Ghosting, when candidates or employers suddenly stop communicating, is one of the biggest frustrations in the automotive hiring process. It impacts everyone, from fresh tech school grads to 30-year veterans, and makes filling roles even harder.

For Candidates

• Be Honest: Shops value transparency about skills and areas for growth.

• Make a Strong Impression: Be punctual, dress appropriately, and communicate delays.

• Stay in Touch: Keep recruiters and shops updated, communication builds trust.

For Shop Owners

• Move Fast: Top technicians field multiple offers. A quick verbal offer after a strong first interview can secure them.

• Be Clear: Write detailed job ads that set expectations and filter unqualified applicants.

• Mind Your Reputation: Shop appearance, online reviews, and culture shape candidate perceptions.

• Show the Opportunity: Highlight training, career growth, wages, and benefits beyond just pay.

• Prepare for Counter Offers: Be ready to show long-term value when candidates get tempted to stay put.

Recruiters like Promotive help both sides by prepping candidates for interviews and matching shops with the right cultural and financial fit.

The bottom line: honesty, communication, and speed are the antidotes to ghosting. Treat the hiring process like a first date, make it the start of a strong, lasting connection.

It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked File

What would happen if your shop—or any business—was hit with a wage and hour audit tomorrow?

The answer might shock you. For many owners, even those with the best intentions, missteps in overtime, classification, or documentation could result in penalties large enough to shut doors permanently.

In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest sits down with Jamie Hasty, Vice President of SESCO Management Consultants and a leading authority in employment regulation compliance. Jamie brings more than two decades of experience helping businesses navigate the complexities of wage and hour law, overtime requirements, employee handbooks, and Department of Labor audits.

From California lunch breaks to discretionary bonuses, Jamie breaks down the most common pitfalls, why “intent” won’t save you in court, and the proactive steps every business owner should take before regulators—or lawyers—come knocking.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• (01:38) Why overtime rules haven’t changed as much as the headlines suggest
• (03:46) The #1 financial liability most business owners overlook
• (08:57) How misclassifying employees—even accidentally—can cost millions
• (13:37) The difference between discretionary vs. non-discretionary bonuses
• (23:02) Why accurate timecards are your best legal defense
• (34:49) How to avoid the hidden dangers of generic employee handbooks

If you’re a shop owner—or any employer—this conversation could be the wake-up call that saves your business.

Resources:

Connect with Jamie Hasty and SESCO Management Consultants: sescomgt.com jamie@sescomgt.com

Thanks to our partner Promotive

It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our Partner WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

Aftermarket Radio Network

Remarkable Results Radio...

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

In this thought-provoking solo episode, Matt Fanslow tackles the complex and personal question: "What is success?" Drawing a fascinating parallel to Einstein's theory of relativity, Matt argues that there is no universal definition of success, just as there is no universal clock. Success, like time, is personal and relative.

He explores how a "successful" outcome for a rookie technician (simply completing a complex job correctly) is vastly different from the definition of success for a seasoned master tech (high efficiency and productivity). Matt urges listeners—whether shop owners, managers, or technicians—to define success on their own terms, celebrate personal victories, and create environments where individuals can chart their own improvement.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Physics Metaphor: How Einstein's theory of relativity—specifically, that time is not universal but personal—provides a powerful framework for thinking about success.
• No Universal Benchmark: Why comparing your success to billionaires like Elon Musk or elite athletes is a flawed and discouraging exercise.
• Success in the Shop:
• For a new tech, success might be finishing a job without help, even if it took three times the book time.
• For management, success is often tied to metrics like productivity and profit.
• The importance of acknowledging and validating these different definitions.
• The Role of Leadership: Managers must communicate clear, reasonable definitions of success and provide the systems and support for their team to achieve it. This includes mentoring on efficiency without dismissing initial accomplishments.
• Embrace the Learning Process: True growth comes from analyzing failures and missteps. Don't shortchange yourself by only focusing on the end result; take pride in the incremental wins.
• A Changing Industry: With a smaller pool of naturally experienced talent, shops must focus on building systems that allow a wider range of people to succeed, rather than expecting new hires to "succeed in spite of poor systems."

Quotable Moments:

• "There is no universal success. There's only personal success."
• "Give yourself credit where credit's due... validate their successes, even as meager as we may find them to be."
• "This profession is really, really good about pointing out to us is we don't got it."
• "The failures, the hiccups, the missteps, that's where the learning comes in."

Call to Action: How do you define success in your professional and personal life?

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!

Contact Information

• Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com
• Diagnosing...