{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Mentorship, Career Moves, & Trusting Your Gut as a Technician","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/mentorship-career-moves-trusting-your-gut-as-a-technician","audioUrl":"https://www.buzzsprout.com/940384/episodes/19280958-mentorship-career-moves-trusting-your-gut-as-a-technician.mp3","description":"Josh Arnold, Recon Lead Technician at Austin Subaru, is back on the podcast for another honest conversation about life in the trade. He opens up about mentoring apprentices from scratch, what it really took to turn around a struggling recon department, and how public speaking and MPI video have pushed him to grow in ways he didn't expect. Watch the video recordingAbout the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuest: Josh Arnold, Austin Subaru, Connect with Josh on LinkedInLinks & ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --> Join our email listJoin the ASE Connects CommunityASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & DealersASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!)Connect with us on social:FacebookInstagramXLinkedInYouTubeTikTok"},"annotations":[{"startTime":2702.6,"endTime":2707.3,"type":"term","title":"50 cars a week","quote":"Yeah, it was like 50 cars a week. It was stupid. I didn't keep","canonicalId":"term:50-cars-a-week","priority":0.2,"confidence":0.6,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“50 cars a week” is being used as a shorthand for extremely high throughput in a dealership service department. In technician terms, that typically means tight schedules, lots of overlapping work, and less time for deep troubleshooting per vehicle.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re describing a very busy shop pace—lots of cars getting serviced in a short time. That usually means less breathing room between jobs."}},{"startTime":2710.8,"endTime":2721.4,"type":"term","title":"All Makes All Models technician","url":"/glossary/all-makes-all-models-technician","quote":"And I don't know if you've ever tried to hire for an All Makes All Models technician at a dealership that works on Subaru's, but it's a little bit difficult.","canonicalId":"term:all-makes-all-models-technician","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.86,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"An “All Makes All Models” technician is someone expected to diagnose and repair a wide variety of vehicle brands and models, not just one manufacturer’s cars. In a dealership setting, that can mean handling many different systems and service procedures across the brand mix.","simplifiedExplanation":"It means a mechanic who can work on lots of different car brands and models, not just one. The job is harder because you have to know many different vehicle types."}},{"startTime":2716.1,"endTime":2727.1,"type":"term","title":"independent shops","url":"/glossary/independent-shops","quote":"Like the people that you're trying to recruit are already in independent shops. They have hourly guarantees there.","canonicalId":"term:independent-shops","priority":0.3,"confidence":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Independent shops” are repair businesses that aren’t tied to a specific automaker’s dealership network. The transcript contrasts them with dealerships, noting that independent shops may offer different pay structures (like hourly guarantees) that affect recruiting.","simplifiedExplanation":"Independent shops are regular repair businesses that aren’t brand dealerships. They often have different pay and staffing setups than dealerships, which can make hiring harder."}},{"startTime":2721.4,"endTime":2727.1,"type":"term","title":"hourly guarantees","url":"/glossary/hourly-guarantees","quote":"Like the people that you're trying to recruit are already in independent shops. They have hourly guarantees there.","canonicalId":"term:hourly-guarantees","priority":0.25,"confidence":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Hourly guarantees” are pay arrangements where technicians receive a guaranteed hourly wage (or minimum earnings) regardless of how many jobs they personally produce. This can make independent-shop roles more attractive to experienced techs during hiring.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hourly guarantees mean a mechanic is paid at least a certain amount per hour, even if business is slower. That can reduce financial risk compared to pay plans tied only to work performed."}},{"startTime":2731.8,"endTime":2741.7,"type":"term","title":"Express technicians","url":"/glossary/express-technicians","quote":"So we basically came to the conclusion, well, I guess we're going to have to train up from Express. So we started pulling some Express technicians and I started to get apprenticeships times four, times three, all at once, which added to the crazy.","canonicalId":"term:express-technicians","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.72,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Express technicians” are typically assigned to faster, more standardized service work (often quick-service lanes) rather than full, complex repairs. The idea is to build competence and confidence before moving technicians into broader diagnostic and repair roles."}},{"startTime":2737.9,"endTime":2741.7,"type":"term","title":"apprenticeships","url":"/glossary/apprenticeships","quote":"So we basically came to the conclusion, well, I guess we're going to have to train up from Express. So we started pulling some Express technicians and I started to get apprenticeships times four, times three, all at once, which added to the crazy.","canonicalId":"term:apprenticeships","priority":0.4,"confidence":0.78,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In this context, “apprenticeships” refers to structured on-the-job training where less-experienced technicians learn under supervision. It’s used as a staffing/training strategy to ramp up new talent for a high-volume dealership workflow.","simplifiedExplanation":"Apprenticeships here means training new mechanics while they work, usually with supervision. It’s a way to build skills gradually instead of hiring fully trained people."}},{"startTime":2747.1,"endTime":2753.7,"type":"term","title":"Lube Bay","url":"/glossary/lube-bay","quote":"So does that seem logical? Like you go from the Lube Bay there. So you've got some familiarity.","canonicalId":"term:lube-bay","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A “Lube Bay” is the service area in many shops/dealerships where quick-lube work happens, typically oil changes and basic fluid services. It’s often where newer technicians start because the tasks are more standardized and supervised.","simplifiedExplanation":"A lube bay is the shop area where quick services like oil changes get done. It’s usually a starting point for newer techs because the work is more routine and watched closely."}},{"startTime":3656.9,"endTime":3662.0,"type":"term","title":"Flat rate","url":"/glossary/flat-rate","quote":"[3650.0s] been uncomfortable. I mean, for God's sake, I moved halfway across the country with a three-month-old. [3656.9s] I don't think I'll ever be that. You're glutton for punishment. Yeah, I guess so. Flat rate [3662.0s] has taught me that. I guess that's what I can say.","canonicalId":"term:flat-rate","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Flat rate is a technician pay system where you’re paid a set amount of money for a specific job, based on a published time guide—not on how long it actually takes you. It can strongly influence how technicians manage their workflow and estimate repairs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Flat rate is how some shops pay mechanics: they get paid a fixed amount for a repair, based on a standard time guide. So if you finish faster or slower than expected, your pay may still be the same."}},{"startTime":3695.1,"endTime":3701.2,"type":"term","title":"ASC","url":"/glossary/asc","quote":"[3695.1s] on not just settling, but constantly getting better, constantly. We talk about ASC and your [3701.2s] pursuit of that. And just like, not even just ASC, like all the factory certifications,","canonicalId":"term:asc","priority":0.4,"confidence":0.45,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"ASC is mentioned as a credential or certification pursuit in the shop/technician context, but the transcript doesn’t spell out what ASC stands for. In automotive careers, acronyms like this usually refer to an industry training or certification program tied to specific repair skills or shop standards.","simplifiedExplanation":"ASC sounds like a certification or training program for technicians, but the episode segment doesn’t say exactly what it stands for. It’s likely something you pursue to prove you’re qualified in a certain area of car repair."}},{"startTime":3701.2,"endTime":3710.3,"type":"term","title":"factory certifications","url":"/glossary/factory-certifications","quote":"[3695.1s] on not just settling, but constantly getting better, constantly. We talk about ASC and your [3701.2s] pursuit of that. And just like, not even just ASC, like all the factory certifications, [3710.3s] all that, like, you're trying to, you're literally trying to drink from a fire hose.","canonicalId":"term:factory-certifications","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Factory certifications are training and qualification programs run by an automaker (or its approved training partners) to certify technicians on specific brands’ systems and repair procedures. They often matter for diagnosing newer vehicles and for meeting dealership or warranty-related requirements.","simplifiedExplanation":"Factory certifications are official training programs from a car brand that teach mechanics how to work on that brand’s cars. Getting certified can help you diagnose and repair those vehicles correctly, especially as technology gets more complex."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Jay Goninen","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/mentorship-career-moves-trusting-your-gut-as-a-technician/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}