This Small Business Week, The City of Calgary’s Business & Economy and Youth Employment Centre hosted a Tap into Your Future Workforce webinar. The conversations brought together local experts to discuss Calgary’s changing youth labour market and the opportunities young talent can offer employers.
The job market has changed for young people
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation was that the traditional entry point into employment is changing.Jobs in sectors that have historically employed young people could be at risk, while young job seekers are also competing with candidates who may have more experience or greater availability. Transportation, limited work experience, scheduling around school and even access to technology can create additional barriers.
Another point highlighted was that limited experience doesn't necessarily mean limited ability.
“Recognize we all started somewhere, and you had someone take a chance on you.”
The discussion encouraged employers to look beyond the number of previous jobs on a résumé and consider the skills young applicants have developed through school, volunteering, sports and other experiences.
Look at skills, not just years of experience
For employers, this creates an opportunity to rethink what's truly required for a position.
Does the successful candidate actually need several years of previous experience? Or are some of the most important qualities things like adaptability, enthusiasm, communication, reliability and willingness to learn?
“Look at experience beyond just job experience.”
One suggestion from the discussion was to look carefully at what skills a workplace actually needs and consider whether a young person could fill that need with some training and support.
Young workers may bring something different to your business
Another theme was the fresh perspective young employees can bring.
Young people may communicate differently, encounter businesses differently and have ideas or perspectives that aren't already represented in a workplace. The speakers encouraged businesses not to automatically dismiss those differences, but to consider how they could add value.
The discussion also challenged the idea that young people aren't motivated to work. One example shared involved a recent Living Library event, where 35 youth attended to meet employers and industry representatives. Of those in attendance, 20 arrived 30 minutes early, eager to participate.
The takeaway?
“This generation is very driven and ambitious for the right opportunities and for the right companies.”
Flexibility can make your opportunity more accessible
What young people look for in a job matters too.
The discussion identified interest in opportunities that offer flexibility around school and extracurricular commitments, are accessible by transit and provide a supportive environment where young employees can learn and develop.
Meaningful work also came up. Young people are more likely to be attracted to employers whose work or values connect with something they care about.
For a business, that means it can be useful to communicate more than the duties and wage when recruiting. Why does the work matter? What will the employee learn? How can they grow? And what is it like to work on your team?
Rethink the interview
Traditional interview questions can unintentionally make it difficult for an inexperienced candidate to show what they have to offer.
The panel gave a simple example: “Tell me about yourself.”
For someone who has never interviewed before, that broad question can be surprisingly difficult. Instead, employers could ask questions that give the candidate a clearer opportunity to talk about themselves, such as:
- What are you passionate about?
- What do you like doing outside of school or work?
- Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team.
- Why are you interested in our company?
The discussion also recommended making it explicit that examples don't have to come from paid employment. They could come from school, sports, volunteering or other experiences
You don't have to recruit alone
Perhaps one of the most useful messages for Calgary employers is that support is available.
The Youth Employment Centre works to connect employers with young job seekers and offers a talent pipeline businesses can access. The discussion also highlighted wage subsidies and programs such as Canada Summer Jobs, the Student Work Placement Program and OY Works, a youth-hiring toolkit from Burns Memorial Fund.
“It’s one thing to hire a youth, but then it’s another thing to retain them. It’s another thing to help grow them.”
Investing in Calgary's future workforce
Hiring a young person isn't simply about filling an entry-level position. It can be an opportunity to develop talent, introduce new perspectives into your business and build relationships with employees who could grow alongside your organization.
And sometimes, the biggest step is simply being willing to give someone their first opportunity.
“Think of it as an opportunity for your business, for its long-term health and growth, to think and consider young people as something that could provide real value to your business long-term.”
Tap into Your Future Workforce
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For Calgary businesses interested in connecting with young talent, the Youth Employment Centre offers free support to help bridge the gap between employers and young job seekers.
Hiring now? Hiring soon? Need a new hiring approach?
Take the hassle out of hiring and gain access to thousands of job seekers per year.
From small-to-medium-sized businesses to large enterprises, we can help attract qualified candidates and pre-screen potential hires for in-demand roles.
Connect with our employer relations team to chat about your recruitment needs.
Visit calgary.ca/yecemployers for more information.