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Recruiting for the worst jobs
Recruiting & Staffing
Recruiting for the worst jobs
Exchange ideas about sourcing, screening, interviewing, finding passive candidates, measuring your results, and more.
How do you recruit and retain staff in a job that is, by most standards, one of the worst jobs around?
We are constantly recruiting for mold remediation laborers. The job entails back breaking work
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Forums » Topic Forums » Recruiting & Staffing » Recruiting for the worst jobs
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 5/20/2010 9:08 AM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
Why don't you mail them the exit interview and provide them with a self addressed and stamped return envelope. I have done this often and over time return rate exceeds 50%.
The temp agency Nork mentions is good too. Your last two paragraphs are in complete opposition with each other. The second to last is your method however if you believe as you write in the last you are defeated before you ever begin. |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 5/20/2010 10:23 AM EDT
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Posts: 10
First: 5/18/2010 Last: 6/23/2010 |
It is like serving two masters...one is to project a positive public image, the other is to project the realities of a repulsive yet very necessary job. Could a bare-it-all job advertisement tarnish a corporate reputation? I honestly don't know. The risk may be worth the rewards. |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 5/21/2010 5:44 AM EDT
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Posts: 544
First: 9/27/2004 Last: 9/13/2011 |
I agree with HRpro about a change in attitude. One person's "repulsive job" is another person's livelihood.
Are you sure your organization isn't conveying the wrong message about what kind of work is valued? I was once involved in an OD project where a group of field engineers reported they were regarded like "ditch diggers" by white-collar workers - not cool, guess whose skills were more easily replaced? |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 5/21/2010 6:05 AM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
Stellar I mean no offense but who is viewing the job as repugnant? Those who do it or you?
If this is a job your organization needs then the reputation of the organization, e.g. how it does this job and who they hire to do it, is important. Bad reputation or sending a signal that the job is "beneath" an otherwise stellar organization gets you bad hires. I'm just sayin. |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 5/21/2010 8:12 AM EDT
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Posts: 544
First: 9/27/2004 Last: 9/13/2011 |
Stellar, it doesn't have to be like serving two masters. Providing a difficult service is a positive thing, providing employment opportunities is a positive thing.
For what it's worth, my "spidey senses" are telling me that you are troubled about the fact that this job function isn't gainful employment and what that says about your organization as a non-profit. Maybe that's something to talk about? |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 5/25/2010 6:42 AM EDT
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Posts: 10
First: 5/18/2010 Last: 6/23/2010 |
I am also parroting my colleagues' experiences as well as those of the coordinator for this position, who describes the job as I've described here. I characterized the job as being repulsive. That's my bias. I'll try to be more objective. The coordinator who has done the job for many years describes the work as 'hard, hot, dirty and nasty.'
We recognize we need to do something different, we are just not sure what that is. This is not a bad job. It just requires a person doing things a lot of people wouldn't choose to do. As far as unskilled jobs go, the working environment is perhaps what is the hardest to sell someone on. A warehouse job pays about the same and doesn't require you to work in a dark and dirty environment. We assume that is what is driving people away. We need to attract the right person for the job and that would be someone who is not afraid of hard work and not bothered by the work conditions. It might be time to try a job advertisement that is spectacularly different...off-the-wall and a bit edgy. I'd be willing to experiment. My colleagues might concur. Any suggestions for wording our next job posting? |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 6/10/2010 5:50 AM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: 3/24/2010 Last: 6/10/2010 |
Are people really saying that if you start thinking about and describing the job in more positive terms you'll get better results?
Work is done under conditions that require a safety suit and a breathing unit. There's no organizational career path, and the experience gained probably won't open doors to other opportunities. No amount of positive thinking changes the reality. I don't envy you. I'm sure if you could afford to offer a bonus, you would. Although you'd be paying a premium to go through a temp agency, the cost may be offset if you're able to retain the candidates they send to you. I'd be very interested in knowing what road you decide to take and how it works out. |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 6/10/2010 6:03 AM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 6/10/2010 Last: 6/10/2010 |
Re:
1. Job posting wording 2. Temp agencies 1. Job posting wording: Be a hero and get paid! Fight for safe housing for low-income families by battling mold! Non-profit social housing organization is recruiting for mold remediation laborers. We will provide the wage, training, personal protective clothing and equipment; you will make homes healthy and safe. [State salary, benefits, contact, etc.] Try to lead with the positive. There are those employees that are proud of having the right stuff to do the hard stuff--our sewer workers, for example have a comparable job. 2. Temp agencies: If you go this route, your workers may receive even lower wages. Please look into this aspect. |
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Recruiting for the worst jobs
posted at 6/10/2010 6:12 AM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: 1/30/2009 Last: 6/10/2010 |
We hire for early morning newspaper delivery staff in Wisconsin, so I feel your pain.
I'd partner with the military for a source of candidates. You might change the title to something more dynamic - Environmental Rehabilitation Specialist. Ad text: Make a list of the positives, and then talk about them. Non-traditional job ad text: YOU are not just looking for a boring office job where you push paper while your muscles turn to mush. YOU want a job that gets results; at the end of the day, you can point to you shift supervisor and say "I did that." YOU want more than just a job; you want to know that your efforts mean results that MATTER to people. YOU want to work as part of a team that is known and respected for getting the job done, no matter what the weather conditions are. XYZ has immediate openings for people just like you. Our Environmental Rehabilitations Specialists make a difference in the lives of AAA county residents. They receive best-in-class training, competitive pay and a solid benefits package. Make your next job a satisfying career you will be proud of! |
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