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Moderated by PMP Editor-in-Chief Heather Gooch, the “Obstacles & Opportunities Roundtable” tackled the universal challenge of the “no-show” interview and the need for a constant recruitment pipeline.
Key takeaways
- Year-round recruiting: Companies should interview year-round to “build a bench,” even when they don’t have an immediate opening.
- The “hire-athon” model: Skipping long application processes in favor of same-day hiring can significantly reduce candidate dropout.
- Community engagement: Participating in local chambers of commerce helps educate the public on the success and benefits of a career in pest management.
Building the bench
Matt Vodila of Accel Pest Control advised attendees to move away from reactive hiring. By interviewing year-round, his team was able to hire a qualified candidate six months after their first meeting. Elliot Zace of Slug-A-Bug reinforced this by stating that hiring should always center on core values, even if it means turning down 20 people to find the right one.
The rapid-fire recruitment solution
Dr. Nancy Troyano of Rentokil Terminix shared a successful “hire-athon” pilot program. By centralizing HR teams and using QR codes for documentation, they provided candidates with definitive employment answers in a single afternoon. This “instant gratification” model generated high excitement and immediate referrals.
Flexible scheduling
Zack Taylor of Capital Pest Services shared how his firm manages inclement weather by giving technicians several Saturday options to make up missed days during peak season. This prevents the entire fleet from working at once and gives technicians more control over their schedules.
