Archive, Industry News

EDITORIAL:The science of recruitment

I have almost completed a full year on the conference circuit and the patterns are evident. From coast to coast

I have almost completed a full year on the conference circuit and the patterns are evident. From coast to coast operators, associations and suppliers face similar issues.

As we all know, these events are not marketing gimmicks by the associations to make extra cash, they are well planned events which facilitate an exchange of ideas and information between industry stakeholders.

It is the point where the associations gather the necessary leaders of government departments and local authorities, financial houses, academics and suppliers to nut out the issues affecting the industry.

I have found the most common problem faced by the industry is finding staff.

It’s about the image of the industry an academic would say, or it’s about creating career pathways a recruitment specialist would have you believe. Or it is about more flexibility and targeting employees from demographics you wouldn’t have even dreamed of 10 years ago an organisational psychologist would tell you.

And you know what, they all have a point. All these hair brained ideas are basically right.

The art of recruitment has essentially become a science. But the science of recruiting for the industry is still very much under investigation, they are still testing theories like a scientist in a laboratory.

For instance it is noted in various texts (issues of ABC) the bus industry isn’t very sexy at the moment, and this means it struggles to attract younger people.

But does sexiness appeal to one of the target groups for driving staff, the grey haired semi-retired grandparents?

You can answer that one yourself.

Send this to a friend