Episode Overview
Not being able to find people to work in the trades is a widely discussed industry issue. Core Matters CEO Ryan Englin, however, has a radical spin on the notion that there’s a dearth of potential employees.
Englin has helped hundreds of companies reduce turnover, exhibit authenticity during interviews and make good decisions during the hiring process.
“I know there are going to be some people that aren't going to like to hear this, but most contractors, most people in the trades, do not have a recruiting problem,” he says. “They don't have a problem finding and hiring people. They have a problem retaining them.”
Let that thought settle in as Englin offers a solution to getting people into vacant positions in your company.
“We solve this by making better hiring decisions,” he says. “That's a huge part of how we solve it, but then we still need to work on the retention.”
Too often, companies that are interviewing potential employees aren’t presenting the reality of their workplace.
“The key is to get people to show up authentic,” Englin says. “How? The best way to do that as an employer is to be authentic yourself.”
Don’t overpromise. Don’t misrepresent the culture. Do show potential hires what actually goes on at the company during the course of a regular day.
That can be easier said than done, Englin says.
“A lot of times, employers are so fearful,” he says “Maybe desperate is the word. They feel like they have to fake it in order to attract someone to their business. That’s where the motivation comes from to think, ‘If I'm myself they're not going to like me.’"
As is pertinent to so many situations in your personal and professional life, Englin would point out that authenticity is always the best policy.
Ryan Englin recently joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel as part of Season 8 of the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Englin’s thoughts on:
(11:05) The benefits of authenticity during interviews
(19:45) Being realistic about the baseline skills you need
(27:31) Flexibility on methods of communication
(31:01) Not relying on spec work for hiring decision
(35:26) Setting realistic expectations
To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts.
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