Next Generation of Talent

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Next Generation of Talent
How does one attract the next generation of talent to the Industrial Water Treatment profession?

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5 Answers

  1. Per my experience I have observed current generation is used to changes, I mean constant and fast paced changes. Almost everything happens with just a click of your smart phone. So they like tedious/slow/monotonous work profile. Personally I feel instead of hiring for a designated role try hiring for a flexible role where you can rotate between different roles or departments or functions. This might keep anyone interested. This applies not only for water treatment but for any profile.

  2. One problem I see within the industry is that only a few of the large water treatment companies rigorously train new employees.  I was fortunate enough to "fall" into industrial water treatment with a large company that invested heavily into my training program.  No one wants to spend the time or money to train a new college grad so we all tend to steal the same good water treaters from other companies.

  3. Great question James because I think everyone in the field needs to become a positive advocate and champion for the work we do and the positive impact we make in the world.  Thanks for inviting me into this network by the way!  Very happy to be here.

    The work you are doing with your website, courses, and promoting the annual IWW are fantastic efforts to attract more people to these careers.  It really comes down to marketing and sales. Believe it or not, that's what we all need to do. I'm a big fan of guerrilla marketing and online marketing.  Online - because that's where everybody is now. Guerrilla marketing is being clever and "scrappy" with your efforts vs using brute force with mainstream advertising. 

    One more thought - my wife's career is in science museums. She has taught me that 95% of the science and engineering kids get exposed to happens outside of school. After-school programs, clubs, summer camps, meetup groups, science fairs, science museums, city parks, community events... all of these venues are opportunities for us to educate and attract future talent.  

  4. I feel that more and more power generation companies will be utilizing their own personnel (that are not highly trained in water treatment) for testing, and treatment adjustments, which means that more advanced systems approach is needed, that takes all complicated testing out of the loop is needed (at least for cooling water).  Other than that, Hach Company is one that offers some training courses several times a year, so that operators can be trained up to meet some of the minimum requirements, even nominally understand what the tests mean.

  5. My personal experience shows it is a combination of reaching out to local colleges and universities while also being social media conscious.  NO ONE knows industrial water treatment is a career option.  No one.  You are either born into it or you fall into it.  We need to get the word out in as many channels as we can.

    I know the Association of Water Technologies has created their Student Education and Enhancement Development (SEED) program with the next generation in mind.  They even have been developing presentation materials and videos as well.

    I've developed a website called Industrial Water Science (www.industrialwaterscience.com) with people new to the profession in mind as well.  It is one place to start to learn the profession along side this community here.

    Lastly, Industrial Water Week (Oct 1-5, 2018) is a great way for those in our profession to show others exactly what we do.  (www.industrialwaterweek.com).

    1 Comment

    1. I pity the ones (such as us) that were born for this.  We who are about to treat water salute you!