Experts share tips on benefits of pest control apprenticeships

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September 13, 2021

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Raleigh Jenkins is instituting an apprenticeship program at ABC Home & Commercial Services in Houston, Texas, as a way to combat today’s employee challenges. Check out what he has to say about it in his September column, here.

We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to share thoughts on providing pest control apprenticeships. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our September 2021 print edition.

Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic and let us know how you promote disinfecting and sanitizing services: Reader poll: Pest control apprenticeships

PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board and Regular Contributors

Desiree Straubinger, BCE: Hosting apprenticeships in your organization can strengthen the industry as a whole. Many don’t realize the potential that the pest control industry has to offer beyond just killing pests. There are amazing opportunities for management, IT, administrative work, etc. Bringing in an apprentice-type position can demonstrate that to those that might not have thought of working in the industry.

Another benefit to apprenticeships is the fresh eyes you would bring into your business. Many times, an outsider’s vision of changes that could be made in your organization is just what you need to think outside the box on what you’ve been doing. Their previous learnings could bring in a new idea on how to do things differently. This could potentially change the way you do things for all employees, allowing them to benefit from the decision to bring in an apprentice.

Doug Foster: I would love to see something like this happen in our industry. The benefits to both companies and new employees would be immense. For the company, it would provide a more thoroughly and properly trained worker. For the new employee, it would provide more consistent training and improved confidence in their abilities. For the entire industry it could only help build and increase our professional image.

Kurt Scherzinger, ACE: Apprenticeships could bring a whole new generation into the business and show them how amazing it is to work in this industry. This would help with the lack of current labor.

Dr. Faith Oi: Apprenticeships provide critical ‘active learning’ experience that is different from books, webinars and lectures. Nothing like working during summer in Florida to know if pest management is the career for you or if an employee is a fit for your company!

Greg Baumann: Some states and most companies have a training period, but many times the content and time vary. A formal program would not only give the basics but ‘tricks of the trade’ time so that new technicians are better prepared to be the expert that customers demand.

Paul Hardy: The first 90 days always should be considered apprenticeships. This would leave the new employee time to work out the pressure of the new job and the employer a chance to correct any mistakes. Remember, the employee you hired was also your mistake.

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