You’ve read all the articles. You’ve put ads in all the right places. Heck, maybe you’ve even visited a high school or two. But despite all that, you’re still having a hard time bringing in new talent from the millennial and Gen Z generations. 

Is there anything else you can do to attract young workers? Yes, and it’s actually pretty simple and (maybe) even fun.

Most people have no idea what kind of work you really do. They don’t know how rewarding the job can be, what you deal with day to day, what kind of pay you receive, what type of training is required or even the education and skills needed.

Why not help people interested in looking into septic services by answering the right questions on your website? 

If you have a “Hiring” page on your website, chances are it’s like every other such page: boring and unhelpful. Why not make it something engaging, informative, even fun? 

Answer the questions people feel more comfortable asking a search engine than a human. Share pics, videos and memes, and give them an “inside” view of the industry. Make the page sort of a “day in the life” piece that you add to over time. 

Not only will you educate and inform those considering your trade, but you’ll also give them a much better idea of what to expect. That way they can determine if it might be a good fit for them before they reach out or invest in training. 

Bonus? Chances are your brand personality and culture will shine through, giving them a better idea of not just what it’s like to work in the industry, but also what it’s like to work for you.

You know yourself that there’s risk involved when taking chances. And if you’re like most people, you didn’t know what you wanted to do for a living when you were a kid. Maybe you finished high school or college and jumped around from job to job before finally landing where you are. But even if you knew exactly what you wanted to be when you “grew up,” chances are you had tons of questions at the start. 

The next generation of workers is no different. They have questions, and they want to mitigate risk. They want to know what you do, what the opportunities are, what the day-to-day looks like and whether or not it can provide for their lifestyle and their families. A checklist of “required experience” or “daily tasks” on a hiring page won’t cut it. 

So consider revamping that page and have fun with it. Use it to educate the workers of the future and to repel the people who don’t have what it takes. You might even get a little newfound respect for your trade and have a few laughs while you’re at it.

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About the authors: Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill are the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Nashville, Tennessee-based digital marketing company that works primarily with service businesses. They’re also the co-hosts of the "Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show," a podcast that’s all about having and living the blue-collar dream, and the co-authors of the book Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles for Building a Kickass Business You Love. They're also co-creators of the award-winning app Closing Commander, which helps contractors close more estimates effortlessly. Both regularly speak at service industry trade shows and conferences across the nation.

Visit www.facebook.com/sparkmarketer, www.facebook.com/bcpshow, www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarproudnation or www.facebook.com/closingcommander.