Where do you find Techs?

[Joe Marconi]

It appears that this is a universal problem: where to find new techs. What’s happening to our industry? Why aren’t we attracting enough quality people to our industry? Is it pay? Is it work place environment? Is the job too difficult? Is it due to a generation of parents that told its children to go to college and get a “good” job?

 

I remember when I was in high school pumping gas was considered cool. But there aren’t many service stations left that pump gas these days. And I don’t think selling milk and potato chips at the local convenience store is as cool.

[xrac]

It appears that this is a universal problem: where to find new techs. What’s happening to our industry? Why aren’t we attracting enough quality people to our industry? Is it pay? Is it work place environment? Is the job too difficult? Is it due to a generation of parents that told its children to go to college and get a “good” job?

 

I remember when I was in high school pumping gas was considered cool. But there aren’t many service stations left that pump gas these days. And I don’t think selling milk and potato chips at the local convenience store is as cool.

 

If you are looking to hire a Tech how do you go about it? What are your best resources for finding someone? Here is what I have done and currently do:

 

1. Advertise in the newspaper.

2. Advertise on Career Builder.

3. Advertise on our State Work Force Development Site.

4. Talk to outside parts and tool vendor sales people to see if they know of someone looking.

5. Talk to Vocational school (only for beginner).

 

Any different ideas?

[Joe Marconi]

I think we need to have the mindset that we should constantly be looking for qualified people. Too often we are caught with our pants down, left shorthanded because an employee has decided to leave or we terminated an employee.

 

I use all the methods you pointed out but my favorite is asking around and finding people who are unhappy at their present job.

 

Finding good people is not an easy task and has been a reoccurring nightmare for me.