FOCUS | EXCELLENCE IN HR AWARDS WINNER: FINDING AND GROWING TALENT
Shyft Group Inc. The Shyft Group Inc. rolled out a number of fresh tactics to recruit and onboard 1,000 employees last year. Shyft produces walk-in vans, truck bodies, and upfits used in e-commerce and grocery delivery, work trucks and service bodies used for infrastructure support and more. It also produces and upfits infrastructure utility vehicles and luxury Class A diesel motor home chassis. The Novi-based company has 3,000 employees and reached nearly $1 billion in revenue in 2020. It operates facilities in 10 states and in Mexico. Last year, Shyft experienced rapid growth after shifting from emergency vehicles to walk-in vans and truck bodies used for e-commerce delivery. It also scored major contracts with large parcel-delivery fleets. As the COVID-19 pandemic spiked an increase in home deliveries, Shyft’s customer orders increased quickly. The company needed to hire — and fast. “I think COVID has made all HR professionals sit back and say, the traditional way may not work any longer,” said Colin Hindman, chief Human Resources officer. “You’ve got to think outside the box.” To streamline hiring, Shyft hired executive recruiters and staffing organi-
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“I THINK COVID HAS MADE ALL HR PROFESSIONALS SIT BACK AND SAY, THE TRADITIONAL WAY MAY NOT WORK ANY LONGER. YOU’VE GOT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.” — Colin Hindman, chief Human Resources officer, Shyft Group
zations. This included staffing organizations such as Charlotte-based ManPower and Specialized Staffing, a minority- and women-owned business enterprise based in South Bend, Ind. Along with the organizations, Shyft created hiring centers at plants in Bristol, Ind., and Charlotte. The centers offered a place for candidates to fill out job applications and be interviewed on the spot by the staffing organization. Candidates also watch videos on job operations so they know what their role would entail. When the U.S. was in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shyft held nine outdoor drive-up job fairs to safely recruit candidates. Candidates interested in working at Shyft were
A drive-thru job interview at The Shyft Group. | THE SHYFT GROUP
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