Dress for Success: Making a Good Impression

Dress for Success: Making a Good Impression

No matter how things change in the future, first impressions are everything. Those who make good ones will end up on top.

This month’s theme for TechShop is Workwear, and we think you’ll enjoy the feature article, but in the meantime, it brings me to another topic.

Growing up, I was constantly instilled with the idea that you should always wear a suit to a job interview. Where you were applying didn’t matter. Dressing professionally left the immediate impression that you not only respected the company you were applying for, but it also indicated your level of interest in the job and the level of quality and dedication that would be reflected in your work.

On top ofthat, back in the pre-internet days, when I applied for a job I drove to the location, walked in (wearing a suit), introduced myself with a firm handshake and presented my resume. It was a strong representation of who I was, and I like to think it has paid off over the years.

If you think I stuck out like a sore thumb walking through an auto repair shop, you’re right, I did; but it was all part of the ever-so-important first impression.

Over the years, I’ve held positions that required me to recruit, interview and hire technicians. I can tell you this was never my favorite thing, and a difficult skill on its own, one that I’m still trying to improve on. However, I can also tell you that being on that side of the coin, my first impression of an applicant was as important to me as it was when I was the one seeking a job.

I tried to be relaxed about it and understood that often people may have been coming directly from work, so I wasn’t going to allow myself to judge just because someone wasn’t donning an Armani. I did, however, expect candidates to show some type of initiative.

One afternoon I had an interview scheduled with a gentleman for the position of auto technician. I know that he had a respectable resume, or he wouldn’t have made it to the interview stage, but as soon as he walked in, nothing on the resume mattered. He walked in wearing a white T-shirt with the name of a high-school football team printed in green letters on the front. What’s even worse is the T-shirt was dingy and tattered with a big yellow stain across the shoulder.

There was nothing he could have said in the interview that would have mattered. I went through it as more of a courtesy, and I was polite, but it was over before it started. I don’t feel I had unrealistic expectations, but I’ve personally changed clothes in a car more times than I can remember, or even in a public restroom. You do what you must do to at least make a discernable effort to look presentable.

In a world that has relaxed its standards, this is a good lesson for people of all ages. No matter how things change in the future, first impressions are everything, and those who make good ones will be those who end up on top.

In our field, we know we’re going to get dirty at work and we know we can’t wear dress clothes, but clean, presentable uniforms are just as important as a suit at an interview. When a customer walks in your door, the first impression they have is the one that will last. Dress for success and it will follow. TS

You May Also Like

Upgrade Your Air System: It’s Easier Than You Think

Improving your shop airflow is only a benefit, unless you like to spend more time, work harder and make less money.

air flow tubes

What if there was a shop upgrade that could be done quickly and easily that would save money and allow your tools and equipment to operate more efficiently? If that gets your attention, it’s time to think about upgrading your shop’s air piping system.This is one of my favorite topics because most shop piping systems are as old as the shop itself, and if it was the electrical system in a car, we’d have dim bulbs all over the place. What is it we avoid in electricity? Higher than normal resistance. What does old steel pipe offer to the air flow in your shop? You guessed it, resistance and turbulence in the airflow. Think about the built-up corrosion after all these years.Think about how it affects the operation of your air tools and equipment. Static is the air pressure available when nothing is running. Put a gauge on the line at the farthest point from your compressor and it always looks good. But operate an air tool or equipment while looking at that same gauge, and you might be surprised at how far it drops. That’s your dynamic pressure. You’ll likely find it’s way below the recommended pressure for your tools and equipment. You can no longer blame the tools. Your air piping is costing you efficiency, time and money.The better an air tool works, the quicker it gets the job done. That means less time listening to an impact hammering away because it’s not producing the power it should. It’s just draining the air tank. That means less time listening to the compressor wailing its electricity-using song.Do you have a loop in your air system? Most old systems don’t. A loop will equalize the pressure at all drops and increase the volume of air flow. Picture a new feed with no unwanted fittings or angles and drops exactly where you want them. Think about the clean, modern look it will give to your shop. Picture shut-off valves everywhere you want them. Think about no more leaks and increased performance from your tools and equipment, i.e. a stronger bottom line.It gets better. What if it was easy to install with no soldering, threading or gluing? I’m talking push to connect. What if all fittings could be easily disconnected and reused, or if everything was corrosion resistant and future add-ons were as simple as swapping fittings. Don’t have time to figure it out? Think about a predesigned kit. They’re available.It’s easy to think that technology makes things more difficult. In our world, vehicles seem to get more complicated all the time. We’ve got to learn new systems, update our scan tools, get new certifications; it’s never ending.Finally, technology is doing things for us to make our jobs easier and our shops better, and it’s not difficult to do. Improving your shop airflow is only a benefit, unless you like to spend more time, work harder and make less money. That’s up to you. But for now, think about upgrading your air. It’s easier than you think. TS

Navigating Setbacks in Difficult Diagnoses

There are valuable strategies to help manage technological frustration and navigate setbacks effectively.

The Human Connection

The human connection beats self-checkout when it comes to understanding.

Sales associate at auto parts store helping customer
Technician Shortage? Not For Everyone

For top shop owners, there’s no technician shortage because they operate places people want to work.

Acknowledging Aftermarket (Artificial) Intelligence 

Afraid that AI will cause a disaster when it arrives? Well, it’s been in our industry and you’ve been using it for decades.

Other Posts

Embracing Cutting-Edge Solutions the Industry has to Offer

Embracing cutting-edge solutions is strategic and imperative for technicians navigating the constantly changing landscape of automotive maintenance and repair.

Nadine Battah
2024 Is Your Year to Be the Technician You Always Wanted to Be

As we enter 2024, strategic career planning is essential for success in the automotive repair industry.

happy new year 2024
Why ECU Reflashing Needs Certain Power Levels

A reflash power supply is not designed to jumpstart the vehicle.

Mercedes EQS Service Opportunities

EQ is the EV brand for Mercedes. It is the equivalent of Audi’s Etron or VW’s iD brands.