A Landscaping Pro's Guide to Recruiting

What is the number one problem facing landscapers today? STAFFING! We hear it from pros like you every day, “If I could just have a full crew, I’d be set.” While we don’t deal in job boards or recruiting, we do feel your pain and we want to see your company succeed as much as you do! To help reignite your spark & renew your spirit, we put together a list of Dos & Don’ts for you to utilize throughout your hiring process.

The Dos of Recruiting

Share your story

• Chances are you had to work hard to get to where you are, so why not talk about it?
• Giving people a glimpse of your humble beginnings & the hard work you've put into your business can inspire them to follow a similar career path

Improve visibility by building your company’s presence in the communities that you work in

• This helps get your name out to potential employees as well as additional clients!
• Use flyers, help wanted signs, job fairs/industry events, your website, and even press releases sent to local media
• Create a mentorship/internship program with high school & college students

Utilize the internet & other resources

• Job boards are used much more often than outdated traditional application processes
  • Some of the most popular sites include Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor
• LinkedIn is a must for any company, regardless of if you’re hiring or not
  • You can post jobs, learn even more about applicants, & even start conversations

Use your existing resources to your advantage

• Tell clients, vendors, employees, and anyone else in your world that you’re hiring
  • They can vouch for your quality of work & send you like-minded prospects

Create employee referral bonus programs to let employees earn money for referrals

• They can earn rewards after 1 month, 3 months, or a year of employment
• This boosts morale by giving employees additional pay & an opportunity to work with people they know while also bringing quality workers into your business

Are you a member of any associations? They might help & post your openings on their website:

• Illinois Landscape Contractors Association Employment Opportunities
• Wisconsin Arborist Association Employment Opportunities
• Illinois Arborist Association Employment Opportunities
• Research other local & statewide associations that ideal prospects might see!

The Don’ts of Recruiting

Don’t post long, generic job descriptions

• Descriptions should reflect your current needs without going into excruciating detail

Don’t shy away from expectations

• Fear of scaring off possible hires is valid, but if you want someone who is going to be a good fit for your company and the role, they need to know what they’re applying for

Don’t pre-judge a candidate

• Younger employees have less experience, but they can bring energy & an open mind
• There’s a chance that older employees may have less enthusiasm, but their experience can help them hit the ground running & make an impact on your business sooner

Don’t go out of your way to steal employees from competitors

• Experience is great, but there’s no guarantee they won’t leave your business the same way. Instead, create an appealing company culture that brings prospects in organically!

Don’t just hire anyone who walks in your doors out of desperation

• Properly vetting all applicants & taking your time to find the right fit for your landscaping company can help you avoid repeating the recruiting process all over again soon after!

Don’t give up

• We know it’s thankless work, but once you find the right person to fill your role, it will be worth it! Your crew will run smoothly & you’ll sleep better knowing you put together a great team

Part 2 of this blog - A Landscaping Pro's Guide to Retaining Employees - discusses how you can keep quality employees focused & happy on the job once they've been hired at your landscaping company!