Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in the Trades Industry
Finding and keeping employees, especially in the trades industry, can be a challenge. With younger generations seeking more dynamic and engaging work environments, it's time to rethink how you approach your hiring process. Here, we explore the importance of making your business more attractive to potential employees and provide actionable steps to help you retain top talent.
1. Don't be boring: Make your job ads and descriptions appealing
To attract younger talent to the trades, it's essential to make your job ads and descriptions more appealing. Traditional job ads often lack excitement, which can deter potential candidates from applying. Instead, consider using videos and images to showcase your company's culture, work environment, and the interesting aspects of the job. For example, if you're hiring painters, highlight the use of advanced equipment like Graco spray guns, which can be more enticing than simply listing tasks such as sanding woodwork.
2. Do your pre-work: Budget and evaluate the implications of hiring
Before hiring anyone, assess the financial implications of bringing them on board. Determine how many more hours you need to book per year to make a profit and cover the costs of hiring a new employee. This ensures you're prepared to support your new team member and make the most of their skills.
3. Use assessments for non-labor roles
For roles such as sales and office management, consider using assessments like the DISC profile to better understand candidates' personalities and communication styles. This helps ensure you're hiring the right person for the role and can ultimately improve team dynamics.
4. Roll out the red carpet for new employees
First impressions are crucial. To make new employees feel valued, create a welcoming environment on their first day. Introduce them to the team, give them company-branded apparel, and provide them with business cards. Additionally, plan their first week, outlining what tasks they'll be responsible for and what they should expect to learn.
5. Set clear expectations
To help new employees succeed, communicate your expectations from the outset. Let them know what you expect them to achieve within their first week, month, and beyond. This clarity can help employees understand whether they're on track and what they need to do to excel in their role.
6. Create a comprehensive training program
Develop a training program that includes a mix of in-person guidance and online resources. If you've created content for your website, such as instructional videos and articles, incorporate these materials into your training program. This not only saves time and effort but also helps ensure consistency in training across your team.
Conclusion
In order to attract and retain top talent in the trades industry, you need to make your business more exciting and engaging. This includes creating appealing job ads, having a thorough pre-hiring process, and providing an exceptional onboarding experience for new employees. With these strategies in place, your business will be better positioned to thrive in today's competitive market.
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