August 5, 2024
On a mission to redefine blue collar
Mikayel Ter-Grigoryan is on a mission to redefine how people see careers in the trades. Read on for what he hopes that will mean for the industry — and how it can grow for the future.
What is the Redefine Blue Collar movement?
It’s a movement to shift the culture in the Blue Collar industry for the next generation of talent through education opportunities, media and community. Our goal is to shatter the stigma that surrounds the industry, change perceptions and provide the next generation with the tools they need to take advantage of what I believe is the best industry to build a career in right now.
Redefine Blue Collar has a core mission of attracting and developing the next generation of talent who will build the companies of tomorrow. We’re changing the industry for the next wave of business operators, entrepreneurs, team members and industry leaders.
My fundamental belief is that leaders shape culture, culture drives and attracts talent, and talent (people) build companies. Everything we do is about attracting, retaining, developing and arming great talent with the tools they need to become successful within the blue collar industry.
What does redefining blue collar mean to you personally?
I was always told growing up that if I didn't do well in school I would be forced to lower my standards and work in a blue collar trade. The idea of that was something to be looked down on and seen as a dead end. This sentiment was echoed by family, friends, peers, romantic relationships and others. Despite these social pressures, I was convinced that I saw something that they were missing. This industry was far from a dead end, but rather a blue ocean of opportunities that, once navigated correctly, would lead to business and personal growth. The challenge for me personally was that I had no map or guidance, nothing and nobody in the industry to look up to for direction.
Personally it means having more pride in the work we do every single day and being looked at in the way that I believe you should be perceived when you work in the industry that is quite literally building tomorrow. Personally I have seen the effects of the stigma of the industry, the way that people perceive the trades and the negative impact that this can have on attracting the right talent.
Why do you think this is so important?
I truly believe that with the right exposure and education, the industry is one of the best opportunities for the next generation to grow and see success. I see it as an opportunity to take full advantage of the shift that is happening. Those who are taking that step to enter the space are not only contributing to creating a more prosperous sector, but growing their own careers faster than ever before.
How can leaders of “blue collar” companies help redefine blue collar?
I think it starts with culture, first within their companies, then within the industry as a whole. More specifically I believe it comes down to combining a culture of learning and education with an appetite to embrace change.
An investment in their team, a shift in workplace culture, adoption of new technology and raising the standards of professionalism are all examples of needlemoving activities towards this goal.
Much has changed over the last decade, particularly in the way that people work and the dynamics of the work environment. This change needs to cascade into the blue collar industry in order to attract and retain the next generation of talent.
What would you like young people (and their parents) to know about working in the trades?
I would encourage them to keep an open mind and consider it as an option and an opportunity of equal weight and merit as some others they may be considering. I would tell them that it is a unique environment to work in, one that is more open, involves more problem solving, encourages more camaraderie, demands more responsibility, can be fast paced, encourages new ideas and rewards doers. It can, at times, be a very uncontrolled environment that fosters newness and out-of-the-box thinking.
Many young people have a hard time focusing in a classroom environment, needing a conduit for their creativity and energy. They want to be more in control of their work, their environment, their relationships, and what they can create in this world, what they can add value to. I would tell them first hand that the value add and sense of accomplishment that comes with working in the trades is unparalleled.
What is, to your mind, the best part about working in the trades?
I believe the answer should be universal for all industries, and that is undoubtedly the people and the environment. I gravitate towards positive, open, authentic, genuine and honest people who are working in an environment that encourages problem solving, newness and growth.
Mikayel Ter-Grigoryan is president of Just For Snow Inc., located in Concord, Ont.