Millennials are everywhere and they are wiling to work
Because the baby boomer workforce is beginning to retire, construction companies are looking for new hires to fill those positions. The most obvious way to do this is to attract the younger generation, affectionately known as Millennials.
Millennials often get a bad reputation for being lazy, money-hungry, and entitled but that’s not the case. They want to work for a company with a vision and they enjoy being a part of its success.
So how can you attract this young talent at your construction business?
- Commit to safety: All employees want a safe work environment, but for millennials it goes a little further. They need to feel secure in their job and confident that it’s a place they want to keep coming back to. Showing them that you don’t have many workplace accidents or that you commit to safety training will give your company a heads up over others.
- Try a different approach to interviewing: No one likes to interview, but millennials specifically thrive on creativity so a traditional interview may not cut it. Consider bringing them on a job site and asking them to blueprint or give ideas. Give them something creative to do instead of coming in and answering the traditional interview questions. This shows that you appreciate their input from the get go and that they will have an outlet for creativity at your company.
- Make work fun: If your company focuses on just work and no play, millennials might get a little burnt out. Business always comes first, but to hire the Gen Y workforce, you need to go a little further. Team outings, team-building activities, company-paid lunches, and things of the like will go a long way. This will not only attract millennials, but keep them happy.
- Show your commitment to new technology: One of the qualities millennials have over other generations is how technologically savvy they are. They love to learn new things and are more than willing to adopt that new technology. Showing you are a company of innovation will get millennials really excited to come work for you. Plus, technology like CRM software is a great way to help your business run more efficiently.
- Go to job fairs: You may be thinking that university job fairs are for industries like business, medical, or education. But there is no better way to find new, young talent than at the source. Not everyone wants to follow the “traditional” path and attending these career fairs will show them all their options.
With the recent shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry, you need to stretch your hiring window as far as you can. Millennials are everywhere and they are wiling to work. You just have to find the ones that best fit your business and truly believe in your vision.
