Employer Resource Articles

The Business Office – Profit Centre by: Ian K. McEwen The automotive industry today is very dynamic and constantly changing, especially to respond to meet in the needs of well-informed, high-tech consumers. Within any dealership, The Business Office is one of 4 key departments (vehicle sales, service, & parts) with the ability to generate significant […]

We Gotta Get Out of This Place! by: Ian K. McEwen As we close out another year, many take the time to reflect on careers and possible changes. In our recruiting/outplacment practice, we hear employees comment about frustration, boredom and ‘spinning one’s wheels’. Career satisfaction is waning and the employee is becoming disorientated and out […]

Employee Terminations by: Ian K. McEwen Employee terminations are a part of business life. Laying somebody off can be stressful and complex. Remember, no one person is bigger than the company. We all know that employee turnover has many negative effects on our businesses – company performance, legal costs, morale and productivity issues and personal/emotional […]

My Franchise Has Been Terminated… Now What Do I Do? by: Ian K. McEwen, President, with contributions from John D. Radford As businesses finalize their business plans for next year, many are finding the need more so than ever to recruit strong leaders. So in an interview or in checking references, how do you determine […]

How to Find and Work with a Recruiter by: Ian McEwen President The best recruiters are active in the industry sectors they serve. For employers and job seekers, working with recruiters can be a valuable resource. From an employer’s perspective, hiring an executive search firm or a recruiter may seem like an expensive proposition. There […]

Staff Meetings: Tune-up to avoid Tune-out by: Ian K. McEwen President Throughout our Management Consulting practice, we often counsel our clients on the need to continually engage their employees in effective strategy sessions. It is not good enough to just look at the bottom right section of the balance sheet at the end of every […]

Attract and Retain Good People by: Ian K. McEwen President This is the 1st in a series of articles that are designed to help you – the automotive retailer, attract and retain good people. We are going to give you some helpful hints on hiring specific managerial positions, implementing the right hiring process, good interviewing […]

Automotive Customer Service Is Not A Department… It’s An Attitude by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research Earning repeat business in today’s competitive, automotive business world may be directly related to the customer service you provide. Let’s be honest: Customer service involves EVERYBODY in a car dealership, from receptionists, secretaries and sales managers, to middle […]

Automotive Marketing That Works by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research The greatest writers of all time do it. Advertising agencies depend on it. The malls do it. Automotive dealerships can too! Appealing to a person’s 5 senses (see, hear, taste, smell, touch, which includes physical feelings) creates sensual responses that captures buyers, awes them, […]

Business Dress Code. What’s smart. What’s not. And who says so? by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research Do you remember when men wore 3-piece power suits in the boardroom? Day in and day out? And a woman dressed in a charcoal or navy suit if she wanted to compete in a man’s world? When […]

Demystifying Executive Recruiters by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research Does the thought of hiring an executive recruiter entice you? Something, however, makes you stop short. Are you afraid you won’t achieve value for your hard-earned dollar? Most businesses hire executive recruiters to furnish new perspectives and recruit new employees. Effective recruiting of human capital […]

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace.So what’s all the hype about? by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research So you have a high IQ! What about your EQ or Emotional Intelligence? Not so long ago, it was believed that a high IQ was the primary ingredient for a successful life. Psychologists have recently discovered that Emotional […]

Have I Made the Right Choice? What do I ask the References? by: Ian K. McEwen President A key part of the hiring process is checking the references for the preferred candidate. This is where you obtain relevant information about the job applicant’s past performance and accomplishments, and verify the information given to you. In […]

Hiring Great People – some fundamental questions for success by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research Hiring Great People – It’s difficult finding that perfect employee, but here are some fundamental questions designed to help you make the right choice: 1. Why did you apply for this position? 2. What do you consider to be […]

Hiring Pitfalls – avoid these common mistakes by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research It is difficult to fill holes in existing teams by locating hard-to-find people who possess unique skills. Employers often fall into common hiring pitfalls like: Unrealistic expectations: Employers want the “perfect” candidate who can do everything. Naïve acceptance: An employer’s inability […]

How Do I Find the Good Ones? – Sifting Through Resumés by: Ian K. McEwen President You’ve done a great job presenting a new career opportunity at your business – presenting a thorough job description, advertising the position, and networking. Now you are faced with an influx of resumés to evaluate. How do I find […]

Niche Businesses Finish First by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research Would you invest in your own automotive business if you didn’t already own it? Now there’s a provocative question! Marketing to achieve a competitive advantage is vital to the success of any business. Without it, you will have a difficult time gaining new customers […]

Sales Protocol Intelligence Outclass the Competition by: Sharon LeBlanc Consultant: Training and Research “The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork.” Oscar Wilde Competition in the business playing field is fierce, and companies are now looking for people who can handle themselves in the sales or showroom area. Candidates learn to “outclass […]

The 1st Week – Getting off to a good start by: Ian K. McEwen President In this series of articles, we have talked about: promoting your business to prospective employees; establishing a proper and meaningful job description; conducting effective interviews; and checking references. Now that you have made the hiring decision, what do you do […]

Who is the Right Person to Fill My Vacant Sales Manager Position? by: Ian K. McEwen President Your current Sales Manager has given you notice that he/she will be leaving at the end of the month because they have accepted another position with a competitor. This is the “opportunity” we talked about in our previous […]