Fully embrace the idea of development. Many companies are suffering from a severe shortage of qualified maintenance personnel, and many qualified maintenance personnel are nearing retirement. Many companies seek an employee who meets a long wishlist of requirements, and then don’t hire because they can’t find that person, the person won’t relocate, or the person is almost ideal but is missing one small requirement.
Your first step is to look at your hiring requirements.
Are you filtering out people who are rapid learners and good problem-solvers, just because they can’t tick off a complete laundry list of specific skills? Make a list of the specific skills you are looking for, but don’t expect one person to have them all. Next, look for training resources. Many excellent resources are available, and be sure to include in the mix your inhouse ability to provide apprenticeships and OJT. Now that you’ve identified what you need and the means to get it, decide who gets what training. You will have your skilled workforce.
