So I wanted to reach out to you all to see if you can help me solve a problem that I face on a regular basis. As many of you know, I run one one of if not the only 4 year arbor training programs for high school kids in the country. The school is located in Dighton, MA and we pull kids from all over Bristol County. Here is my problem, student retention. Kids go through my school and my major and by the droves they flock to other career paths. There are a litany of potential reasons as to why this could be happening (we are gathering data as to potential causes). The one that I would like to focus on, with this post, is job placement.
As you all know, our industry is screaming for employees. My (and I believe it is actually all of our) issue is the countless, lets just say "less than scrupulous" companies which exist. Right now I tell my kids that unless they are willing to travel then it is going to be very difficult to find them job placement which will be rewarding at best and not lethal at least. There are a select few companies near us that are legit and we are in communication with them and we place kids with them already. Many of the other companies that surround the school are uneducated, unsafe, dishonest, "Tree Guys" that would love to beat a young kid straight into the ground. I can not, in good conscience, do this to one of my students. This poses a problem as we gets kids trained and all jacked up they want to go practice what we are preaching to them. This is where the struggle resides. The kid doesn't get a summer job (or post graduate) in the industry and starts to work at target; well, by the time they are back in school we have lost them. SO if you are or if you know of a GOOD / LEGIT company near me please PM me so we can try to set something up. I will be asking you to fill out some basic paperwork to get added to our list. I CAN FEED YOU WELL TRAINED ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES!!! This should be every employers dream. Thanks in advance for any assistance you may be able to give.
As you all know, our industry is screaming for employees. My (and I believe it is actually all of our) issue is the countless, lets just say "less than scrupulous" companies which exist. Right now I tell my kids that unless they are willing to travel then it is going to be very difficult to find them job placement which will be rewarding at best and not lethal at least. There are a select few companies near us that are legit and we are in communication with them and we place kids with them already. Many of the other companies that surround the school are uneducated, unsafe, dishonest, "Tree Guys" that would love to beat a young kid straight into the ground. I can not, in good conscience, do this to one of my students. This poses a problem as we gets kids trained and all jacked up they want to go practice what we are preaching to them. This is where the struggle resides. The kid doesn't get a summer job (or post graduate) in the industry and starts to work at target; well, by the time they are back in school we have lost them. SO if you are or if you know of a GOOD / LEGIT company near me please PM me so we can try to set something up. I will be asking you to fill out some basic paperwork to get added to our list. I CAN FEED YOU WELL TRAINED ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES!!! This should be every employers dream. Thanks in advance for any assistance you may be able to give.
