Recruiting+Host+Employers

This page is about the Recruitment of Host Employers for Work Placement for Vocational Education and Training Students.
=Recruiting Host Employers=

Skills Dependant placements
Some hosts don’t have suitable duties for students at the early stage of the course, but will take students when their skills are more advanced. Other hosts only want students with a real passion for the industry. If this is the case negotiate a clear specification form the host and be explicit in pathways and when talking to teachers. If teachers fail to honour this deal, you may decide not to include the placement opportunity in the offer to schools, and instead verbally offer the placement to teachers as a possibility that you may be able to organise on special request. Ian

Try before you buy
Some hosts like to host students to try before they buy. Work placement is a “long recruitment”. Some employer’s like to promote themselves as an employer of choice. Ian

Collective Interest
Some employers are willing to host students and inspire them to join the industry, for the future of their industry. Ie a collective interest. Ian

Youth development
Some employers understand that teenagers are maturing and that they can help shape the success of a young person and help them reach their true potential. Ian

Viral Marketing
If a student has a great experience because they got to try a lot of things and were treated with respect, that student will be all over Facebook and twitter telling the world how great the employer is. You couldn’t buy that amount of goodwill with a million dollars. Ian

Reactivate
Call inactive or withdrawn hosts and try to reactivate their interest. Ask if there is a problem and do you best to overcome the objection. If you can’t adequately cover an objection please bring it to a staff meeting for a group discussion. We may not have a great answer, but undoubtedly we will all learn from the discourse. Ian

Positive Messages to Employers
- Help educate the workforce of tomorrow - Training future workforce - Integral part (compulsory) of the HSC - Students learn better 'on hte job'. - Giving a practical application to skills learnt at school.

Employ Someone from Industry
Employ someone from industry on a short term/contract bases to source host employers in industries that you are struggling in. Their knowledge and industry contacts can open doors for you.

Work with your Employers
Take the time to work with your employers before a placement particularly for students with special needs. Empower your coordinators to take the time to visit employers every week to recruit and/or pay a personal thank you and make a request in person e.g. two – three hours allocated time each week.

Reward your Host Employers
A thank you goes a long way here are some ideas [feel free to add more]: - Recognise good employers in newsletters, awards, wesites, and thank you ads in newspapers. - Thank you presents for saying sorry for student stuff ups e.g. stubby holders, drink bottles, pens etc. - Give Back Program – Business Newsletter [Stephen you can elaborate on this.] - Loyalty/use of business or referral of businesses where possible. - Employer thank you drinks - Industry dinners - Thank you certificates - Plaques - Employer awards

Listen to Their Concerns
Take the time to listen to their concerns, even if it is just them having a gripe. If they have concerns about students or teachers not visiting – act on it or you may loose them.

Positive Messages to Employers
- Help educate the workforce of tomorrow - Training future workforce - Integral part (compulsory) of the HSC - Students learn better 'on the job'. - Giving a practical application to skills learnt at school.

Employ Someone from Industry
Employ someone from industry on a short term/contract bases to source host employers in industries that you are struggling in. Their knowledge and industry contacts can open doors for you.

The Personal Approach
People are far more likely to agree to something if they are face to face with you - it is far easier to say no over the phone. Try these proven approaches: - Drop in and visit new employers and or businesses. - Target new businesses soon after opening. - Door knock - Cold canvas

Referals
Use referals from other people: - Board Member's Network - Teacher referals - Student referals - Employee's referals - Ask an employer to recommend someone else - Use your own personal network

Sourcing Employers
There are all sorts of ways to find employers here are a few [feel free to add to this]: - Drive around looking for new construction sites - Drive around industrial estates - Walking around shopping centres and dropping in kits. - Scan local newspapers - Use yourself for IT work placements - Target cuturally specific events such as the Muslim Employers' Breakfast. - Advertise in School Newsletters for host employers - Phone book search - Use regional directories - Chamber of Commerce - IT workplacements at schools

Websites and the Internet
Surf the net and see what you can find - websites are a valuable source of information e.g. Eatability website for hospitality or the Department of Housing website - to see who is getting the construction contracts in your area.

Physical resources
Use of physical resources to encourage or promote the program to employers for example merchandising such as pens, calendars etc and the Employer Information Kit.

Signing Paperwork
When an employer agrees to become a host there is a fair amount of paperwork to be completed. Despite the best intensions of enthusiastic new hosts, most are tardy at returning the paperwork. This can be extremely frustrating. A far more successful strategy is to take the time and fill it out with the employer on the spot. This can be done in a conversational style as part of the overall getting to know you chit chat and induction process. Wendy Wilkins

Case Management
For more utilisation from the employer, arrange a case manager style approach, where the SIP/LCP will place all work placements and work experience through their office. The employer will then be able to pass all placements through one office and will save time and they will be more appreciative of the efforts and be open to hosting a greater number of students.