How to hire a great service manager

[earlstewart]

I have owned a Toyota dealership in North Palm Beach, Florida for over 30 year and I have to hire a service manager. My current manager, who has worked for me for over 25 years, is retiring due to health reasons. He will stay on during the transition. My dealership has very little turnover, especially among managers and I am not an expert at hiring. I usually promote from within, but, due to our rapid growth (we just moved into a new facility in one of fastest growing markets in the nation) do not have an in-house candidate.

Any suggestions on how to attract a world-class service manager would be greatly appreciated.

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[slapenta]

earlstewart

Contact me at slapenta@bellsouth.net

I may have someone interested located in the West Palm Beach area.

[robc]

First, accept that world class service managers aren't unemployed - at least for very long. You are going to be recruiting the person away from somewhere, but where. That's where I would narrow your focus. Do you want a good manager regardless of field experience or do you want someone with recent dealership experience? Do you want Toyota experience, or would any make do? Once you start narrowing down or expanding what you think is ideal for a candidate background it becomes easier to start targeting those areas.

Also when starting from scratch I always like to go with the factory reps to hear if they know of anyone.

Big plus - this is a plum job - North Palm Toyota store - what service manager wouldn't want that job?

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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[This message has been edited by robc (edited 04-05-2006).]

[btk]

I find that you should talk to some of your long term valued employees to find out what they liked about the previous service manager and match that to what you expect. With very little turnover I assume that people performed well for this person. Look for that stable service manager with similiar track record . I would advertise the fact that you are privately owned not a big corporation. There are only three ways to manage people-under manage, overmanage or match what the employees need. So look for that flexible manager who can manage based on the employee or employers needs.

[texaslp]

Your topic was "how to hire" but in your post you say "how to attract". Was your question more about how to make your offer "attractive" to a world class mr or how to go about finding a world class mgr.

[dodgeboy]

are you taking resumes!!! I'm from Upstate NY, and sick of the cold!

[daponik]

Hmm...You own a dealership...You have little turnover...The last Service Manager lasted 25 years...And you are still rapidly growing.

Sounds like you ARE an expert at hiring, after all. Or you're just a great people person.

That being the case, my resume is on the way for whenever you have a Parts Mgr opening.

[Lhansen]

Hi Mr. Stewart:

Do you have anyone in the dealership, an Advisor perhaps, that can be mentored into the position of Service Manager? There are a lot of good resources out there, including the manufacturer. I suggest that you contact your District Service Manager and let him know your situation. Someone may have confided to him or her that they are "looking".
Good luck!

Linda Hansen
Auto Dealer Foucs www.autodealerfocus.com

[kcatdeejay]

Low turnover, long term employees.....WOW !!! Sure don't hear much talk like that in the car business these days. I'm contacting Ripley's to see if they'll do an article on you.

[pjpeery]

earl
"Any suggestions on how to attract a world-class service manager would be greatly appreciated."

i would suggest you look for a person that likes people and likes cars .. someone who is a coach and enjoys leading people .. someone with a firm hand and a soft touch ..
someone who shares your outlook .. but you have to tell,lead, advise and guide him he has to know what direction you are going .

if all else fails put some bright shinny objects out in front of your store and i am sure a service manager will stop in .. they all love bright shinny things // (smile)

good luck

paul