Need more students, interest in facilities management By Deborah Stewart Recruiting talent is a challenge in many segments of the job market.
information technology to engineering. As a result, strategies to actively pro-
the unique characteristics of the community and the school district.
Surveys conducted by major recruit-
mote the field of facilities management
“We’re also keenly aware of staying
ment agencies in Canada and the Unit-
as a viable, interesting and progres-
ed States indicate that only one per
sive career choice are necessary. In the
ahead of the curve when it comes to us-
cent of university graduates consider
meantime, we have to contend with
facilities management as a career op-
the reality of a limited candidate pool.
tion. Of that small percentage, even
Therefore, it is critical that public edu-
fewer students are aware of the wide
cation and individual school districts
array of job opportunities available to
stand out as an employer of choice in
them. These statistics are alarming, giv-
order to maintain a sustainable work-
with
force.
post-secondary institutions, Make a
en that advances in technology, innova-
ing targeted recruitment strategies to get available vacancies in front of the right potential candidates,” adds Jang. In addition to its consistent attendance at career fairs and connections professional
associations
and
Future’s online recruitment marketing
tion and overall building complexity re-
Thankfully, the competitive market-
quire talented individuals with a variety
place is not just local but national and
of backgrounds, from skilled trades to
even global. So what resources are
“The facilities management area has
available to the public school sector in
been very active,” says Jang. “We’ve
order to tap into the talent pipeline?
had numerous vacancies for a variety of
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Make a Future, a recruitment initiative, was created to specifically address these kinds of workforce challenges. A partnership between the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association, the province’s 60 public school
815 Tupper Avenue Coquitlam, B.C.
604-525-1685 or 1-888-922-8845 Fax: 604-525-6693 progressiveservices@telus.net “Solutions are only a phone call away” 38
Ops Talk • Spring 2015
trades positions, as well as supervisors, managers and directors. The market is so competitive for qualified candidates that it’s important to harness a co-ordinated and targeted approach to ensure
districts and the Ministry of Educa-
we get the word out to both recent
tion, the Make a Future website (www.
graduates and experienced employees
makeafuture.ca) provides information
that there are great careers available in
about public K-12 and independent
our public school districts and First Na-
First Nations schools as desirable em-
tions schools.”
ployment destinations. “The job board is an integral component in terms of branding the public education sector as a great place to work,” says Andrew Jang, business
PROGRESSIVE SERVICES LTD.
tactics have been overall effective.
development consultant for Make a Future. “But Make a Future is more than that. We assist districts with preparing
Jang believes the recruitment challenges for facilities careers will only intensify in the coming years. “As the demographics of our workforce shift and retirements increase, we need to attract the millennials into these roles,” he says. “So we need to
customized job postings to effectively
stay at the top of our recruitment game
communicate to potential job-seekers
as we plan for succession and compete
not only the key requirements of the
with other employers to attract these
variety of positions available, but (also)
relatively scarce skill sets.” b
