July 25, 2006

Proactive approach to recruiting

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

TORONTO

Ontario’s mechanical contracting industry is taking steps to attract young people into the management side of the business with establishment of student chapters in three key cities.

Steve Coleman, executive vice-president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (MCAO), said the industry traditionally has focused its attention on promoting careers in the skilled trades.

Steve Coleman

But the sector has come to the realization that time and effort need to be invested in recruiting community college and university graduates for ultimate positions as estimators and project managers.

“A lot of times, the students don’t really know what they want to do,” said Coleman, whose association represents 350 firms. “The idea is to kind of get in their face and say, ‘hey, we’re a huge industry. You can have a fantastic career.’ ”

Student chapters have been established in Hamilton and most recently, Ottawa. Next up is Toronto, which is collaborating on the venture with George Brown College.

“We think this is a win-win for not only the students, but also the contractors,” said Brian McCabe, executive vice-president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Toronto (MCAT).

“Companies are always looking for young graduates to work initially as assistants to project managers or in the estimating department or on the administrative side and then move up the ranks. Finding them has always been a problem.”

MCAT hopes to meet with student body presidents from across the Greater Toronto Area in mid-September to brief them on plans to establish a chapter — a move recommended by some recently hired graduates at local contracting firms.

Once the chapter is up and running, students will be invited to participate in construction site visits, attend seminars and take part in social events. McCabe said some could end up landing summer jobs and eventually, full-time employment with MCAT member firms.

The student chapter initiative has its genesis in the United States. To date, some 36 chapters have been established. Coleman said the program has proven to be “a phenomenal success” south of the border.

“Once we get some mileage behind us in Ontario, I can see these chapters being set up in other corners of the country,” he said.

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