Hiring theBest for the Best
By: Matthew Lefler
T he voices of the trades cry out the same message continually: “I just can’t find good people.” While it is true there is a shrinking market for tradesmen, and a lot of people seem to trace this back to the Recession of 2008, this doesn’t have to be something you blindly accept. Despite the theories behind the shortage, there is a simple question to ask: what are you doing about it? What proactive approach are you doing to attract young and ambitious talent to your organization? Plumbing is a learned trade, and unless someone grew up with a plumber for a dad, the chances of someone blindly choosing to become a plumber isn’t too likely. This is not a criticism of the trade by any means. In fact, it is a challenge. Plumbing—and labor trades as a whole—has gotten a bad rap and there is a stigma attached to it. As plumbers and advocates for the trade, it is our responsibility to highlight all the benefits of going into a trade like plumbing. Sure, we can blame this on the school system for cutting trade schools and programs, but that isn’t productive: it’s time to focus on solutions. Simply
put, you are the best recruiter and advocate there can be for the business: you are a Mr. Rooter® Plumbing plumber, and if you truly believe we are the best in the field (as we all believe it here), then you are recruiting people that have a chance to be part of a winning and elite team. Believe what you say, and others will believe it too. Be the voice of the voiceless in the trades. You may have to reach out of your comfort zone and consider someone “green,” but the investment could yield major results. People can be trained to be plumbers or drain cleaners, so how about focusing on other skills that a person could bring to the table. You may be surprised how many people might take interest in working as a plumber once all the stigmas are wiped away. Focus on the benefits (work-life balance, freedom, culture, compensation, growth potential, among others). Be proud and inspire pride in others to attract ambitious “new” employees. Additionally, there are several strategies that add to the overall allure of joining your company and industry: a polished application process, instant satisfaction about being considered,
“As plumbers and advocates for the trade, it is our responsibility to highlight all the benefits of going into a trade like plumbing.”
18 PIPELINE® | EDITION 2 2017
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker