On the Road to a Revved Up Motorcycle Job

There is one universal truth about motorcycles — they are cool. There is something about the open road that links motorcycles to freedom. Shows like "American Chopper" gave us a glimpse of the artistry that goes into creating those dream bikes.
Working in the motorcycle industry requires you to be part grease monkey and part Michelangelo. There is a future for you in this industry if you can create a piece of art with a 160 horsepower engine.

Job Prognosis

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly rate for a motorcycle mechanic is a little more than $17 per hour. This number varies depending on location and expertise. Like many jobs, the more you know and the better industry sector you work in, the pay goes up. Working for a motorcycle dealer will earn you the average, but landing a job with a specialty manufacturer will give you a 25 percent bump. The Bureau of Labor statistics sees the outlook as a little bit slow but, if you can master auto and motorcycle repair, the outlook is very good.

Technology Future

On one end of the cycle spectrum there are the bikes used for dirt biking and motocross. At the other end are the luxury motorcycles built for comfort and style. Somewhere completely off of the spectrum are the concept bikes. Motorcycles are a rapidly changing technology and someone getting into this field will want to be on top of all of the engineering. Installing parts on a motorbike is one skill set, but creating the Swordfish concept cycle is another. To truly be successful in this industry, it is best if you can do both.

Get The Paper

Because motorcycles vary so greatly, the credentialing for repair and manufacturing has just as much variety. You can get a certificate as a motorcycle mechanic or a degree as a mechanical engineer. How much time you want to invest depends on your passion for the job. A certificate program will typically take 36 weeks to complete and will teach you about the electrical system, engine, and fuel system as well as give you troubleshooting instruction. A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering will take about four years and will give you the knowledge to design motorcycles.

The Resume With Horsepower

The resume is the traditional document needed to get a job, even in the motorcycle trade. The first step in writing a good resume is knowing about your target employer and making the resume specific to the company. Create an employer-centered resume and make the case that you are the best fit for this company. If the employer specializes in race bikes, then highlight your racing experience. Also use this time to hone your own requirements. If you cannot show that you belong with a company then maybe that company is not right for you.

Your Job Search Pit Crew

Jason DiSalvo couldn't be a successful racer without his pit crew — they fuel him up, change out his tires, and make minute adjustments to get him across the finish line. 

Think of the MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com resume team as your pit crew. Even if you've got mad skills and a killer resume, it is well worth the $29 to have our team of experts give your resume one final review for key mistakes in grammar, spelling and formatting.  

Just a few errant keystrokes can move your resume from the top of the pile to the recycling bin, and the spellcheck function isn't foolproof. 

Add an extra "y" and "Looking for a part-time position" turns into "Looking for a party-time position." Drop an "s" and "Skilled motorcycle mechanic" reads more like a rap sheet as "Killed motorcycle mechanic."

We all need a support crew. While you friends and family usually have the best intentions, you can't necessarily trust them to give it to you straight — at MIJ our main goal is to help you land your dream job. Click here, and we'll help you perfect your resume today. 

Manage Your Online Reputation For Job Search Success

Stacked with personal pictures and LOL worthy quotes, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter house enough dirt on many of us to make our mothers cringe.

Before you upload your resume on MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com conduct a quick online audit to ensure potential employers can’t see that pic of you doing a keg stand at your cousin Marty’s wedding — while it was surely impressive at the time, it won’t impress your potential employer.

Start by locking down the privacy setting on all of your social networks. Click here for a guide to managing your Facebook privacy setting courtesy of Lifehacker and click here for the 411 on Twitter privacy.

Once you’ve got your privacy settings locked down, enter your name into Google and see what comes up. Blog posts and comments, forum activity and other online interactions can tell a detailed story on who you are and what you believe. Delete anything you’re not comfortable with a potential employer seeing, and if you don’t have the power to delete the content yourself, contact the blog or website owner to see if they’ll help you out.

Managing your online reputation isn’t just about putting your name under lockdown.

Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile is a must for any job seeker. Join relevant groups including the Powersports Industry Network and Motorcycle Industry Professionals. Take part in the conversation or start a thread of your own to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Another great opportunity to insert your professional opinion and stay abreast of industry news is via the industry media including Motorcycle & Powersports News, Powersports Business and Dealernews. If you aren’t getting their newsletters, sign up for them now, the same goes for following their social media channels and those of other relevant industry OEMs and manufacturers.

All three of the abovementioned media outlets have article commenting features on their sites. Sign up for the forums with your real name, and you’ll get credit for your smart industry commentary when you future boss Googles you, and that’s a heck of a lot better than that picture of you at the bar last weekend!

Meet Your Job Search Co-Pilots

MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com is hands down the best resource for powersports job seekers from entry-level dealer personnel to senior management at the industry's top manufacturers and distributors. 

MIJ is an incredible platform to connect job seekers with the job of their dreams, and while posting your resume on MIJ is an incredibly easy process, deciding what to say to potential employers shouldn't be taken lightly. 

Crafting the perfect resume and cover letter can literally change the course of your career, so it's no wonder this somewhat intimidating process leaves many of us staring at a flashing cursor on an empty white screen. 

That's why MIJ has introduced our resume writing services. Whether you need a little help crossing your "Ts", or you'd prefer to just leave the task to the experts, we're here to help you write a resume and cover letter that will help you land an interview for the job of your dreams. 

In addition to our resume services, we'll be using this blog to share regular tips and tricks on the job search process. Got a question or success story? We'd love to hear from you. 

Our goal is to make the job search process as stress-free and as short as possible. Your new career is just around the corner — let's get you there!

MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com Launches New Site

Carlsbad, CA, June 27, 2012 — MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com is proud to launch a superior job board and upgraded website. Already the leader in the field, the new site incorporates state-of-the-art computer software to cater specifically to the powersports industry. More features, enhanced listings and direct links to social media channels are just some of the upgrades.
“We are confident that employers and job seekers alike will love the increased resume exposure, time-saving features and the updated look of the site,” says MIJ founder, Alex Baylon. “In addition to the facelift, employers and job seekers will enjoy some great new features.” According to Baylon, the job seeker accounts have had the biggest upgrades.
Foremost among these upgrades is the ability to build resumes online by filling out a simple web form. Add photos, upload videos and attach files… all with a click. Job seekers can also upload their resume straight from LinkedIn, as well as now having the ability to control who can view his or her resume.
Further enhancing the experience are the instant job notifications via e-mail immediately when a job is posted that matches the desired category and location. The “Priority Resume” feature places a job seekers’ resume above all others. However, the upgrades are not limited to job applicants.
Employers can now enjoy several new features, including:
Resume alerts: The MIJ system will alert employers anytime new resumes matching the employer’s criteria are entered into the system.
Screening Questionnaires: Employers now have the ability to create questionnaires that require a passing score before a job seekers can apply for their position, pre-screening any non-qualified applicants.
Employer Sub-Accounts: Employers with multiple dealerships can now create accounts for all of their locations.
“We encourage everyone from the powersports industry to create a free account and upload their resume to MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com,” says Baylon. “MIJ helps create opportunities for everyone… Even if you are currently not looking for a new career, a new career could be looking for you!”
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MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com is the #1 job board serving the powersports industry. MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com has proven to be the premiere service for connecting the best companies with the most qualified job seekers for the past five years. Visit www.MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com  to see first-hand how MIJ can benefit you or your organization!

MIJ & WPS

Motorcycle Industry Jobs (MIJ) & Western Power Sports (WPS) join forces to connect the industry with employment services.

PRESS RELEASE -for immediate release-

Carlsbad, Ca. - Motorcycle Industry Jobs -February 18, 2012

Motorcycle Industry Jobs, the leading provider of employment services and job opportunities to the powersports industry, announced today that it has joined forces with WPS to offer employment services to its vast network of motorcycle dealers. Services include both job postings and resume browsing. Dealers can now connect with Motorcycle Industry Jobs services directly through their WPS rep or the WPS website.

“We at Western Power Sports are proud to be partnered with MIJ said Western Power Sports’ National Sales Manager Doug Riipinen. “Our reps are consistently asked if they know any good mechanics, parts people, sales guys etc. Now our reps will be able to help the dealerships find their next employee."

This is a perfect fit, said Alex Baylon, President/Founder of MIJ. "This partnership will further expand our reach of strategic partnerships. WPS reps will be able to reach thousands of employers and job seekers, to help fill the many positions that require industry experience. They will also have an outlet to help job seekers find positions within the industry"

About: Motorcycle Industry Jobs

Motorcycle Industry Jobs is the market leader of online employment services and career opportunities exclusively servicing the motorcycle/powersports industry. MIJ’s employer and job seeker services can be found online at www.MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com .

February eNewsletter

Dealer Expo is coming up soon!   Indianapolis,  February 17-19

We have a completely new booth and some exciting things happening this year. 
Indy Specials??  Stop by and find out! 

Come experience our booth at #4943
We can help you post a job, do an in-person tutorial or just answer any questions you may have.   

 

Rumor Mill

We have recently found out that Career Builders has been telling their customers that they have 'partnered' with us and that if employers post a job with them, they automatically get it posted on Motorcycle Industry Jobs.  Although we are flattered, it is not true.  Motorcycle Industry Jobs is still the only significant online job board who specializes in the Powersports industry and drives search engine optimization to your job postings by linking up with industry specialist like the AMA, MPN, Cycle News, Cycle Trader, Racer X, Hookit, Sprocketlist, etc, etc.        

 February Specials 

1.  1 x 60-day Job Posting for $149  

2. 1 x 30-day Job Posting PLUS 30-day Resume Browsing for just $259

3. 3 x 30-day Job Postings for $350

Harley to celebrate 110th anniversary in 2013

Harley-Davidson Inc. will celebrate 110 years of motorcycles and riding experiences with an array of global events and activities in 2013.

Among the events during the year-long celebration will be a rally in Rome, Italy, June 13-16, and a massive party over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, in Milwaukee.
The anniversary celebrations every five years have become a tradition for Harley riders and a boost for the Milwaukee tourism industry.
Harley-Davidson also will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) globally, including during the Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee in 2013. H.O.G., the official riding club of the Motor Company, boasts about 1 million members worldwide.
"Harley-Davidson is synonymous with adventure, passion and the experience of the open road," said Mark-Hans Richer, Harley-Davidson senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "For this 110th celebration, our customers all around the world - with our support - are going to be taking everything to the next level and making their own history."
Information on housing options in Milwaukee and Rome is available at www.harley-davidson.com/110. Additional details about the global 110th anniversary will be announced in the coming months.

Harley-Davidson Inc. also announced the introduction of two new motorcycle models, the Seventy-Two and the Softail Slim, each inspired by current trends in the American garage-built custom motorcycle scene.
Both new models are mid-year additions to the 2012 Harley-Davidson motorcycle line-up, and will be available immediately at authorized Harley-Davidson dealers.
Based on the Harley-Davidson Sportster platform, the Seventy-Two introduces Hard Candy Big Red Flake, a sparkling, metal flake color option applied to the fuel tank and fenders. A solo seat and side-mount license plate bracket leave much of the chopped rear fender - and more of that paint - exposed on the Seventy-Two.
The Slim represents the Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycle paired down to its essential elements in the style of custom bobbers of the 1950s, from its trimmed front fender to its narrow rear end, solo seat and minimal chrome. A cross-braced Hollywood handlebar and headlight nacelle are finished in gloss black. Other period styling cues include a "cat's eye" tank console, half-moon rider footboards, and gloss black wheel rims and hubs.

6 Reasons Not To Procrastinate Networking

Good Advice for the Job Seeker or Business Owner in the Powersports Industry! 

1. Get In the Game:
Pro hockey legend Wayne Gretzky is famous for saying, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." If you're only watching from the sidelines how do expect anything good to happen? Step 1. Get in the game. Step 2. Take shots.

2. Get Noticed:
Start networking to get noticed but remember that (at first) no one cares about you. It's a harsh reality but I'm willing to bet that aside from your family or significant other, no one--not your boss, colleagues or friends--are staying up late thinking, "I wonder how I can help Julie make more money, find new customers, grow her biz, find a job…"

If you want it, you have to make it happen. No one is going to hand it to you. No one cares about your brilliant idea or how great your services are as much as you, UNLESS it directly benefits THEM. Start networking to build relationships and get noticed.

3. You Get What You Give:
Be respectful of others' time. Remember what Steven Covey said in the classic book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, "Seek to understand before you are understood. Don't dominate the conversation. Ask about the other person first. Listen. Then talk and build friendships. If you pitch, do it in 60 seconds. Then wait for a response. If you get asked more about it, then exchange ideas and keep asking about the other person.

4. Keep Your Connections Warm:
How do you feel about the friend who only shows up when he needs to borrow something or help moving furniture? My friend Chris Brogan said, "No one likes desperation in relationships, no one likes it in business either." Keep your connections warm, don't let them get cold.

If it's been 6 months and your first contact with me is a desperation call because you need help, that's not cool. Don't be a fair-weather friend. Keep your connections warm so that when you need help or you can help others you have a strong support system.

5. The Person Who Can Help Most is the Person You Least Expect:
Sometimes you might not want to show up to an event because you don't think the "right people" are there. In my experience the famous, notable, popular, wealthy--whatever people can't help you or don't care about helping. Don't judge a book by its cover, you never know what someone can do for you or who they know that might make all the difference.

6. Pull Your Weight: 
You have a responsibility.  Remember the Little Red Hen? In the story of the Little Red Hen the Hen decides to make some delicious bread. All of her friends want to eat it but are not willing to help. There's a lot of work to be done and the moral of the story is about pulling your weight, not being selfish and earning rewards.

One of my favorite quotes is "Be the change you want to see in the world." If we really want to create something special, we all need to participate. What can we do when we do it together? The possibilities are endless...
-Bryan Elliott

January eNewsletter

Get Ready for a Great Year!

Happy New Year to all our valued customers.  We have a lot planned for this year and look forward to sharing some exciting news as the year progresses.   We want to wish you the best success in 2012. We will be there for all your 2012 hiring needs and 

beyond. 

Upcoming Events:
Dealer Expo in Indianapolis (February 17-19)
Stop by, post a job, or attend our video bootcamp!  Booth # 4943

   

  

Looking Back at 2011
We are happy to say that 2011 was a much better year than the few years past.  That means that more of you were hiring which means good things for our industry.   Here is a list of some of the industry specific partnerships, alliances or job feeds that we created over the past year to create more online exposure for your job listings:
- Sprocketlist                          - Cycle Trader
- Hookit                                  - Cycle News
- AMA                                    - Racer X
- MPN

*A special thanks also goes out to our Facebook Fans and LinkedIn Community where we list your jobs and make some awesome online connections!  

January Specials:

1. 60-day Job Posting for $149 (save $20)

2. One 30-day Job Posting PLUS 30-day Resume Browsing for just $259

3. 2 x 30-day Job Postings (Valid for 1 year upon purchase) for $199 

December Employer eNews

Hookit.com hooks up with Motorcycle Industry Jobs
Popular action sports social network, Hookit.com, has partnered up with Motorcycle Industry Jobs.com and is now running our RSS job postings to their high traffic website.  This means even more industry specific exposure to your job listings!        

Hookit.com is the #1 social network for motocross, skate, surf, snow, BMX, MTB and other action sports. Hookit.com has over 700,000 members in 137 countries and works with over 400 industry related brands and local businesses.

Check us out by clicking on this link!  See MIJ on Hookit.com  

December Specials:

1. 60-day Job Posting for $149 (save $20) 2. One 30-day Job Posting PLUS 30-day Resume Browsing for just $259 3. 2 x 30-day Job Postings (Valid for 1 year upon purchase) for $199 Sprocketlist Holiday Offer  

Are you looking to drive holiday sales?  Consider this special offer from our trusted partner, Sprocketlist.com.  Sprocketlist has agreed to take an additional 10% off for our valued MIJ employers.  Don't miss out!  Call Sprocket list for details (866) 326-9227.

 

November News

The AMA has recently partnered with us!  That means that you as employers get even more job listing exposure within the industry.  The AMA website is also posting "Featured Jobs" that highlight random jobs from our database.  Check us out:  Click here

Our Social Media networks are growing in leaps and bounds every week.  Did you know that we RSS feed your job listings to all of our Social Networks instantly?  For example, you post a job to www.motorcycleindustryjobs.com and you immediately get in front of not only our subscribed account job seekers and online web partners but 6,300 registered Facebook fans (growing at a rate of 100+ new fans per week)!  Follow us and see for yourself!        

 

November Specials

1.  60-day ad for $149.  (save $20)  

2.  One 30-day ad plus 30 days of resume browsing for $259   

3.  Two x 30-day ads for $199    

 

September Specials

1.  60-day ad for $149.  (save $20)  

2.  One 30-day ad plus 30 days of resume browsing for $259  

3. 5 x 30-day ads (valid for 1 year upon purchase) for $399
   

Win This Trailer!

Motorcycle Industry Jobs.com has teamed up with Sprocketlist.com to give you a shot to win this one-of-a-kind 7x14' Pro-Line Bullet Trailer, worth over $6000!

  

 Click here to find out more and to enter to win!

Motorcycle Product News Partners With MIJ

Motorcycle Product News is excited to announce a partnership with MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com to bring dealers a direct feed of MIJ's powersports industry job listings.

"For years people have been logging on to MIJ not only to check out new job opportunities, but to keep up with the employees and employers of the industry," says MIJ's Alex Baylon. "Now one of the leading industry magazines has teamed up with us to provide the industry a job feed that will allow visitors of www.motorcycleproductnews.com to not only keep up with the latest news, but also the latest industry jobs."

This partnership allows MPN to provide our readers with the hottest job listing in the powersports industry in real-time.
 

"At MPN, we strive to provide our site visitors with quality content that adds real value to their workday," says MPN editor Colleen Brousil. "This partnership expands our growing online presence, making www.motorcycleproductnews.com an essential resource for today's powersports dealer."

Click the Jobs tab at www.motorcycleproductnews.com to explore career opportunities, and contact alex@motorcycleindustryjobs.com to post your help wanted ad on the MPN Jobs page.

Free Employment Resource

We wanted to take a minute to show you a website that offers a lot of information for employers at no cost. We ran across HR.com and after digging in a bit we found a lot of useful information that we felt should be passed on to you. Not only will this community help you answer questions you may have about hiring or how to handle employee issues, but it also offers a free webcast. 

On July 21, there is a free webcast on:

Conscious Hiring - Maximize your return on your people investment. 

For more information or to sign up click here.

The Impact of the Charismatic Leader - Raising Productivity & Profitability 

For more information or to sign up click here. 

To make your life even easier, just sign up to this website and they will keep you informed with upcoming webcasts and information.

MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com is not operated by, sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with HR.com in any way.

July Specials

1.  60-day ad for $149.  (save $20)  

2.  Two 30-day ads plus 30 days of resume browsing for $299  

(ads can be posted at anytime within 1 year from the date of purchase)

3. Single 30-day ad with Job of the Week $159 (save $20)

(This is a 30-day ad including 1 week during that 30-day period with your job presented on the home page of MIJ.  Limited availability) 

BUY, SELL OR JOB SEARCH - Press Release

SprocketList.com Online Classifieds Partners With MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com
 

Talk about one-stop shopping! Two of the powersports industry’s most successful online outfits have teamed up so that job seekers can now go to SprocketList.com to check out classified ads for motorcycles, ATVs or accessories AND find a job courtesy of MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com. Best of all, it is always free to post a classified or search for a job.

“Think of it as a virtual Sunday paper, only better,” suggests MIJ founder Alex Baylon. “You have your classified ads combined with the ‘help wanted’ section… but you don’t have to wait for it to arrive once a week since it is live 24/7.” Further expanding the reach is a series of strategic partnerships with leading websites ranging from Bikernet.com and CycleNews.com to MXSports.com and RacerX.com. “For your convenience, we feed our jobs directly onto some of the highest traffic websites in the powersports industry,” adds Alex.

Coming off its seventh annual online job fair, Alex notes www.motorcycleindustryjobs.com traffic set record highs. “But we are always looking for ways we can enhance the experience,” he claims. “Joining forces with SprocketList seems to be a real win-win for everyone.”

“Alex has been a true pioneer in the job listings arena,” acknowledges Joe Tripp, the former Executive Director of Digital Operations at SPEED Channel and now president of SprocketList.com. “His successful online efforts are a natural fit for SprocketList.”

Launched this past September, SprocketList.com provides private label classifieds for industry associations including the AMA and NOHVCC as well as behind the scenes classified support for sites such as ThrottleHand.com and RoadRacingWorld.com as well as under their own name. Although listings are always free, advertisers do have the option to upgrade their ads to include premium features.

The approach is a proven success model. Previously focused on the auto racing segment, SprocketList.com parent Raceway Media Group has built a network that boasts nearly 3 million unique visitors and more than 70 million page views per month. Its myriad partner sites include marquee names such as ESPN Outdoors, SPEED.com and Autoweek.  RacingJunk.com (sister site to SprocketList.com), is the world leader in online four-wheel motorsports classifieds.

“The only thing we are missing now compared to the old Sunday paper is the funny pages,” jokes Tripp. “Seriously, we believe that the addition of MIJ’s job postings is a valuable asset for both our private label partners as well as SprocketList and MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com.”

About Sprocketlist.com: Sprocketlist.com is an online classified advertising website focused on the powersports market. It is built on successful technology utilized for a network of online classified sites that garners nearly 3 million visits per month. For more information on advertising and private label classifieds, contact Joe Tripp at (803) 287-1719 or e-mail jtripp@sprocketlist.com
 
Sprocket Media Group, LLC
106 Main Street
North Adams, MA  01247
(866) 326-9227

June Specials

1.  60-day ad for the same price as a 30-day ad:  $129  
2.  30-day ad plus 30 days of resume browsing for $269  
3.  5 pack of 30-day jobs (valid one year from purchase date) for $425! 
    (That's $85 per ad!)

End of Job Fair 2011

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Online Job Fair this year.  

- All free Job Fair ads expired May 31- 

Tell Us About Your Experience with the Job Fair!

We would love to know the good, the bad and hopefully not so much of the ugly.  Your feedback will help make the next Job Fair better. 
If you would like to participate in our quick 5 question survey click here:     

Online Suvey - Job Fair 2011 

We could share your story with our Social Media friends (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)!