WVADA recently spoke with Chris Miller of Dutch Miller Auto Group about their dealerships’ experiences with the Learn and Earn program.
What are your thoughts about the Earn and Learn program as it relates to the auto industry’s focus on recruiting and retaining talent?
It’s an incredibly successful program. Our experience with it has been wonderful. Due to the pandemic, the program experienced a lull because we couldn’t have students in the shop, but we felt it was successful enough that we are planning on revisiting it
How have you used this program in your dealerships?
Before the pandemic, we were working with twelve students per year throughout all our dealerships. Our techs loved to engage with and mentor the students — you know mentoring is really a positive thing for both the mentor and the student, if you will. I think the interaction is really beneficial for everyone.
Depending on the student’s school schedule, the students were on-site as much as they could be. They were excited, too — some students even came in on Saturdays.
Employers get credit for wages paid and students get school credit. This is such a win/win program. The education system positively impacts the talent pipeline for employers here in West Virginia, while the students receive real ground-level, hands-on training and experiences.
As all dealers know, there’s a major demand for automotive techs. I think that this program is invaluable; students come out more informed about their career options and ready to work.
This program is a sort of “grown your own” approach to hiring, and while there is a longer commitment to mentoring and growth, what are your thoughts about the quality of the hires coming through a program like this?
Very good, we still have two full-time employees from this program. The students are young — 16 to 18 — but they are so excited for real-world experiences.
Now granted, some of the students will go into other areas of the automotive industry, and some will decide it’s not for them and go on to college or other opportunities. But it’s a positive thing all the way around. Even if you get one long-term employee, it’s a win.
Please share a success story.
Well, as I mentioned, we still have two full-time mechanics through this program, so that’s successful.
We also gained our first female mechanic, who stayed with us for years through this program. I felt it was groundbreaking at the time; I love that this program offers career options to students who may never have considered the auto industry before.
What would you say to other dealers about this program?
If you are not considering this program as a viable option for increasing talent at your dealership, you are missing the boat. We need to mentor kids and sell our industry as a career option.
