Key Takeaways from Glen Shepherd’s Latest Open Diary Friday Session

A huge thank you to everyone who joined the latest Open Diary Friday with Glen Shepherd.

Every month, a member of the GCA Recruitment team opens up their diary for a free 10-minute session where employers, hiring managers, job seekers and automotive aftermarket professionals can ask any recruitment or career question. With no set agenda, the discussions are driven entirely by the attendees, often revealing common recruitment challenges and career trends across the industry.

During the last session hosted by Glen, two clear themes emerged for employers, alongside some valuable advice for candidates looking to progress their careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Here’s a recap of the biggest takeaways.

Recruitment Advice for Employers

1. LinkedIn Job Posts Deliver Mixed Results

Many employers are relying heavily on LinkedIn to advertise vacancies, but it’s important to remember what LinkedIn was designed for.

LinkedIn is first and foremost a professional networking platform, not a dedicated job board.

Posting a vacancy and hoping the right people happen to see it while scrolling their newsfeed can produce inconsistent results. Success on LinkedIn is largely determined by the quality and size of your professional network.

Building that network takes time, consistency and regular engagement, but it’s one of the most valuable long-term recruitment strategies available.

If your vacancies aren’t generating the quality applications you expected, don’t assume the talent isn’t there.

Key takeaway: Don’t rely solely on linked-in posts. Build your network or work alongside specialist recruiters who already have access to your target talent.

Specialist automotive aftermarket recruiters spend every day speaking with candidates who aren’t actively applying for jobs but are open to the right opportunity. They already have trusted relationships and extensive networks within their specialist sectors, allowing them to reach candidates who never see your advert.

2. Salary Transparency Attracts More Candidates

One topic that generated plenty of discussion was salary.

Think of recruitment like buying a house.

You might find the perfect property with every feature you’ve been looking for, but one of the first questions you’ll ask is:

“How much is it?”

Candidates think exactly the same way.

When a salary isn’t advertised, many qualified professionals simply move on to another opportunity rather than making an enquiry.

Including a salary guide helps candidates quickly decide whether the role aligns with their expectations. It builds trust, improves application quality and reduces time wasted for both employers and candidates.

In today’s competitive recruitment market, salary transparency is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s becoming an expectation.

Key takeaway: Including a realistic salary guide will almost always improve engagement with your vacancy.

Career Advice for Candidates

When searching for a new role, try looking at your profile through the eyes of a recruiter or hiring manager.

Ask yourself two simple questions:

• How will employers find me?
• Once they do, what will encourage them to contact me?

Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, a well-written CV and an active professional network all improve your visibility to recruiters.

Don’t Limit Yourself to One Sector

Many professionals naturally focus on the area of the aftermarket they’ve always worked in.

However, transferable skills are highly valued across the wider automotive industry.

If opportunities appear limited within passenger car parts or refinish, consider expanding your search into sectors such as:

• Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket
• Truck Parts
• Agricultural Machinery
• Construction Equipment
• Rail
• Marine
• Industrial Aftermarket

Many employers value industry knowledge, technical understanding and customer relationships that transfer successfully between sectors.

Keeping an open mind could significantly increase your career opportunities.

Network Consistently

Networking isn’t something you only do when you’re looking for a job.

The strongest professional networks are built gradually over time.

Stay connected with people in your industry, engage with relevant content, and maintain your professional profile—even when you’re happily employed.

One final piece of advice from Glen:

Consistency beats volume.

There’s no need to constantly announce that you’re looking for work. A professional online presence, regular networking and meaningful engagement will often generate better opportunities than repeatedly posting your availability.

Thank You for Joining Open Diary Friday

Thank you again to everyone who joined Glen for another fantastic Open Diary Friday.

The questions and discussions continue to highlight the real recruitment challenges facing the automotive aftermarket, helping both employers and candidates make better hiring and career decisions.

If you couldn’t attend this session, don’t worry, there’ll be another opportunity soon.

Join the next Open Diary Friday and bring your recruitment or career questions.

👉 https://glencallum.co.uk/introducing-open-diary-friday/