Automotive News Canada - November 2021 - 21_SUPP

BEST PRACTICES 2021
21
detailer/apprentice technician on staff at
her store.
" We need to educate people that
women can work in automotive and how
lucrative these jobs can be, " said Roach.
" And we need to make an environment
for them that's comfortable and breed
teams that are open to all genders working
together. "
Zanchin said regular communication
with female technicians is critical.
" We take the time to talk to them
whenever we can and encourage them:
'How are you doing, I hear you did your
first transmission, good job.'
And if there's a problem, employees
are encouraged to speak out, she said. " I
try to convey to them, if there's an issue,
talk to your service manager about it.
You don't let issues fester. "
'LIKE FAMILY'
For Katie Beazely, words of support
came on her first day as an apprentice
technician at Audi Halifax, which is part
of the Steele Auto Group. The company
has 55 dealerships in Atlantic Canada and
Texas, according to its website.
" My shop foreman said, 'I've been
doing this for 25-plus years, and I have
not once ever worked with a woman ...
I'm going to do everything in my power to
help you. We're going to work together.' "
From that moment, " it's been like
a family here, " said Beazely, who has
worked at the dealership
since December.
She also credits
Steele Auto Group's
outreach efforts with
giving her the confidence
to apply at the
dealership while she
was enrolled at the
automotive service
and repair technician
program at Nova
Scotia Community
College in Halifax.
Robyn Burgess,
the group's talent
acquisition specialist,
encouraged the
students " to get work
experience at their
dealerships, " Beazley,
22, recalled.
Zanchin:
Partnering with
high schools
and speaking
with students
about the
benefits of a
career as a
technician can
be effective.
PHOTO: LINKEDIN
" If it wasn't for [Burgess] coming out
and speaking with me, I probably never
would have had the guts to go and apply
... that was the turning point for me. "
As well as featuring women, recruitment
campaigns must depict automotive
repair as a career that has evolved from
one that relies less on brute strength and
more on diagnostic and computer skills,
Technician Katie Beazely says recruitment campaigns should depict auto
repair as a high-tech career attainable for women. SUPPLIED PHOTO
she said. Advertisements " make it
sound like for the whole trade you
have to be a big, strong enormous man
to be able to do it. But that's not the
case. I'm 5'3 and 120 pounds. I'm small
and I'm making out just fine. "
And women customers appreciate
dealing with a female technician, said
Hammett of Maple Hyundai.
" I've had a couple of women come
up to me and tell me, 'I feel a lot more
comfortable knowing you're working
on my car.' ... They feel a sense of comfort
and way more relaxed knowing
there's a woman helping out. If I can
provide that, I feel great. " - ANC
- With files from Grace Macaluso
Automotive News Canada - November 2021

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