Recent world events remind us that farming is truly a global industry. If you’re struggling to find employees to serve the needs of your agricultural industry, it may be time to expand your scope and improve your offerings. The tips below can help you boost your visibility as an employer while you find the best staff possible.
Look Outside Your Industry
Be willing to look to other industries for similar positions. For example, you might look for a strong purchasing agent in any industry that works with fluctuating markets and raw goods. With the right personality, this person can be trained to be a grain originator, connecting effectively both with the producers and the processors.
Obviously, this is an employee who needs to be flexible and who can keep an eye on the markets. Global events can have a large impact on both grain availability and transport options. Such an employee needs to be tied in and aware of factors such as
- climate pressure
- military clashes
- changes in fuel availability around the world
However, the ability to connect the producer of the raw goods to the ultimate user is a skill that can be learned for the benefit of your business.
Be Willing To Teach
Do make sure that you are sharing your skills with young potential job seekers. If there is a land-grant university in your area, check in with business professors to see if they have space for a guest lecturer who can share information about modern agricultural careers.
If lecturing doesn’t appeal to you, look for agricultural newsletters that will allow you to write a guest column. The ability to deliver your expertise and tie your name to your industry will do wonders to raise your profile as a business leader. The more followers you have in your industry, the more resumes you will see.
Offer Terrific Benefits
Modern financial trends for the American family are looking rather shaky. Of course, you’re going to offer the best salary that you can. Make sure you are also offering a terrific benefits package.
If your goal is to get your new employee to relocate to your region, you may also need to help their spouse find employment. The quality of your local schools may impact whether or not your employees will be willing to move. Modern employees need more than just steady employment and a living wage. Your community will also come under scrutiny.
Offer Internships
Start your recruiting process early. Offer paid internships to a young farm worker with promise. As they go about their assigned tasks, put aside time each day for training on the next level up from their job.
Discuss your needs and plans with local high schools and colleges. If your industry is very short of employees with strong computational skills, focus on groups such as computer gaming, math competitions, and even the chess club. Students interested in science may also be ideal employees for your industry in the future. Farming is a constantly changing industry; you need employees with experimental minds and plenty of mental flexibility to keep your business growing.
Consider A Housing Option
The housing market is extremely tight in much of the country at the moment. If you are trying to recruit new employees to relocate to your region but are struggling to get applications, the limited housing in your region could be a concern. Connect with local rental property owners and realtors to put together a quality portfolio of properties for your recruits to consider.
If your industry offers seasonal employment, consider also offering a housing stipend to these workers to provide them with on-site, easy-to-access housing. As you monitor these employees, keep an eye on how well they are working out with their housemates. Folks who can get along with strangers can grow to be terrific managers and leaders. You may also find ideal candidates for full-time jobs that open up in your organization.
Globalization is impacting every aspect of the agricultural industry. Hiring terrific people may require the help of a quality staffing organization and a nationwide search. Keeping your employee roster filled may require training from within your community as well.
