What a parts advisor does
Parts advisors, also called parts counterpersons or parts technicians, look up, order, sell and track parts for technicians, retail customers and wholesale accounts. They use electronic parts catalogues and VIN lookups, check stock, place supplier and manufacturer orders, receive shipments and handle returns and warranty parts. When they get it right, technicians are not waiting at the counter and vehicles are not sitting on hoists for a part that was ordered wrong.
Parts technician is a voluntary trade in Ontario with a Red Seal endorsement available, so many experienced parts staff learned on the job rather than through certification. That makes screening important. Finch checks how candidates use parts catalogues and dealer management systems, how they handle inventory counts and obsolete stock, and whether they are comfortable with retail and wholesale customers. We also confirm the product lines they know, from domestic and import cars to heavy trucks.
Typical responsibilities
- Identifying correct parts using electronic catalogues, VIN decoding and technician input
- Selling parts to technicians, retail customers and wholesale accounts
- Ordering stock and special-order parts from manufacturers and suppliers
- Receiving shipments, checking invoices and putting stock away accurately
- Processing returns, cores and warranty parts according to supplier rules
- Supporting cycle counts and helping manage obsolete and slow-moving stock
Qualifications and credentials
- Experience at a dealership parts counter, aftermarket parts store or fleet parts department
- Skilled Trades Ontario parts technician certificate or Red Seal endorsement, valued by some employers though the trade is voluntary
- Confident use of electronic parts catalogues and dealer or shop management software
- Basic mechanical knowledge to understand technicians’ requests and spot ordering errors
- A valid driver’s licence for parts runs and deliveries, where the role includes them
Who hires a parts advisor
- New car dealerships
- Aftermarket parts distributors and stores
- Heavy truck and equipment dealers
- Fleet maintenance departments
- Collision repair centres
Where we recruit parts advisor candidates
We fill parts advisor roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Catalogue lookup accuracy, tested with practical part identification questions
- Dealer or shop management systems used and inventory procedures followed
- Experience with retail, wholesale or internal technician customers
- Product line knowledge matched to the vehicles or equipment you support
- Reliability and accuracy, confirmed with past parts managers
Interview questions to ask
- A technician asks for a part and the catalogue shows three options for that model. How do you choose the right one?
- How have you helped reduce obsolete or slow-moving stock in a parts department?
- How do you handle a wholesale customer who needs a part today that you do not have in stock?