3 Things We're Talking About

Richmond (Va.) Community College and Hendrick Automotive Group announced plans to open the Hendrick Center for Automotive Training to bring a new service education program to campus designed to get students into jobs faster.

The college's work force training certificate for automotive technicians will take weeks to achieve instead of years.

College president Dale McInnis said an associate's degree is valued and often necessary to get the proper licensing in some professions, such as nursing.

"But we're finding that as the job market in this economy is evolving, the need for different credentials is evolving, too," he said.

A cohort-based, short-term training program can provide students with the skills and competency "that employers are desperately seeking right now — at a fraction of the time, a fraction of the cost to the student and their families," McInnis said.

TechForce Foundation, which encourages people to become technicians, launched its annual "Because I'm a Tech" campaign in late August to celebrate the profession and promote it as a career.

The campaign features video testimonials from techs across all industry sectors — from auto, diesel and collision repair to aviation, restoration, marine, welding and motorsports. In the videos, the techs talk about the lifestyle and benefits they enjoy as a technician, including job security, compensation, work/life balance and the satisfaction of helping people.

The testimonials also dispel outdated stigmas and share what it's really like to be a tech today.

"As part of TechForce's work force development initiative to power the technician work force, 'Because I'm a Tech' showcases the attractive lifestyle and secure economic potential of this profession," said TechForce CEO Jennifer Maher. "These careers are no longer 'blue collar,' but 'new collar,' high tech and in high demand."

WrenchWay, which helps pair students and current technicians with top service shops, recently polled 34 experts in the automotive, diesel and collision industries and asked: What is the one thing shops can do to improve how they're recruiting technicians?

The responses were then published on WrenchWay's website and loosely assembled into nine headings. They were: Make Your People a Priority; Diversify Your Workforce & Stay Open Minded; Build a Long-term Strategy with Schools & Invest in Young Techs; Focus on Shop Culture; Move Quickly; Pave a Career Path & Offer Great Benefits; Sell Your Shop & What Makes You Unique; Embrace Transparency; and Social Media, Breaking the Mold & More.

WrenchWay Co-Founder and CEO Jay Goninen's answer, in part, was: "Empower technicians to use their skills and training to fulfill the mission of the organization. Give them a clearly paved pathway for career development and advancement."