When hiring the right people for your dealership, many end up pursuing costly avenues or resources before that associate ends up leaving the company for one reason or another within a year. Hupp ToyotaLift (HTL) has been through this same situation in the past and, after much deliberation, has taken on a new approach to augment standard hiring practices. Through the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Program, HTL saw an opportunity and decided this pursuit provided the best option for both their dealership and the service member alike.
So, what is the SkillBridge Program and how does it work? The DoD’s SkillBridge Program affords honorably discharging service members, of any rank and career background, the opportunity to intern with a company of their choosing for anywhere between 30-180 days, pre-separation/retirement. These participants gain valuable civilian work experience with industry partners in real-world job experiences. Those that are authorized by the DoD to apply, will research an approved company of their choosing within an area of the country that they wish to remain after the military. Once a company is selected by the members, they will contact them and conduct an interview just like any normal job applicant would. Once your dealership has agreed to the terms of the internship with the applicant, they apply through their unit/installation and are released at the discretion of their commanding officer.
Why did HTL pursue this program versus sticking with standard hiring practices? The first thing they took into consideration was the foundation of the military and those service members who are applying. No matter the branch of service, each one provides their service members with the same basic values. Honor, Commitment, Integrity, and Excellence are just the tip of the core value iceberg these members internalize each day. This allowed HTL to leverage these highly trained and motivated service members at no cost. How is this possible? Each participating member continues to receive their military pay and benefits while you only need to provide the training and work experience you are seeking from this potential new hire.
Is your company interested in becoming a SkillBridge Provider? Please visit the website at https://skillbridge.osd.mil for the latest information and guidance to assist you in the application process. The next new provider application window is open from October 1–December 1.
If you’re interested in hearing more about Hupp ToyotaLift’s success with the SkillBridge Program, feel free to contact Adam Kates, Operations Manager, at akates@hupptoyotalift.com.
In addition, Hupp Toyotalift will be a part of ToyotaWeek at the Skillbridge Lessons Learned Session scheduled for 9:30 am on Tuesday, October 8. You are invited to join us for a comprehensive session where fellow professionals will share their experiences and lessons learned from implementing the DoD SkillBridge Program.