The most important decisions that I have made in my career have been hiring the best people that I can find. The challenge is that finding the right people isn’t easy.
I happened to luck out by having two good sons who have played critical roles in our business. Without their tireless contribution, we would have never been as successful as we have been. And we have been fortunate to find some amazing team members mostly through word of mouth, prayer and promotion in the right places.
With only 4.2% of Americans seeking employment as of February 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), many of the best workers already have a job. That’s why you have to take advantage of the latest recruitment techniques for your pallet business. These tactics work especially well for management, sales and office positions.
Attracting and hiring the right candidates starts with getting the information to the proper channels, and your own company website. But before jumping online to post a mediocre listing, consider some details that may help you find the right candidates. What are your company values? When seeking applicants and interviewing, keeping company values in mind will guide you in selecting the best candidates who also appear to align with those values. While a skill set is vital, personal character is also key. Your job posts should also reflect those values and the type of candidates you are seeking.
Another thing to consider before beginning the recruitment process is what your company has to offer potential employees. What is the company culture like? Are there unique perks and benefits? What is the employee benefits package? Taking all of this information into consideration before creating a detailed job post will attract candidates that closely fit your company’s dynamic.
After gathering the details, you are ready to explore the different ways to recruit the best candidates. Let’s look at some examples from other pallet companies. For example, J.C. Pallet Inc. utilizes graphics on its Facebook page to announce job openings. The graphics inform the reader of the location, which openings are available with specific details, starting pay, and whether or not experience is needed. Whoever follows the page can share the graphic, as well as comment, ask questions, and tag those who may be interested.
If your company does not have a LinkedIn page, now is the time to set one up. There are numerous tutorials on YouTube. LinkedIn is the number one social media platform for recruiting. You can create job postings on the business page. Individuals searching for jobs can apply directly and upload their resumes. There is a cost to job posting, but to be able to tap into qualified candidates, the fee is well worth it. LinkedIn also has an option to hire a recruiter, which gives you more visibility with potential candidates.
To attract better people, you may need to promote differently. One example of an innovative job ad was posted by IPC recently on LinkedIn. It has the tagline, “And some people say the pallet industry is boring…” The ad covers how IPC uses technology and needs problem solvers. See the example.
Another option for recruitment is through the company website. Creating a tab in the menu for “Employment” can direct viewers to a page focused on job openings. Placing a list of openings with clickable “Apply Now” buttons can take applicants directly to the specific job description and online application for the job.
On a larger scale, 48forty Solutions takes recruitment a step further on its website by featuring a recruitment video. If you want to know what it is like to work for 48forty Solutions, the video shares testimonials, what the company values, how the employees are esteemed by the company, as well as the competitive pay, incentives, and benefits.
These days, online job search sites are plentiful. You have to know your field and which sites potential applicants may be using. All sites allow for curating job descriptions and accepting resumes. Two popular options are Indeed.com and Monster.com.
Pallet Enterprise magazine offers job placement ads in its print and online publications as well as its LinkedIn Group. Ads are ideal for promoting management or sales positions to people who are already in the industry and may be looking for a change. The Pallet Enterprise LinkedIn Group can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8133689/. It is open for free job listings to anyone in the pallet or lumber sector.
Google for Jobs pulls listings from multiple websites and lists them in one place. You can even integrate Google Jobs with job postings on your company website so as you add a post, Google will pull it into their job listing.
Finding the right candidates for the position starts with accurate job descriptions and detailed filtering of applications. This takes time and energy. Using any of the above sources can help speed up that process while also bringing you top candidates to fit your company’s mission and brand. Happy hunting!
