Updated on Industry Changes |
Training on the latest advancements in automotive tech, like electric vehicles, hybrid systems, or new diagnostic tools. |
Keeps experienced employees sharp and informed on the latest trends, allowing them to tackle new challenges as the industry evolves. |
Specialized Certifications |
Opportunities for advanced certifications (e.g., ASE) or specialized skills that align with their role and interests. |
Provides recognition for their expertise, keeps them engaged in their professional development, and adds value to your shop. |
Advanced Diagnostics and Troubleshooting |
Training on high-level diagnostics and complex problem-solving to handle the toughest tasks in the shop. |
Ensures your top techs are equipped to handle the most complex repairs, improving shop efficiency and customer satisfaction. |
Before you start thinking about your team’s future, focus on the roles they’re in now. Giving your technicians and service advisors the right training for what they’re doing today helps build a solid foundation for growth down the road. Whether it’s sharpening diagnostic skills for your techs or improving communication and interpersonal skills for your service advisors, the training should match what they need to do their job well. And don’t forget, a bit of cross-training can help boost teamwork and make your shop run more smoothly.
Here are the key areas of focus for each role:
Training Focus |
Technicians |
Service Advisors |
Main Skills |
|
|
Cross-Skills |
Basic communication skills for interacting with service advisors or, occasionally, customers |
Basic technical understanding to confidently explain repairs and collaborate with technicians |
Future Growth |
|
|
Managing training for a team with varying skill levels and roles can be challenging to manage on your own. That’s where AI-driven algorithms step in to streamline the process. This technology can create customized training based on each person’s performance and progress, ensuring that every team member receives the right training tailored to their current skill level and role.
Here's how adaptive learning technology works:
By using AI-driven technology for dynamic training, you ensure that your team’s learning experience is both relevant and effective, helping them grow in their specific roles and become even stronger contributors to the shop.
Read More: How to Measure the Effectiveness of AI-Based Automotive Training
Building a skilled team requires dynamic training that grows with your team. By leveraging training tools like AI-driven algorithms, you can keep everyone moving forward at the right pace. This way, no one’s left behind, and your top performers are challenged to keep improving.
The real strength of customized training is how it benefits your shop as a whole. As your technicians and service advisors develop in their roles, the overall efficiency of your shop improves. With everyone equipped with the right skills for their job, your shop runs more smoothly, and your team is positioned for long-term success.
If you’re curious about how customized training can boost your shop’s performance, reach out to our team. We’d love to chat and explore how Today’s Class can support your team's training.
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