January 16, 2008

Foreign Recruitment

British Columbia construction companies find skilled workers in Mexico

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

B.C. construction companies stunned prospective employees with quick offers of work in Canada at a job fair held by the B.C. Construction Association (BCCA) in Mexico.

The BCCA held a job fair in Guadalajara, Mexico on Dec. 2 to recruit skilled trade workers.

Regina Brodersen, BCCA director of human resources, who attended the job fair, was looking for people with experience working in the U.S. as drywall installers, roofers and carpenters.

She said she was looking for carpenters with experience in form work and the construction of concrete buildings.

“Locating the skilled construction workers proved to be very difficult. When BCCA initially looked into staging a job fair in Guadalajara the project had to be stopped midway,” she said.

“After placing several ads in local newspapers the resumes received had little to do with construction.”

Despite the initial problem, Brodersen was persistent and made a second attempt at holding a job fair which involved a local company.

“We worked with a Mexican company that has been in business for a few years and the organization was absolutely impeccable,” she said.

The BCCA decided to hold an event with only pre-screened candidates. This was important because candidates need to complete a medical and criminal record check before applying for a work permit.

The job fair was held on a Sunday, because there is a six day work week in Mexico. Brodersen said that many of the people who attended the job fair drove for four or five hours to get to Guadalajara.

Some people even travelled from as far away as Mexico City. The candidates, who were between 21 and 51 years old, had a number of years of construction experience, but all of the candidates needed interpreters.

During the job fair, Brodersen screened 270 resumes and produced a short list of 120 candidates.

Interviews were held throughout the day, with some candidates being asked back for a second round.

The Canadian companies that were prepared to hire these workers already have Spanish speaking employees.

By the end of the day, forty carpenters were hired or received job offers.

“It was beautiful. It was really a very good experience. After waiting all day, the candidates were stunned when they got a decent job offer, which was the same as a Canadian (would have received),” Brodersen said.

She explained that some candidates were so stunned at being offered a job with a B.C. company, they just kept sitting in their interview chairs and they were assured the paper work would be received in due course. One company had to fill out the paper work for two job offers on the spot, so workers would believe they had been hired.

“It was a fabulous experience and very gratifying. Everyone involved was very happy,” Brodersen said. “I was just amazed by the human side of this job fair. I love placing individuals with companies.”

Another round of interviews for the successful candidates was held at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico at the end of December.

The first group of Mexican workers will arrive in B.C. at the end of January or early February 2008.

The BCCA may add the Mexican job to their list of annual job fairs. They are in the process of negotiating an agreement with the Mexican company that organized the job fair.

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