The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum in February shared findings of a dialogue about supply and demand it conducted in fall 2015. The report included strategies for recruiting apprentices.
In fall 2015, CAF-FCA hosted four discussion forums in Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver. Participants discussed apprenticeship-related supply and demand challenges.
“Apprenticeship Supply and Demand Challenges” shares best practices employers can use to recruit employees, including the following tips:
· Involve senior decision-makers and leaders in the company and ensure they understand the value of the apprenticeship program.
· Make it a requirement that any owners, contractors and sub-contractors working on a project have apprentices.
· Engage potential apprentice candidates and parents
· Reach out to instructors at local colleges in order to learn about co-op, pre-employment or pre-apprentice students looking for opportunities and with the colleges’ help set up programs to meet their needs.
· Create an engaging website that describes the company’s values and effectively uses social media is another way to attract youth.
· Look for internal candidates to become apprentices. These individuals are already working at the company so they understand the culture and may be more committed to staying.
· Offer high-quality training and a positive learning environment to help attract other apprentices through word of mouth.
· Meet any potential hires in-person so there is face-to-face interaction.
· Connect apprentices with a buddy so they have someone with whom they can talk.
· Emphasize opportunities for personal growth and learning. Ask the apprentice about their career goals.
· Offer employees opportunities to try out different roles at the company, even if it is just on a short-term basis.
For more recruitment best practices, read the full report.
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