Recruitment

[bunnyjumper]

Time for a new topic I reckon.

We're always going on about retention, and what we can do to keep people in the RNR, but recruitment seems to be a much bigger issue to me. Retention is no use if you can't get people in the door.
The TA seem to have no problem at all - OK they have a bigger budget for recruitment and advertising, and they have a bigger footprint nationally, but everyone knows about the TA and what they do. Most people I speak to don't even realise the RNR exists!!!
I bet we're all doing our best to recruit, but personally I've had no interest at all.
What are everyones thoughts on this, and has anyone got any surefire recruitment methods we can all try? :?:

At the end of the day, I don't want to see the RNR go the way of the dodo, just because we can't recruit..... :cry:

 

[mazza_magoo]

I can't speak for all units, but i think the biggest issue for some units is their out of the way location. Some are so far out of the way that the towns and cities that they are in have abolutely no idea that they are even there!. So even if people knew that the RNR existed, how would they find their local unit, not easy without consulting a medium or looking on google earth?!!!! :lol:

 

[mazza_magoo]

Time for a new topic I reckon.

We're always going on about retention, and what we can do to keep people in the RNR, but recruitment seems to be a much bigger issue to me. Retention is no use if you can't get people in the door.
The TA seem to have no problem at all - OK they have a bigger budget for recruitment and advertising, and they have a bigger footprint nationally, but everyone knows about the TA and what they do. Most people I speak to don't even realise the RNR exists!!!
I bet we're all doing our best to recruit, but personally I've had no interest at all.
What are everyones thoughts on this, and has anyone got any surefire recruitment methods we can all try? :?:

At the end of the day, I don't want to see the RNR go the way of the dodo, just because we can't recruit..... :cry:

By the way, i forgot to say that your right, retention is a problem, i keep hearing the old saying 'if we can keep someone for 5 years they are likely to stay' but as you've said, we need to get them through the doors of the unit first, and if they don't know where we are.....

 

[higthepig]

Time then to recruit the old fashioned way,heard of pressgangs? id volunteer.

 

[mazza_magoo]

Time then to recruit the old fashioned way,heard of pressgangs? id volunteer.

Sounds good to me! count me in. Bring your own shillings!

 

[all_purple_now]

The TA seem to have no problem at all

I'm led to believe the TA has a 60% turnover of people in a good year - and that people have been leaving hand over fist since the start of Telic 1 - especially as the pattern seems to be sign on RFA96 & go to Iraq 3 months later.

I see no reason to disbelieve this.

While there may be RNR recruitment 'issues' I know of few who have resigned directly as a result of Telic (admittedly the impact on us has been less than on the TA) - we do need to be getting the people in though.

APN

 

[dunkers]

I was a Sea Cadet and even then had only vaguely heard of the RNR. And in that vague impression I had, I thought you had to be ex-RN to join. It's a reasonable assumption to make isn't it? That the Navy would have a reserve of retired sailors to call up in an emergency. It did not occur to me that civvies could join until I heard through Cadets that the RNR was recruiting in my local area and that anyone 16 - 40 could join up.

 

[bunnyjumper]

While there may be RNR recruitment 'issues' I know of few who have resigned directly as a result of Telic

APN

I know of a good few - all sorts of excuses, but basically boiled down to "ooooo, didn't think we'd get called up". Perhaps it's something about people in our units catchment area. Makes you wonder what people are told the Reserve forces are for when they sign up - or perhaps it's more a case of selective hearing on the part of the recruits :roll:

 

[WarMonger]

Certainly from our unit prospective I think recruiting would be so much easier if when potential new recruits came to the unit they could see a busy unit with lots of people doing training..and training that is worthwhile......something that if you were to walk around would grab your interest..!!

We have plenty of people on the books and I dont just mean JR's , Officers and Senior Rates who simply dont turn up and im sure a great deal of that is down to Coronation Street being ultimately more exciting than the RNR on a drill night.!

From a NE perspective first impressions count and why should they commit to us if the RNR cant commit to them at a local level not nationally but locally as this is where recruiting and retention takes place..!!

Does anyone else have the same problem!!!

 

[PartTimer]

The TA seem to have no problem at all

I'm led to believe the TA has a 60% turnover of people in a good year - and that people have been leaving hand over fist since the start of Telic 1 - especially as the pattern seems to be sign on RFA96 & go to Iraq 3 months later.

I see no reason to disbelieve this.

While there may be RNR recruitment 'issues' I know of few who have resigned directly as a result of Telic (admittedly the impact on us has been less than on the TA) - we do need to be getting the people in though.

APN

TA numbers have been falling for years, it's a long term trend. In factysomeone on ARRSE did some research and found that Telic made no difference at all.

Some people did leave the RNR during Telic, at least one I know because he couldn't get a job otherwise. He was unemployed and as soon as he said he was RNR they lost interest. Another left because they sperated and there was massive upheaval in their life, another because of a career change (though this is the only one I suspect had something to do with not wanting ot be mobilised - and that was pressure from their family I think). Also, don't forget there was a recruitment freeze for a long time, but things seem to be picking up again for us.

 

[WarMonger]

It seems to me that the MOD/DNR or whoever is responsible for recruiting needs to put its hand in its pocket just as the TA have done and get some National Exposure i.e. TV ads..the money is obviously available why isnt someone in the NAVY/RNR sticking their hand up and using it....!!

 

[mndc]

As a potential recruit myself I have found the information and advice available wholly inadequate and in most cases just absent.
There are some lovely glossy leaflets which can be attained which explain what the RNR does and where it does it, but as usual there is nothing in these leaflets about the practicalities or indeed the content of RNR training and service. There are barely more than a few nice pictures and a list of branches.
When I asked about joining the RNR at an RN recruitment bus I was told by a RM Nco to call the RN recruitment line, this proved useless as the chap on the other end of the phone said they did not deal with recruitment for the RNR and that I ought to contact my nearest unit. He provided me with a number(which is also listed on the RN website) which when I called it was answered "Hello, Armory..." When I asked the gentleman if I could talk to someone about recruitment I was told he wasn't aware who dealt with that and gave me another number to try. This time I was fortunate to get through to a lady who Ummmmed and aaaaaaaahd a bit and then told me to call the RN recruitment line!...... I have given up!
I think I shall wait a few months until I move to the south coast and then try another Unit.
I have previously asked a question on here with regard to recruitment and was very pleased to receive several thorough and useful replies, Thank you. Perhaps these people ought to form the RNR recruitment branch, they are certainly more capable it would seem than some of their colleagues.