The Importance
of Continually Recruiting
Ongoing recruiting strategies
are essential for HVAC Dealers
The search for skilled employees should be an ongoing process when you own an HVAC business — this is partly to avoid getting inexperienced candidates when you’re shorthanded. It’s also because there is a growing shortage of skilled candidates in an industry that needs to add roughly 115,000 workers in North America over the next five years.
Know who might be looking for jobs
Being resourceful is essential to finding the right candidates, especially if your search for qualified candidates in the typical job websites, ad placement media or recruiting networks comes up short. You may not have the choice but to consider new strategies.
Consider the possibilities and advantages of hiring veterans
Federal data illustrates two key indicators about veterans:
- More than 1.5 million veterans will transition to the civilian workforce over the next five years.
- Women veterans saw higher rates of employment than their male counterparts did during 2018.
Taking into consideration that veterans are disciplined and trained to work hard could be the ‘very thing’ your business needs to generate more business or offer more services. A little training and mentoring goes a long way, especially for a veteran looking for new career opportunities.
Encouraging women in the workforce
More women are training to become HVAC technicians and many are taking over the family business, and opening their own HVAC companies. The HVAC industry has been a traditionally male-dominated industry that has been outdated as more women are finding employment in the field. Currently, the total HVAC workforce consists of roughly 6,000 women nationwide, a significant leap from years past. As more women join HVAC contracting companies, they are changing the perception proving that the job is not just for men
Millennials
By the end of 2019, the 20 to 35-year-old generation that numbers around 71 million is on the cusp of overtaking Baby Boomers (ages 52 to 70) who number roughly 74 million. The HVAC industry’s growing adoption of technology makes it a natural fit for tech-savvy millennials to use digital tools, apps or innovative technologies to use in the office or out in the field.
Midlife Career Changers
Men and women midlife career changers often want more rewarding and meaningful work. They typically bring experience from one or more industries as well as unique problem-solving skills to challenges. Many are open-minded, flexible enough to adopt new habits, love learning, and not afraid of change. A midlife career changer might be the person you need to give your business a boost.
Know what sells HVAC careers today
Tap into HVAC technology
Technology is a natural fit for millennials and allows people of varying physical strength to work in the field. Today’s technology makes HVAC a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career, something high schools and community colleges promote heavily.
Make the case for meaningful work
HVAC touches every aspect of society, from homes, schools, shops and offices, to hospitals, research laboratories, and data storage centers that allow industries to conduct business across the globe. HVAC men and women also preserve our food and medical supplies, deliver energy-efficiency upgrades, and support environmental sustainability.
Show the variety of HVAC career paths
Military veterans, career changers, and other prospective hires want skills they can build a career on. HVAC experience opens the doors to equipment operations, maintenance, systems design, equipment manufacturing, research and development, construction, distribution, and sales and marketing.
Know where to recruit
Participate in career days, make class presentations at local high schools, community colleges, or trade schools
Work with curriculum planners to include important technical skills or up and coming technologies. You can partner with schools to offer job-shadowing programs, ride-along days, internships, and apprenticeships for students.
Recruit in the community
Veterans’ groups, women’s organizations, chambers of commerce, and minority-advocacy groups often want local employers to participate in their job fairs and speak at their meetings. This is a great opportunity to promote your business within your community.
Use the right keywords in your online job ads
Your postings should include phrases like “new career” or “career change” so career changers and newly discharged veterans will spot your listings.
The most important hiring criteria
Our Learning Solutions team recommends hiring for attitude and training for skills. A strong work ethic and the ability to work well with others are the foundation for any successful career.
You can quickly bring motivated new hires up to speed through job shadowing, and HVAC training, such as our BuildATech® program.
Stay on the lookout for potential hires with a good attitude. Your business and the HVAC industry need them — now more than ever.
Recruiting takes time and effort. This can be tough to come by when you're running an HVAC business, however, the pay-off is in your favor when you build a team of skilled professionals who can meet the needs of customers quickly and professionally.
Need to train a new technician, fast? With our unique BuildATech® program, motivated students can go from zero HVAC experience to qualified technician in just four weeks.