Pub. 6 2016 Issue 4

10 AUTOMOBILE DEALER NEWS ILLINOIS www.illinoisdealers.com CONSULTANT’S CORNER ThreeWays to Attract and Retain Employees BY TONY TROUSSOV , DIRECTOR AT AUTOMOTIVE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN. T oday’s business environment requires organizations to focus on seeking, attracting, and retaining the best personnel. It is no secret that the auto industry struggles to do that. Regardless of the size of your dealership here are three ways to attract and retain the best employees. 1.Hiring Practices The first thing you must do is reassess your hir- ing strategy. When it comes to hiring, most manag- ers default to a reactive approach. If someone quits or gets fired, most turn to Craigslist or other similar sites that all dealerships in the area use to fish for em- ployees. This reactive strategy typically brings forth unqualified or re-tread candidates. Proactive manag- ers are always searching for great candidates, and in most cases have a roster of people they can reach out to. They fish in a different pond. Think about people you meet in the hospitality business. You can always teach skills, but it is nearly impossible to teach some- one to be friendly. Before a face-to-face interview, pre-screen candi- dates over the phone. This will save you time, allow you to hear them on the phone and assess their com- munication skills. It could also help eliminate a bad hire early.