We need welders!  It is a phrase that the staff at Hobart Institute hears repeatedly from industry -- and Tradesmen International is no exception.  The preferred labor source for contractors nationwide, Tradesmen International brought company representatives including Regional Vice President for the Midwest Ryan Ellis, District Manager for the Indiana office Ryan Boyer, Cincinnati Operations Manager Austin Waggoner, and Field Representative and Welding Instructor Shawn Sullivan from Indiana to Hobart Institute recently to talk with students, sharing their requirements, goals and philosophy with these prospective employees. 

Ryan Boyer spoke to 38 HIWT students who gathered for the presentation.  “We have a large shortage of welders,” explains Ryan.  “We are supplying a labor force for new construction of Interstate 69 through southwest Indiana and gearing up to build 14 Ethanol plants in the state along with other projects.”

Tradesmen International provides steady work, keeping their employees busy year around.  When they are contacted by a contractor, they go to the work site and conduct safety evaluations and evaluate the contractor’s requirements.  They then go back to the office and formulate a game plan and build a team of workers.  Supplemented by four training academies, if an employee doesn’t have the specific skill required, Tradesmen will supply the training to meet the customer needs.  Once a job has begun, management conducts weekly evaluations of the job site, making sure their employees are safe, being treated fairly and doing quality work.

The type of work varies from state-to-state. 

“In Ohio, steel, power, and chemical plants, along with structural work comprises most of the projects,” explains Austin Waggoner.  “We work closely with other offices of Tradesmen and share workers for the jobs.”

“In Indiana, it is new construction,” says Ryan, “while other states may have pipelines or other ventures.  We stay in contact with our counterparts in other regions so we can match applicants with the work for which they are best suited.  This keeps our employees more satisfied as well.”    

“Employees begin with a four-year apprenticeship program and may test out of one to two years of that series,” Shawn Sullivan, Field Representative and Welding Instructor, explained. “Safety is at the top of our list.  We offer 1030 and 500 hour OSHA training classes, along with other skill trades programs such as welding, electrical, mechanical, and carpentry.  Multi-faceted, cross-training is also available and encouraged.  75% of the welding we do is stick [shielded metal arc] and TIG [gas tungsten arc] welding of pipe and 25% is structural welding.” 

“We are seeking ‘A’ players,” says Ryan.   “Employees with a good attitude who will show up on time, work safely, and work hard to be productive.” 

Besides offering local work keeping employees within a 60-mile radius of their homes, Tradesmen maintains a traveling division.  Workers who travel receive a per diem and often work six to seven 10-hour days throughout a project and receive higher wages for their efforts to include overtime pay.

A company brochure highlights America’s Elite Skilled Labor Force.  “Simply put, we’re not a temp agency and don’t hire just anyone.  In fact, we’re highly selective, committed to hiring only those individuals who possess each and every one of these characteristics:

• Exceptional abilities at apprentice, journeyman, or master skill levels
• Unwavering reliability
• Good solid work ethic
• Always safety-minded
• Strong personal values
• Desire to be the best
• Drug free at all times

If you don’t possess any one of these personal traits, we’re probably not a right fit.  If you do, you’re a strong candidate to join a special force of America’s best craftsmen.” 

In another quote from their brochure, a Traveling Division Welder states, “I’ve been with Tradesmen for about seven years.  I’ve welded sky-rise buildings, a naval ship, even at a nuclear plant.  The variety is good, the pay is great.  I’ll be with this outfit another seven.”

“We are impressed by what we see at Hobart Institute,” says Ryan Ellis.  “The size of the school and the quality of training will provide excellent candidates for the type of openings available at Tradesmen International.”

Students appreciated the opportunity for the career presentation. 

Tommy Davenport, a student from Lima, Ohio, says, “It is helpful to us that Tradesmen came in.  It gives us an ideal of what jobs are available.”

“It’s great that they came knocking on our door, all the way from Indiana,” comments Brad DeMent of Jeffersonville, Ohio.  “The fact that they sent in a team shows they are interested in us.”

“Tradesmen gave a good presentation.  It will help to know my options when I leave Hobart,” says Scott Hyder of Dayton, Ohio.

Tradesmen International is an incentive-based merit shop which means they pay employees based on the individual worth.  They provide competitive wages, full benefits, further education, and paid time off.  Some jobs carry bonuses if quality work is completed on time.   Overtime is also job specific.  With currently over 60 offices across the country, Tradesmen expects to increase that number to 250 offices in the next five to seven years and build to a billion dollars in sales.  From San Diego to Newport News and many points in between, they are already well-positioned to serve the construction industry through regional offices. 

Tradesmen is family-friendly, recognizing that employees are more satisfied if their families are happy and well-cared for.  Vacations and company-sponsored events and outings are just some of the ways that they show appreciation to employees.  Respect, fellowship, and loyalty along with freedom to relocate across the country set them apart from other employers. 

For further information, check http://www.tradesmeninternational.com or send a resume to:

Ryan Boyer, District Manager
Tradesmen International
4040 West 71^st Street
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Ryan.Boyer@tradesmeninternational.com