IBEW Employs Creative Recruitment Strategies

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA6488336.html

By Mark Ayer
October 22, 2007
Construction
Online outreach and recruiting efforts by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and other electrical organizations are paying off, but there is still room in the ranks.

We've all heard Willie Nelson sing, "Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys." What if the lyrics to this song referenced contractors instead of cowboys? How about electricians, plumbers or painters?

Although there may not be a song on the airwaves discouraging children to get into the skilled trades, the message is no less prevalent. Wood shop, metal shop, auto shop, and all of the "shop" classes have long since been gone from public schools as budgets got tighter. School districts are applauded for sending their graduates to college. It's a combination that has contributed to the steady decline of students selecting a hands-on career. As a result, unions making up the building trades have had to go it alone where attracting talent out of our school systems is concerned.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is diligently and actively recruiting new workers with job fairs, DVDs, websites like ElectrifyingCareers.com, and even the sponsorship of a race car in its attempt to get a few moments in front of America's youth.

Recruitment sites like ElectrifyingCareers.com give broad descriptions of dozens of positions available within the industry and provide easy steps to get more information. The site even tailors its information to the specific needs of students, parents, counselors, and people interested in making a mid-life career change to the skilled trades.

Additionally, a website founded and supported by the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO called HelmetsToHardhats.com is specifically designed to recruit people leaving the military, a group that is known for their responsible employment habits and a team mentality that leads to success in the construction industry.

These online outreach programs are often the first step toward attracting employees to the electrical industry because they provide information necessary to make smart decisions about their future.

FULL story at link.

[tech3149]

1. When I was in NJ a local tried to recruit me for an electronics program

I wish I had taken them up on it. Beyond training journeymen to be more technologically savvy, it would be a great building block for apprentices to find out if they had the stuff to move into something more technology centered.