Hiring Under 18: Lessons From a Shop That Does It Right
About this episode
John Perez from Sonic Automotive shares how they developed a successful junior apprenticeship program to hire and train automotive technicians under 18. Overcoming company policies and safety concerns, they partnered with local high schools to create a structured, supportive pipeline that includes mentorship, safety training, and certification opportunities. The program not only addresses technician shortages but also builds lasting relationships and community involvement. John emphasizes starting small, gaining leadership buy-in, and focusing on long-term growth and safety, offering a fresh approach to cultivating future talent in the automotive industry.
John Perez, Sr. Director of Talent Acquisition at Sonic Automotive, shares how they built a junior apprenticeship program for students under 18. From earning executive buy-in to keeping kids safe in the shop, John breaks down how they’re developing the next generation of technicians by starting earlier than most.
Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!
About the Episode
- Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
- Guest: John Perez, Sonic Automotive, [email protected]
Links & Resources
Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list
About WrenchWay:
- For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
- For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
- For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/
Connect with us on social:
Master Tech
"like actually working on master tech work on a customer's car"
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.