Van Wall & Vesel: Hiring Strategy & Talent Development for Dealerships

In this conversation, Scott Waggoner of Van Wall Equipment and Taylor Kraayenbrink of Vesel Technology discuss trends and challenges in talent acquisition in the dealership industry. They emphasize the importance of building relationships with candidates and providing a great candidate experience throughout the hiring process. They also highlight the need for dealerships to have a clear strategy for talent acquisition that aligns with their overall business goals.

This discussion touches on the use of online tools such as LinkedIn and Indeed for sourcing candidates, as well as the value of internships and partnerships with educational institutions to build a pipeline of skilled technicians. Scott and Taylor discuss the use of assessments in the hiring process, with a focus on conversational approaches rather than traditional technical exams.

Additionally, they discuss the importance of assessing candidates for job fit and using assessments to screen potential hires, emphasizing the value of ongoing training and development for employees, including programs like John Deere University and mentorship opportunities. The conversation highlights the need for internal mobility and creating growth opportunities within an organization and addresses the challenges of hiring technicians in the agricultural industry, with strategies for attracting and retaining talent mentioned.

Key Takeaways

• Dealerships need to have a clear strategy for talent acquisition that aligns with their overall business goals.
• Tools such as LinkedIn and Indeed can be used for sourcing candidates.
• Internships and partnerships with educational institutions are valuable for building a pipeline of skilled technicians.
• Assessments in the hiring process can be more effective when they take a conversational approach. Assessing candidates for job fit is crucial to ensure the right fit for the role and the organization.
• Ongoing training and development programs, such as John Deere University and mentorship opportunities, are essential for employee growth and engagement.

This episode's guest

Taylor Kraayenbrink: Taylor is a seasoned recruitment professional who spent his early career cutting his teeth on the agency side of recruitment. After spending 6-7 years building his network and honing his craft within both technical and non-technical recruitment, he had the opportunity to join the Technology recruitment team at Principal Financial Group.

After a couple years supporting the technical teams at PFG, Taylor stepped away from the corporate space to spin up his own firm called Vesel Technology. The firm has grown significantly in the last few years around a dedicated focus to help clients navigate growth through short-term staff augmentation, full-time placements, or custom recruitment engagements. Vesel takes pride in establishing true partnerships with their customers and truly enjoys advocating for them in the market.

Scott Waggoner: Scott currently serves as Manager for Talent Acquisition & Strategy at Van Wall Equipment. He has a total of twelve years experience in the Talent Acquisition space, with the last eight years being at Van Wall.

Scott has spent time in all areas of Talent Acquisition, from technical recruiting to behavioral-based interviewing, and has developed a strong understanding and passion for the discipline.

Chapters

• Importance of Talent Acquisition in Dealerships  03:43
• Career Paths and Roles in Talent Acquisition  06:26
• Evolution of Talent Acquisition at Van Wall Equipment  11:25
• Challenges in Hiring in the Current Economy  14:49
• Tools and Technologies in Talent Acquisition  17:44
• Assessments in the Hiring Process  26:12
• Assessing Candidates for Job Fit and Using Assessments  35:33
• The Value of Ongoing Training and Development  39:12
• Challenges and Strategies for Hiring Technicians  50:13
• Attitude vs. Aptitude: The Key Qualities in Candidates  57:08
• Advice for Your Younger Self and Professional Growth  01:02:20

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