Meet the FORGE Team

Skilled trade organizations are fighting two major battles in light of the skilled trades gap, awareness and perception. Are potential employees aware of your company and the benefits you offer? Do potential employees have a preconceived notion about the type of work you do, and is that notion accurate? The only way you can raise awareness about your organization and have a message that you feel is an accurate representation, is to get involved in the community around you.

Some ways you can plug in:

• Form a partnership with high schools and career tech centers in your area. By forming a partnership with the schools in your area, you have your hand in offering knowledge of your industry but also knowledge as an employer. Industry feedback allows local schools to better prepare students for the workforce.
• Offer job site tours. This will offer students a tangible example of the type of work they can be involved in and generate excitement for that industry. From that point on, every time a student from the tour walks into that public building, they’ll remember that you had your hand in its development.
• Be a guest lecturer. By having local industries step into classrooms, it validates everything the teacher has taught them to that point and on into the future, but also gives you a chance to share about the more niche areas of your business that could really sell a student on entering into your line of work.
• Participate in high school career fairs. By participating in career fairs at high schools, you can reach the students who might be looking for options outside of a four-year degree, but you can also begin building a partnership with their counselors and school teachers.