By Heather Centorbi, marketing coordinator at WTWH Media, publisher of Solar Power World
Helix Electric was contracted on the Koloa Solar Farm in Kauai, Hawaii.
In the day and age of social media, it’s important to remember that new hires no longer just fill an open position. These days, your new employee is a brand advocate. Each employee is an extension of your brand and can have a tremendous impact on future business. A single tweet can travel the world, wreaking havoc or building business. We reached out to Dave Wood, director of the renewable energy group at Helix Electric, to find out what hiring strategies work best for the company, leading to quality brand advocates.
SPW: How do you get applicants when hiring installation professionals?
Dave Wood: Helix is in a constant Nationwide search for renewable installation professionals. We use a full time in-house staff that searches for qualified candidates. We’re also a member of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), which we use when we have an upcoming project in a certain location. Helix utilizes job postings, job fairs and LinkedIn to also search for new hires.
What qualities do you look for when hiring installation professionals?
We look for journeymen, apprentices and laborers. When hiring a journeyman we look for a highly qualified tradesman with experience in the renewable industry and a proven track record of successful installations and reliability. When hiring apprentices we look for varying experience based on specific project needs. Lastly, when hiring laborers, work ethic, aptitude and reliability are important qualities to have.
Which characteristics do you find necessary to succeed as an installation professional?
Helix Electric was founded on the basic principles of a “merit shop”. This means that each worker is hired, paid and promoted based on their own merits. We’re always looking for individuals with a strong desire to succeed and achieve more in life. The main traits we look for are a strong focus on safety, an inner drive seeking to stay up-to-date on cutting edge technology, a strive for smarter and better ways to accomplish an installation and the ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner.
What kind of demand is there for installation workers right now?
The demand for installation workers is at an all-time high and we expect an even bigger increase over the next 12-24 months. The increase in demand is seen in California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, Georgia, Hawaii and Texas.