Recruiting, Poaching or Coaching?
- Post By: Greg Crumpton
- Date:
- Category: Blog
Today we are all are facing a common dilemma: Where do we get the next generation of workers and staff? Yes, the military is turning out young heroes coming home and looking for careers and yes, the technical schools are doing a good job of prepping some of the younger generation to move into the work-place.
Having said this, I am a firm believer in growing your own talent. Our company, as well as my past experiences, has proven that bringing in a young person with solid character and a strong moral fabric that is not afraid to work usually proves to be a good thing. These are the people that we want with us for a long time and inherently, do tend to stay.
However, sometimes we get into a situation that immediately requires a highly skilled technician. Historically, the solution of choice is to go hire the best person you can for the job; unfortunately, this is usually at the expense of another contractor. The dichotomy of this situation infuriates me as a contractor, but also thrills me as a coach and mentor.
We all work extremely hard to guide our people and to help them learn and grow. Often it seems that just when they are in full bloom, another contractor comes calling and offers a dollar an hour raise. PRESTO! The young talent that you have invested in, trained, coached, guided, steered (and for some of us, financed) has just walked out the door! This is what I call poaching.
On the other hand, when our people are sought after, and yes, they do get called on frequently by the competition because we have worked to stack our company with quality folks; it really makes me proud that we have the kind of people that other companies find appealing. I feel a sense of pride beyond words when one of our young and upcoming guys or ladies comes to me and says, “I just wanted to let you know that ole’ Bob has been calling me to come to work for them and I told him I was very happy here and not going anywhere.”
Now, please do not take me for naïve, I don’t believe people stay with you forever. When the opportunity is there for advancement or a new role appears, sometimes they need to go find out how green that grass really is. If it turns brown they will come right back to you.
My message is simple: work hard and continue to recruit from all avenues. Train until it hurts and support your people 100%. This may mean stepping up your benefits program, providing more perks or maybe more trips to the “Factory” for certification. Do whatever it is within your culture that is considered a reward. Work hard to keep the folks you want with you happy and content. So when the next schmuck with a buck and a new truck comes calling, your people will have no interest in going anywhere.
