Looking to hire a new ADAS technician? 7 things to consider

Is your shop in need of new talent? Whether expanding, filling a job opening, or improving staff workloads, you need to make the right decisions in the hiring process. 

Unfortunately, there has been an overall shortage of technicians in the trades as of late, but this doesn't mean that you need to compromise. 

Finding the right fit is more than a new addition. This is an opportunity to establish the correct workplace culture. A new hire can really shake up a shop’s efficiency and success. Choosing correctly, then, is of the utmost importance because regardless of the quality of workplace tools or protocols. After all,  it is the technician who completes the job at the end of the day.

With expanding ADAS complexity and the need for the aftermarket to keep pace, there are 7 key traits that you must look for when hiring a new technician. 

1. The right character and attention to detail

ADAS calibrations demand consistency, precision, and attention to detail and therefore, require a tech that adheres to the same traits. Your shop needs someone who does more than just shows up on time. In fact, consider that the bare minimum.  You want someone who shows up ready to give their full effort and attention to the tasks at hand.

The auto industry is changing so quickly that nearly every one is learning something new all the time. Therefore, a tech with the correct work ethic ensures that requirements are met with consistency and that documentation is correctly filed with each job. Thishelps your shop reduce costly errors, establish workplace ethics and culture, and sets the foundation moving forward.

ADAS work is of the utmost importance to be completed correctly, your customers' lives (and your business) rely on that. Work ethic is rarely something that can be learned through trial and error, you need someone who on day one is going to put their full effort into each job.

2. Has a hunger to learn and improve

As ADAS and OEM requirements change, attitude can often outweigh experience in the hiring process. The best ADAS techs are those who are receptive to feedback, open to learn, and committed to continuous improvement.

Complacency is a trait that can kill a shop, you want to rid your environment of any traces of this. Therefore, you want techs that are hungry to learn and improve. Look to hire those that have either already completed or desire to partake in training (such as I-CAR, Autel Academy, ADAS COE, and/or ASE’s L4 certification, and more.) 

When asking aboutto these trainings in the interview process, it is easy to gauge a potential tech’s attitude and willingness toward ongoing education. Here it is important to reinforce your shop’s ideology, and find someone willing to embrace it.

3. Shows adaptability and flexibility

Similarly,  you also want to look for someone who is willing to roll with the punches. ADAS is complicated due to its ever-changing nature. OEMs change rapidly, systems differ between manufacturers, and tools can quickly become irrelevant. This is all enough to make someone pull their hair out.

A great ADAS technician will adapt quickly to:

• New OEM requirements
• Evolving calibration procedures
• New equipment and software
• New workplace protocols to match the times

This harkens back to the need for a tech to have a positive attitude towards ongoing education. This industry changes quickly, so must your new tech’s approaches.

4. Possesses a customer-first mentality

Your new tech must truly care about customers as if they are his or her own neighbors. These ADAS systems directly impact safety from lane keeping to braking. Lacking empathy can be detrimental to the quality of work.

Look to hire techs that have that soft touch when dealing with customers. A tech that calibrates their mother’s car the same as a so-called “stranger” is one that you’d want on your team. Proper calibrations can be the difference between safety and causing an accident. A customer-aware tech that understands the “why” behind a calibration is one that protects your business by keeping its customers safe.

5. Skillset, technical ability, and “coachability” 

While mindset is huge, it’s obviously important to consider the actual skillset of the tech. Good experience for the role they are stepping into is necessary to ensure seamless workplace integration. Techs also should be “coachable” meaning that they are not ignorant to feedback, especially when assimilating into a new shop.

ADAS requires strict OEMcompliance and there are no shortcuts. An experienced tech should be able to:

• Read OEM documentation carefully and accurately
• Use scan tools correctly
• Understand environmental needs and requirements for calibrations

It’s difficult to fake experience in this field, but it’s important to make sure your potential new techs have the right skillset. There are many manufacturer-specific tools or procedures potential new hires should already know, but there are also protocols specific to your shop that should easily be adopted by the new guy.

6. Awareness of their limitations

While you want an ADAS technician that is an expert in their field, you want them to be confident enough to know when they are in over their head. Overconfidence can lead to miscalibrations, wasted time, and loss of profit—not to mention putting customers at risk.

It’s more efficient for a tech to turn to a fellow employee if they are unsure of something, rather than completing the job incorrectly. This is where your shop can improve on cross-training multiple technicians. This can prevent downtime and miscalibrations, while improving your shop’s resilience.

Hiring techs who are well aware of their abilities is important for many reasons, but in this case it helps you allocate the proper resources when cross-training your techs. It is also beneficial to practice this cross-training as to not rely too heavily on one tech, especially when ADAS technician turnover is quite high.

7. Understands the bigger picture

Potential ADAS technicians that understand the big-picture of their work is a must. 

Of course we already mentioned techs who care about customers, but it’s also important for your techs to understand calibrations from a business standpoint as well.

Doing great work means that the shop is likely to increase revenue, translating by extension into higher pay or promotions for the tech. Techs that understand that they do better when their shop does better is important. Picking the team-player can pay dividends as these types of workers are more likely to improve your shop overall, not just show up to collect a paycheck.

How Revv sets up your new ADAS technician hires for success

Bringing the right ADAS technician into your shop is one of the most important decisions you can make. 

But once you’ve found the right hire, equipping them with the tools and information needed to perform each repair correctly, consistently, and profitably is all the more important. When it comes to ADAS calibrations, Revv makes that possible. 

Revv gives your technicians instant access to required calibrations and VIN-specific OEM procedures so they can apply their skills with confidence from day one no matter their experience level. With clear workflows and manufacturer-specific guidance, your new hires can perform accurate calibrations, avoid costly mistakes, and ensure your shop never misses a billable opportunity.

Book a demo today to see how Revv empowers your ADAS technicians to deliver safe, compliant, and reliable calibration work.