Once again in 2023, PPC is teaming up with the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) on a series of articles to help you grow and improve your painting business. This year’s theme: Productivity is the path to profitability. In this article, PCA marketing specialist Lauren Forman shares some of the organization’s best hiring and recruiting practices for painting company owners and managers.

Running a painting business comes with its fair share of challenges, and one of the most critical yet demanding aspects is mastering the art of hiring and recruiting in the vast talent pool of the industry. The task of finding individuals who are not only worth recruiting but also hiring can be daunting, but the rewards for strategically selecting the right team members are immense. By aligning your business goals with experts who share your vision and attention to detail, you significantly increase your chances of achieving profitability.

Empowering your hiring journey

This article is your compass in this challenging landscape, offering insights, guidance and leadership on hiring and recruiting top talent.

To empower businesses in this quest, PCA provides essential resources, including the PCA Hiring / Recruitment Platform – an intuitive tool facilitating job postings, applicant management, and access to a database of potential candidates within the industry. Additionally, PCA Overdrive, an extensive library of online videos exclusively available to PCA members, is a treasure trove of industry-specific information, including the insights shared within this article.

The power of strategic hiring

Strategic hiring is an art that offers enduring benefits and creates a stress-free environment for business owners. By building a team that shares your vision and commitment to quality, you pave the way for a thriving enterprise. In the demanding world of painting contracting, who you hire and how you hire them matters profoundly. Effective hiring allows painting contractors to overcome common challenges, such as skill gaps, labor shortages, and intense competition for talent.

A high-quality workforce translates into superior craftsmanship, heightened customer satisfaction, and a sterling reputation in the industry. Investing time and effort in selecting the right candidates helps reduce turnover rates, resulting in cost savings linked to recruitment and training. This investment also contributes to higher profitability by minimizing hiring mistakes, boosting employee productivity, and ultimately leading to more efficient project completion and increased revenue and profit margins.

The role of empathy in recruitment

In the contemporary work landscape, the perspective on work-life balance has evolved, and empathy has emerged as an invaluable skill. To be a successful boss, business owner, and recruiter, it’s crucial to understand the mindset of job seekers. As you search for top-tier talent, consider the human aspect of recruitment.

Nick Slavik, an industry leader and PCA Chair on the Board of Directors, emphasizes the importance of empathy in recruitment. He suggests that to attract the best talent, businesses must present themselves as worthwhile and compatible with the values of inspired, hardworking tradespeople.

The public’s perception of work has transformed over the years, underscoring the need for business owners to adapt. When seeking top-tier talent, look within your company. Does your business inspire hardworking, creative tradespeople? Does it align with their caliber? Work has evolved, and as a business owner, you must evolve too. Nick Slavik provides invaluable insights on this and other relevant topics for painting contractors in his “Ask A Painter” episodes, available on PCA’s Overdrive platform.

PRO TIP: Get more ideas in the Sherwin-Williams PRO+Training Series episode Recruiting and Building Culture

Key strategies for effective hiring and recruitment

When it comes to attracting and retaining skilled workers, several actionable strategies can make a significant difference:

• Define clear job descriptions: Craft detailed job descriptions outlining the specific skills, experience, and qualifications required for each position. This clarity will attract candidates who best fit your company.
• Leverage networking: Build a strong network within the industry, attend trade shows, and industry events to tap into potential talent pools. Networking allows you to connect with skilled workers who may not actively seek jobs but are open to opportunities.
• Offer competitive compensation: Attract and retain skilled workers by providing competitive compensation packages. Review industry salary benchmarks and benefits to ensure your offerings are appealing.
• Utilize PCA resources: PCA is a valuable resource for painting contractors. This centuries-old association offers industry-specific content, tools, and materials to streamline the hiring process and help professionals in the industry with their business journey.
• Training and development: Invest in training and development programs to enhance the skills of your existing workforce. This not only attracts talent but also retains valuable employees who see growth opportunities within your company.

In the painting industry, strategic hiring and recruitment are paramount. Investing in these processes is an investment in your business’s future. By leveraging PCA’s resources and following the strategies outlined here, you can navigate the talent pool with confidence, assemble a high-quality team, and achieve lasting success.

PRO TIP: For another excellent resource, try the industry’s first free paint-focused job board site, part of the Sherwin-Williams PRO+ program.

This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of PPC magazine. ©2023 Randall Reilly. Read about more ways to build your painting business in the PPC magazine archive.