Sourcing dedicated, reliable, and competent employees within our industry has always been a unique challenge. Throughout its history, the foundry industry has long been characterized as hot, dirty, and harsh manual labor. Our industry, however, is constantly changing. Technology and forward-thinking have played an integral part in projecting the metal casting industry as a safe, intriguing, and intellectually challenging career.
Unfortunately, it seems that higher educational institutions no longer see manufacturing as a viable career solution. Even high schools are turning to the blind eye approach. Healthcare and technological studies now dominate most institutional programming, and the days of thinking of any type of manufacturing career as a viable career option are nearly gone.
In some instances, technology is the answer. As systems become more automated, so too are the demands of highly trained and skilled programmers and technicians. All of this, however, comes at a cost. Managing these costs while offering a competitive wage makes for complex challenges. It’s easy to think we are up against impossible odds; however, we really ought to do more to advocate for our industry. To do this, we need to take matters into our own hands. It’s less likely now than ever that any governmental or legislative policy will break the trend.
Here are three ways to break that trend.
Demonstrate What Makes Your Business Unique – and SELL IT!
Many people have no idea what our industry does or entails. Once introduced, I’ve seen people of all ages marvel at what goes on inside a foundry. I’ve seen it in other types of businesses as well. Invite people in – have open houses or invite local schools for a field day. Give yourself a chance to show off your workplace and operations and introduce the industry. No one else is going to do it for you. It will present all sorts of free advertising for employment opportunities. People talk and share their experiences. Some may hate it, others may love it, but without an introduction, you’ll never know. Plant seeds as soon as possible.
Identify your “unique selling points” and use them to engage with potential employees. Your unique selling points are anything that separates you from the crowd. Savvy businesses often use these USPs’ to advertise and sell directly to customers; however, not leveraging it to appeal to a potential workforce can be a mistake. Make the most of what you already have.
Offer Something Nobody Else Does
Yes, cash is still king. Offering highly competitive wages will still predominately win out; however, offering something above and beyond often speaks to people differently. Besides wages, insurance, and retirement benefits, what else can you offer? It could be something as simple as a gym membership, childcare, or flexible work time scheduling. Think outside the box. How could you partner with other businesses in the community and share benefits? It won’t just benefit you; it will help the community as a whole. A healthy community breeds a healthy pool of employment potential.
Give Them A Reason To Be
Many people looking for employment these days are looking for a sense of belonging and not just a paycheck. Starting at the job advertising or the interview process, speak to them in a language where they know you care about them. Share experiences and strive to build a partnership. Give them a sense of value and create a strong working relationship. Again, people talk. When they share a positive experience, others will gravitate to it. Invite them to share experiences and suggestions. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, easily ignoring the voices of your employees. Don’t do it! Speak to them, relate, and listen more than talk. Even more important is to recognize strengths and ask questions or get an opinion from them. It goes a long way to provide actual value to the business and fostering them to be a part of the team.
Sometimes your best recruiter is already working for you for free without knowing it. In the current days of social media and instant notifications, positive influences make a huge difference. One bad one can spell disaster. Keeping an employee is as important as finding new ones. Fostering these relationships can lead to positive experiences for you and your business.
Foundrylink offers businesses opportunities to source and post-career opportunities within the network and anyone visiting the platform. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you in building and maintaining a solid workforce. Good Luck!
