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Attracting Employees From Outside Prince George

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Many businesses find that attracting employees to Prince George is a challenge. Not to mention the problem of keeping those employees here for more than a few months after they have been hired. This isn’t hard to understand given the fact that most people tend to be attracted to large urban centers, or to areas where the climate is considered more favorable, such as the Okanagan or Vancouver Island. This is in spite of the fact that housing prices and property taxes in these areas are significantly higher than Prince George and that they have to put up with more people and longer lineups, especially during rush hour. We just have to admit that people in general are willing to pay more in order to enjoy an urban lifestyle in southern British Columbia. 

This means that you as a business person must find ways to attract and retain employees who won’t jump on the next bus out of town when the snow starts to fly. So what can you do?
 
The first suggestion you expect to hear is that you need to be prepared to offer them more money and benefits, but how can you afford to pay more money when you are already having trouble competing with firms from the south? The answer is simple, don’t compete on price. Stay away from the dangerous precedent of competing solely on price. Instead, try another strategy, one which will bring employees to Prince George who want to live and work here for reasons other than just to earn high wages. Sell the lifestyle. In other words, sell them on the fact they can come to Prince George and actually have time for leisure.
First, try recruiting potential employees from other non-urban areas which have similar weather (or worse) if possible. People are more likely to want to stay in Prince George if it’s similar to the lifestyle they already enjoy. Even people from Fort McMurray want to live in Prince George. 

If you are going to recruit from larger urban areas, be honest about what the prospective employee will find in Prince George. Don’t be afraid to tell them that it snows here as early as October, and can drop to more than thirty degrees below zero during the winter. Remember to mention that even during those cold snowy times, life not only continues on as normal, but there are many recreation activities, such as snowmobiling and cross country skiing, which continue to take place. 

Let potential employees know that we are hundreds of miles away from any other large urban center, and in fact we are the largest urban center in an over two hundred mile radius. However, there are huge benefits to being located away from the hustle and bustle of a large urban center. Here in Prince George you can be a large fish in a small pond, as opposed to being a miniscule dot in a deep ocean. But don’t forget to remind them that they are less than a one hour flight from the third largest urban center in Canada. Make sure they realize we aren’t isolated. 

Don’t be shy when it comes to selling the lifestyle of Prince George to those people who really do want to live it. Where else can you buy an executive home for $200,000 and never have to wait more than one traffic light on your way to work. Not to mention that you can be fishing, hiking, snowmobiling or hunting within half an hour of leaving work. 

Of course, don’t forget to show off the friendliness of Prince George by introducing them to other people, businesses and organizations. Not to mention that they will actually have a good chance of getting to know their neighbors, and quite likely, the whole block. It never hurts to take them for a walk around town and let them experience the joy of having people smile at them and say hello. 

-Myron Gordon owns TMSG Management Services Group, which provides management and financial services to growing businesses. 


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