YELLOWKNIFE - Canada's largest Caterpillar dealer was in the city last week on its national "Wanted Tour."

Finning Canada was at the Explorer Hotel April 20 to encourage certified workers to join the company.

Laura Sullivan was part of a team in Yellowknife last week to hold an information session and recruitment drive for Finning Canada. There are currently 14 people in the NWT who work for Finning. - Stephanie McDonald/NNSL photo

The company sells, services, and finances Caterpillar machinery in B.C., Alberta, the Yukon, and NWT. The machinery is used in the mining, agriculture, construction, and forestry sectors.

"We are looking for journeymen, heavy equipment operators, mechanical apprentices, journeymen parts people, service and sales supervisors, and administrators," said Natalie Esquibel, a human resources officer with the company.

This is the second year for the "Wanted Tour," and the first time it has come to Yellowknife.

"We're looking for people to work in our branches out here," Esquibel said. There is also the opportunity to relocate to branches in Alberta and B.C. The company is mostly in need of people to work in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, and Calgary, Alberta.

"If you start at an entry-level position, put in a year, get familiar with our equipment and the company, you could get an apprenticeship," Esquibel said.

The company pays an apprentice's wages while they are in school.

The company primarily looks for the right attitude in prospective employees.

"If they don't have the skills, we can teach them," said Esquibel.

Yellowknife resident Brad Pond was at Finning's information session, hoping to learn about apprenticeship opportunities.

"I'm curious to see what they have to offer," he said.

Last year on the tour, Finning hired more than 1,000 people, and they hope to reach the same number this year.

"The tour is proving successful," Esquibel said.

By 2010 the company has a goal of hiring 5,000 people.

There are currently 14 NWT residents working with Finning. Twelve are at BHP's Ekati mine and two do construction and mechanical work, one in Yellowknife and the other in Hay River.

Interested Yellowknifers had the chance to fill out an application and meet with Esquibel, another human resources officer, Laura Sullivan, and Norby Gerstel, Finning's NWT branch operations manager.

Applicants were interviewed, and if they are qualified they will be called back for a second interview.

"It went really well," Gerstel said of the session. Approximately 60 people attended and Finning collected 52 resumes for various positions.

Gerstel and Esquibel made it clear that they do not poach workers from companies that are their customers.

"Our customers don't do that to us, so we don't do that to them," Esquibel said.