The Technician We Almost Didn’t Hire
About 20 years ago, I was running a service department.
We had a kid come through the shop program — the kind you want immediately. Showed up early. Paid attention. Did the work. No attitude. You could tell he was going to be good.
He graduates. Wants a real job.
There was just one problem.
He didn’t have tools.
In that world, that’s not a small issue. A technician without tools isn’t ready to work. It doesn’t matter how good they are.
He should have been an easy hire. Instead, we were stuck.
We ended up doing something a little unconventional.
We bought the tools.
They stayed technically “ours” for a few years, and then became his over time.
It worked. He got started. He built a career.
But even at the time, it felt off.
Not because it helped him — that part was right.
Because there wasn’t a real system for it.
That was 20 years ago.
And here we are, still having the same problem.
Students are earning certifications. Employers are ready to hire. And the thing that slows it down is still a tool set.
That’s part of why VBCTF exists.
Because that situation shouldn’t depend on a manager taking a chance.
There should be a better way to make sure a qualified graduate can actually start.
We’re building that way. Help us here.
