A statewide Indiana playbook for attracting licensed plumbers and HVAC technicians — from Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to smaller markets across the state.
Post on the Indiana Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors Association job board — industry-specific and trusted by Indiana tradespeople
Use the Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development job portal — free to post and connects you with registered apprentices
Post in local Indiana Facebook groups: search "[City] Plumbers," "Indiana HVAC Pros," and local community buy/sell groups — highly active in smaller markets
Add "We're Hiring" wraps to company vehicles — especially effective in smaller Indiana towns where name recognition drives decisions
🔥 High Priority
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02 / COMPENSATION
Make the Offer Impossible to Ignore
Use Indiana's licensing requirement as a recruiting advantage
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Highlight total comp: truck, tools, gas card, uniforms, health insurance, retirement match — especially resonant in smaller Indiana markets
In rural markets, offer a per diem for travel rather than requiring relocation — expands your reach across all 92 counties
Cover the costs of Indiana licensing and helping them obtain their license (if, for example, they have moved from another state) — paying this cost expands your pool dramatically and builds loyalty
Show pay range in every posting — Indiana plumbers average $58K–$80K, HVAC $52K–$74K; hiding it kills applications
Offer a signing bonus ($500–$2,000) for journeyman-level or licensed candidates — call it out prominently in ads
Benchmark against both union and non-union jobs — that's your competition statewide
🔥 High Priority
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03 / SPEED
Hire in Days, Not Weeks
Slow hiring loses trades candidates instantly
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Respond to every application within 24 hours — top trades candidates are gone in 3–5 days
Offer a same-week phone screen and next-day field interview where possible
Eliminate unnecessary hiring steps; a working interview on-site often replaces 3 rounds of calls
Give a verbal offer on the spot if the candidate is strong — don't "let us get back to you"
Use text messaging to communicate (not email) — response rates are 5x higher
⚡ Quick Win
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04 / EMPLOYER BRAND
Show the Real Work Culture
In Indiana's smaller markets, reputation travels fast
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Post short "day in the life" videos on Facebook & YouTube — 30-second clips of real Indiana job sites perform extremely well with local audiences
Feature actual employees (with their permission) in your job ads, not stock photos — authenticity is everything in tight-knit Indiana communities
Respond to Glassdoor / Indeed reviews publicly — tradespeople in smaller markets absolutely check these before applying
Highlight stability with Indiana-specific language: "steady work year-round across Indiana," "we don't lay off in winter," "family-owned since [year]"
Sponsor local Indiana events — county fairs, high school sports, community fundraisers — to build name recognition where "who you know" drives hiring
Showcase career growth paths: apprentice → journeyman → foreman, Indiana licensure support, paid certifications like NATE (HVAC) or backflow prevention
📈 Medium-Term
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05 / PIPELINE
Build Your Own Talent Supply
Don't wait for applicants — develop them
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Launch or sponsor an apprenticeship program — creates loyalty and fills gaps with lower labor cost
Partner with high schools that have vo-tech or CTE programs for summer intern hires
Offer to co-op with trade schools: provide job site hours in exchange for access to graduates first
Target career changers actively (military veterans especially) — transitioning military are highly trained and disciplined
Host a "try a trade" open house or community hiring event 1–2x per year
📈 Medium-Term
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06 / JOB AD COPY
Write Ads That Speak to Tradespeople
Most job posts are written for office workers
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Lead with pay, location, and schedule — don't bury it at the bottom
Use plain, direct language: "We need a solid HVAC tech who shows up and knows their stuff"
Keep it short — tradespeople read job posts on their phone between jobs; under 300 words is ideal
List what you provide: truck, tools, gas card, uniforms, OT availability, steady work
Add a simple 1-click apply or text-to-apply option — long applications kill conversion rates
⚡ Quick Win
30-Day Action Checklist
Check off items as you complete them — your progress is saved in this session.
