The OHBA Job Ready Program: Streamlining Entry-Level Construction Recruitment

In the residential construction industry, we know that hiring for entry-level positions can be time-consuming. Despite requiring less experience, these roles still require basic onsite training, which means that recruiting and onboarding your new employees can take weeks, if not months.

The typical construction recruitment process

• Post your job description online on an open platform like Indeed or Kijiji
• Wait anywhere from weeks to months for applicants
• Spend hours to review applicants and make selections for interviews
• Conduct interviews over the course of a few weeks and determine level of interest
• Hire and onboard
• Offer on-site training to get new employees job ready

Though posting an entry-level role on a job platform is often free, you don’t have control over the quality of candidates who apply to the roles. If they happen to be qualified, there’s no telling whether they’re interested enough to accept your position. And between drafting a job description, posting, waiting, interviewing, and onboarding, your recruitment timeline may begin to impact your ability to complete your projects on time. When you need entry-level talent immediately, this process can feel like it goes on forever. 

The OHBA Job Ready Program improves on the traditional recruitment model

The OHBA Job Ready Program takes a holistic approach to the recruitment process to support employers at every stage. The process is designed not only to fill your funnel with qualified candidates for your entry-level and seasonal roles, but to shorten your recruitment and onboarding timelines as well. 

Let’s compare the average recruitment process with the OHBA Job Ready Program approach.

Vetted entry-level construction talent that streamlines your process

• Sign up as an OHBA Job Ready Employer
• Receive a list of pre-vetted candidates for your entry-level or seasonal roles who are actively interested and have completed Ministry of Labour Safety Training and more
• Conduct interviews
• Match with candidates
• Hire
• Receive retention support through the program and workers who will access ongoing training (at no cost to you) during their work placement

The training OHBA Job Ready participants receive and the structure of the program means that you can devote more time to your job site and less to your recruitment and onboarding process. Candidates are interested in the role, pre-trained, and excited to match with you and learn more on the job. The program takes care of the recruitment funnel, and you benefit from shorter onboarding timelines because employees already have the safety and construction basics training you would otherwise need to provide.

Employers like Rick Martins from Huron Creek Developments have seen the OHBA Job Ready difference first hand:‍

“It tapped into a different market we didn’t have access to. More importantly, it’s allowing us to work on the day-to-day business and not have to spend time on recruiting.”

In addition to the reduced timelines for recruitment and onboarding, the 1-1 support employees receive from the program will reduce your entry-level turnover rates and contribute to your overall jobsite retention. 

No hidden recruitment fees

Unlike recruitment agencies that also provide vetted talent, the OHBA Job Ready Program does not charge a placement fee. In fact, when you hire from the program you can qualify for up to $1500 in financial incentives per employee! 

Become an OHBA Job Ready Employer

If you’re ready to stop spending months searching for and onboarding entry-level talent, there are a few ways you can learn more about the OHBA Job Ready Program. Sign up for an employer info session to get more information about how to get involved or contact us through our website to speak with a program representative today.