Strong candidates for motor industry positions are increasingly being deterred from joining some dealerships by the poor interview techniques, it has been claimed.

Recruitment company Jobco-op Automotive says the issue is especially prevalent in roles such as sales people and technicians where there is a shortage of quality candidates.

Director Derek Webb said: “This represents a double negative for dealers that are poor at interviewing.

"Firstly, they are less likely to have an interview process that will identify the best candidate and secondly, even if they do want to take that person to a further interview, their poor approach may have deterred the applicant.

"The truth is that strong candidates for in-demand positions often have a pretty good idea of their own worth and, if the interview they attend is piecemeal and amateurish, then they are unlikely to want to take their application any further. This is something we see happening more often, with candidates increasingly deterred.

"Some dealers simply don’t realise that it is not just a question of the candidate creating a good impression on whoever is recruiting – the recruiter must also work to impress the candidate. The better the candidate and the tougher it is to fill a certain type of position, the truer this maxim becomes.

"A good interviewer will help you to not only identify the right candidate but will also provide an attractive picture of the opportunity that you as an employer represent. They will help you attract better quality staff and potentially reduce turnover."