Integrating Aquatic Plants into Water Features
Scott Jamieson
There is a strong, very visible trend in recruiting in the landscape professional industry. For more than 20 years, I have been recruiting for landscape professionals at most of the top universities in our country. During those 20 years, I have seen an overwhelming increase in the percentage of women seeking careers in our profession.
Just 10 years ago, it was not uncommon to have 20 percent or 30 percent of those visiting our recruiting booth to be female. Back then we thought that was an encouraging trend. Today, it has been my experience that 60 percent to 75 percent of the students inquiring at our Bartlett Tree Experts recruiting booth are women.
What's also so encouraging is that, generally, these students have outstanding resumes filled with tremendous leadership activities. Much has been researched and written about the “disappearing American male” at our universities. But, most importantly, is our profession in a position to take advantage of this substantial shift?
There is no question our profession is male-dominated; it's not even worth the debate. Sure, there are successful women working in and owning companies in the landscape profession, but it is typically the refreshing exception. How can an organization be better prepared to bring talented women into the landscape profession as more female students graduate from these programs?
Well, when I sat down to write this, I realized a lot of the advice I have for employing and developing women in the industry can be applied to employing and developing men, as well. But there are a few areas Bartlett is working on in regards to the increasing presence of women in the industry.
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