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What can companies do to improve the chances of attracting the right talent? Ian Ross, HR Director of Flying Colours Corp., discusses recruitment strategies. Finding the right fit

Flying Colours is in expansion mode which means we are seeking a lot of recruits for the 100+ roles created, and honestly, it’s a challenge. It is not just our challenge it is the industry’s challenge.

I’m regularly having discussions with others in the sector who also struggle to find the right people for the right roles. The gap between supply and demand grows. We see experts retiring, yet it remains a challenge to attract young talent. We’re also competing with other sectors, particularly digital services.

It is imperative we attract the right people with the right skills, who fit with our corporate culture, are prepared for life in the dynamic business aviation environment and are willing to learn and work hard. It goes with a huge number of rewards, beyond just the annual salary. But in a globalised sector the talent supply is strained, there are only a finite number of candidates with the right skill sets.

So what can companies do to improve the chances of attracting the right talent? We continue to use time-honoured methods. For senior positions we’ll chat with our extensive international network, for specialist positions we’ll speak to dedicated aviation head-hunters, as well as placing ads in local media. Online we optimise our presence in the social media networks, particularly Linked-in.

Lateral thinking

However we’re also thinking laterally as we recognise the need to select well and keep our work force engaged and happy. We’ve just launched a series of recruitment events. The first will be held at the Peterborough facility on 22-23 March and will be used as an opportunity to find talent from our local pool. Our St. Louis facility is planning a similar event and we’ll also be taking our recruitment search out on the road by participating in a variety of student and trade careers fairs.

Aviation is often seen as a high-brow industry requiring rocket scientists and aerodynamic engineers, but that is not necessarily the case. Many of the requisite skills can be taught and learned over time on the hangar floor. Yes aviation specialists are needed but so are craftworkers, artisans, and professional skills. A tailor, cabinetmaker, procurement manager, or sheet metal worker can put their skills to very good use in an environment such as ours.

Cabinetry refurbishment at Flying Colours' Singapore facility.

It is up to us, the industry, to see the different opportunities to find the people we need. At a local career facility that helps new emigres settle, I had a wonderful conversation with a shoe maker who was looking for work. I explained to him that our upholstery section hand-stitches all our leather seats and his skill is invaluable. His eyes lit up, he could not believe his special talent would be required by a company like Flying Colours. This is what I mean about thinking laterally.

Working with local community media has also been to our advantage, keeping them informed of what we’re doing, and showcasing our business to potential team members in our local areas. We’ve been on the radio, in local press, and on TV, it all helps profile the business for those already working and those that are thinking about what next.

Flying Colours Corp completed the industry’s first Bombardier Challenger 650 medevac interior for Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.

We also strategically maximise social media as that’s where much of the young talent goes for information. It is also without geographical borders. Millennials seek interesting and varied job opportunities and are always keen to optimise their prospects. Younger recruits have very different expectations and it is up to us to better understand what these are and satisfy them to remain competitive which is why we visit local colleges and take part in careers events outside of aviation.

Filling the void will need creative recruitment teams, innovative retention approaches, international perspective and a willingness to look outside the aviation sector for expertise. As an industry we need to recognize this and work together to demonstrate we are one of the most exciting, dynamic sectors with exceptional career prospects.

With facilities in Canada, the USA, & Singapore, global aviation services company Flying Colours Corp, brings more than 30 years of experience to every facet of its business, which includes Green Completions, Interior Refurbishment & Modifications, Heavy Maintenance, Exterior Paint, Special Mission Modifications, and Avionics Installations and upgrades.

Flying Colours specializes in all mid to large sized business aircraft, including the Bombardier Global and Challenger families, Dassault Falcon, Beechcraft/Hawker, Gulfstream and Textron models. Flying Colours is an Authorized Service Facility for Bombardier and a Bombardier Preferred Completion Center.

flyingcolourscorp.com

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 21st March 2019 | Issue #503

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