Australian rental industry to attract youth

The HRIA (Hire and Rental Industry Association) in Australia has created a Careers in Hire program. The initiative, launched at the 2009 HRIA Convention, directly targets school-age youth and is intended to counter a possible shortage of skills and workers.

The program addresses issues about the rental industry identified in research in 2008 with school age youth. It promotes the career prospects, educational opportunities, and on the job training. The promotional message also highlights the broad career advancement potential within the growing and professional industry.

The Careers in Hire program will initially focus on two promotion methods - the purpose- built Careers in Hire website (www.careersinhire.com.au), and a industry specific DVD (on the website), which presents interviews with rental industry employees at various stages of their careers in rental.

Phil Newby, CEO of the HRIA, said: "Rental offers a broad spectrum of employment opportunities with excellent training opportunities and career advancement.

"The hire and rental industry provides great employment opportunity for applicants with all levels of skills and education."

Students can access templates to help build their resumes and prepare cover letters for job applications. Information is provided on work experience options and training as well as career advancement via further study. The site also provides handy links to practical help and advice as well as the HRIA's industry web site.

The DVD, created by Jon Burke (jonburke creative digital video), interviews a series of hire industry members all following a well-chosen career in hire.

"For school leavers with little or no skills, the hire industry can offer a great career opportunity, with on-the-job training and industry based, nationally accredited training programs available and actively promoted by employers and the industry association," Mr Newby said.

In coming months, the Careers in Hire program will also see industry members attend Careers Expos and arrange meetings with school based careers counsellors to further promote the hire industry to school leavers.