After placing hundreds of technicians in shops across the country, I've learned something counterintuitive: The best predictor of a tech's success isn't on their resume. I don't screen techs very often but here's the simple question I now ask every candidate when I do: "What time does your shift start, and what time do you typically show up?" Shop owners keep telling me the same thing: their most productive techs are consistently the ones who arrive early. Not because they're trying to impress anyone - it's just who they are. What I listen for: ✅ "I like to get there 15 minutes early to get organized" = This person takes ownership ✅ "Usually 5-10 minutes before" = Solid professional habits 🚩 Any version of "right on time" or jokes about being late = Dig deeper or move on Why this works: Punctuality isn't just about respecting time - it reveals their approach to the entire job. Early arrivers tend to be the techs who: - Plan their day instead of reacting to it - Take pride in being prepared - Respect their teammates' time - View their role as more than just turning wrenches Pro tip for shop owners: Don't just ask this question - ask WHY they show up when they do. Their answer tells you everything about their work ethic and mindset. I've started coaching all our clients to use this in their initial phone screens. It saves everyone time by filtering out candidates who aren't serious about producing results. What's your go-to interview question that reveals character? Drop it below - I'm always looking for new tools to help independent shops find their next A-player.

Hiring techs doesn't need to feel like rocket science. After years of collecting the best interview questions from clients, I've boiled it down to these 7 simple questions that will tell you darn near everything you need to know: 1. "Tell me about your experience as a technician" → This helps you quickly gauge their practical experience and comfort level. 2. "Walk me through diagnosing a knock in a 2019 Highlander engine" → Shows you their diagnostic process (not just if they know the answer). 3. "Share a time you collaborated well with a coworker to accomplish a task" → Teamwork is critical in a smoothly running shop. You need to know if they can fit into your culture. 4. "What’s going on that has you looking for new opportunities right now?" → Helps you spot red flags AND tailor your offer to what matters to them. 5. "What’s the ideal environment that inspires and motivates you to perform at your best?" Helps ensure alignment with your shop’s culture, management style, and environment. 6. "Besides pay, what would make you accept or decline an offer?" → Identifies what truly matters to them beyond salary, helping you make a compelling offer. 7. "If we were sitting down one year from now and you were to look back over the previous 12 months and all your personal and professional goals had been accomplished, what would that look like?" → Reveals ambitions, priorities, and allows you to determine if your goals align for long-term success. The bottom line: Keep it simple. These 7 questions take maybe 20 minutes but save you months of hiring headaches. What's your go-to interview question that never fails? Drop it below 👇

Smart shop owners know: Proactive techs don't just fix cars faster – they transform your entire operation. Here's the question that cuts through interview BS: "How do you like to fill your downtime when you're working?" Why this works: - Shows if they take initiative without supervision - Reveals their definition of "adding value" - Exposes whether they're builders or clock-watchers 🟢 Green flag answers: - "I organize the tool area" - "I review upcoming jobs" - "I help newer techs with questions" - "I study technical bulletins" 🔴 Red flags: - "I scroll my phone" - "I wait for the next assignment" - "I take extra breaks" The best techs see downtime as opportunity, not vacation. Your team's quiet moments reveal their true character. The question is: Are you asking the right questions to find them? Save this post – your next A-player hire might depend on it. What interview question has helped YOU identify top performers? Drop it below 👇

This interview question can reveal 10 important aspects of a candidate: "When was the last time you missed a significant deadline?" Here's what you can learn from their answer: 1. Honesty and self-awareness: Their willingness to admit to missing a deadline shows integrity and self-reflection. 2. Accountability: How they frame the situation indicates their level of personal responsibility. 3. Problem-solving skills: The explanation of how they handled the missed deadline can showcase their ability to manage crises. 4. Time management: Their answer may reveal their approach to prioritizing tasks and managing workload. 5. Communication skills: How they communicated about the missed deadline to stakeholders can indicate their professional communication abilities. 6. Learning and growth: Their takeaways from the experience can show adaptability and commitment to improvement. 7. Stress management: Their handling of the situation can indicate how they perform under pressure. 8. Team dynamics: If the missed deadline involved others, their response can reveal how they navigate team responsibilities. 9. Work ethic: Their attitude towards deadlines in general can indicate their overall work ethic. 10. Project management skills: Their explanation might shed light on their ability to foresee and mitigate risks in project timelines. This question provides insights into the candidate's professionalism, resilience, and ability to learn from mistakes. I hope you're starting to see that a few strategic questions is all you really need to identify if a top performer is a good fit for your team.

Here's a powerful interview question that you can start using today: "Who have been your major career influences and why?" This interview question can reveal several important aspects of a candidate: - Self-awareness: It shows how reflective the candidate is about their career development and the factors that have shaped their professional journey. - Values and priorities: The influences they choose to mention can indicate what they value most in their career and professional life. - Role models: It provides insight into the types of professionals or leaders they admire and potentially aspire to emulate. - Learning orientation: The question can reveal how open the candidate is to learning from others and their ability to apply those lessons to their own career. - Career trajectory: Their answer may offer clues about their career path and how they've navigated their professional development. - Adaptability: If they mention diverse influences, it could indicate an ability to learn from various sources and adapt to different situations. - Industry knowledge: The influences they cite might demonstrate their familiarity with key figures or thought leaders in their field. - Interpersonal skills: How they describe their influences can show their ability to form meaningful professional relationships. - Communication skills: The way they structure their answer and articulate their thoughts can provide insight into their communication abilities. - Cultural fit: The influences they mention might indicate whether their values align with your organization's culture.