By Karen L. Wisotzkey

If you’re faced with the challenge of finding good employees to support your business, you may already be using several options, such as classified advertising and soliciting the help of employment agencies. One option you may not have considered, though, is tapping into the job placement programs offered by area vocational and technical schools.

There are several advantages to using placement programs to build your employee base. First of all, many of the schools offer pre-screening of candidates for your open positions. Secondly, most schools do not charge a fee for screening or entering your business in their employer banks. Thirdly, some of the schools’ programs require student internships through which employers can gain some extra help without adding to the payroll. Besides these major advantages, employers may choose to hire enrolled or graduating students simply because they are often easily molded to fit the business. After all, people who are coming from a true learning environment are very prepared for the next phase of learning and ready to apply their new skills.

Vocational and technical schools offer a wide variety of programs for students, ranging from auto and diesel mechanics, to medical field programs, to computer programming. The schools available are much too extensive to list, but a phone call is all it takes to find out if a particular school may have candidates with the training you need. Representatives from the schools that were contacted were more than happy to describe their curriculums, their placement programs, and the special benefits they had to offer.

Below are some of the highlighted benefits of a few area technical and vocational schools:

The Academy of Medical Arts and Business has degree programs which require 500 hour student internships. Jan Mason was excited to point out that, to employers, that adds up to quite a few hours of free help. It also allows employers a chance to try out a candidate before making a job offer. The Academy will also help pre-screen candidates who respond to listings in the Job Bank. Employers submit the job description and requirements at no fee.

Thompson Institute has been in existence for 80 years, and is now privately owned and has a chapter in Philadelphia, as well. Formerly part of NEC (National Education Center), Thompson will also pre-screen and forward resumes for candidates who respond to a job order submitted by the employer (no fee). Thompson will also assist in scheduling interviews, which may be conducted on campus or at the business site. Employers are also free to contact the students directly to arrange interviews. Suzanne Sanfelice says employers can tap into the job placement program with “just one phone call” to the Placement Office at (717) 901-5860.

Cumberland Perry Vo-Tech offers training in 24 different areas. Some areas include internships for these 17, 18, & 19-year-old students. Cumberland Perry also offers pre-screening for interviews. The only requirement of employers is that they carry Workman’s Comp. Students will work for the employer until graduation, when they can be hired as permanent employees. “The employer decides whether to keep them,” says Co-op Coordinator, Jay Hollenbach. Mr. Hollenbach claims that Cumberland Perry has 1,000 employers in its job bank, including Ryder, Snyder, and Sheaffer Trucking, who take students from their Diesel Mechanic program. “We try to find employers close to the students’ homes.”

Central Penn Business School programs all require internships. Hours vary according to the program. Employers may choose to include their vacant positions in the “Jobs PENNding” vacancy bulletin, which is updated weekly. Employers may also request a confidential listing which will be handled by the Career Services office. Additional opportunities for employers to meet students are provided by other events throughout the year. Central Penn holds two full-time and one part-time job fair each year where employers are invited to participate. The full-time job fairs have typically included 33 employers, but this year, Ada Emmert says, “We got brave and expanded down the hall.” That increased space allows participation from 44 employers, which is on a first-come first-served basis. Employers must call to be sent an invitation to participate. The part-time job fair was designed for students who live on campus to help them find part-time employment. “We found that many of our students were going home on weekends for part-time jobs.”

Another opportunity for employers to connect with students is a program where Human Resources professionals from area businesses volunteer to conduct mock interviews with students. Those who participate in the mock interviews were invited to attend a new program this year. “We’re very excited about our newest program,” says Emmert, which is a dinner etiquette program. Students learn “which fork to use for salad,” as well as how to conduct meetings or interviews over lunch or dinner. Central Penn also has an established Alumni Mentor program that can provide employer leads or “shadowing” opportunities that allow students to experience the business environment.

Central Penn does not pre-screen candidates. However, they will advise employers of questions to ask students regarding their grades and attendance, which will assist in the screening process. The Career Services office does not submit resumes for the students. “It is the student’s responsibility to respond.”

These are just a few of the educational institutions and their offerings in the Harrisburg area. There is much more available beyond these highlights, and there are many more schools to choose from. For detailed information, request information about job placement programs.

Consider this: If you find that students make good employees, there will always be more where they came from!