A Decade of Growth: How Workable Powered Valard Construction’s Scaling Journey

Quick Facts:

• Customer Since: 2015
• Employees: ~1,100 (peaking up to 2,000 during major projects)
• Annual Hires: 200–250
• Key Results:
  
  • Improved candidate communication and eliminated candidate ghosting 
  • Professionalized employer branding through a modernized careers page
  • Increased efficiency and visibility in talent acquisition processes
  • Strengthened partnership and responsiveness from Workable’s support team
    

Who is Valard Construction?

Valard Construction is a leading Canadian utility contractor specializing in power line construction and infrastructure. With a workforce that ebbs and flows based on project demand—ranging from 1,100 to 2,000 employees—Valard’s talent needs are dynamic and high-volume. To maintain efficiency and ensure a strong candidate experience, the company has relied on Workable’s Applicant Tracking System for nearly a decade.

“We’ve been with Workable for about 10 years. Before that, hiring was done through spreadsheets and email. Workable came in as we began professionalizing the company and it’s been scaling with us ever since.” 

— Cory Nickerson, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Valard Construction

Why Valard Needed an ATS

As Valard expanded, recruiting complexity increased. The company recognized that manual methods like email chains and spreadsheets were no longer sustainable.

Valard needed a scalable, easy-to-use solution that would:

• Centralize and streamline hiring processes
• Support high-volume project-based recruitment
• Support union hires, full-time hires, contract hires, rehires, and corporate hires
• Improve candidate communication and experience
• Enhance employer brand presentation

How Workable Supports Valard’s Hiring

Over the past decade, Valard has relied on Workable to support its evolving hiring needs. As their recruitment operations grew, particularly with the addition of more in-house recruiters, Valard expanded how they used the platform and began unlocking its full potential.

One feature that’s made a lasting difference is Workable’s automated actions, which helped eliminate manual follow-ups and ensured every candidate received timely communication.

“We all hear about candidates applying and never hearing back. We don’t have that issue with Workable. Even if someone isn’t selected, they still get a ‘thank you’ or ‘no thanks’ message, and that leaves a positive impression.”

Beyond candidate communication, automation also kept the hiring workflow on track. Hiring managers were automatically notified when it was time for the next step, ensuring no one dropped the ball and every candidate moved smoothly through the process. This kept the entire team aligned, organized, and consistent, without missing a step.

These changes helped Valard:

• Maintain consistent, professional communication at scale
• Prevent unintentional “candidate ghosting”
• Strengthen employer reputation in skilled trades where word-of-mouth matters
• Keep hiring teams on track and responsive through automated reminders and workflow triggers
  

Stronger Employer Brand with Workable’s Career Page Builder

Before Workable’s Career Page Builder, Valard’s job site was outdated and difficult to navigate. Now, it provides a polished, modern experience aligned with the company’s professionalism and values.

“Our old careers page looked archaic. With Workable, it’s clean, easy to use, and on par with our competitors. It’s made a real difference in how candidates perceive us.” 

The improved employer branding has:

• Increased applicant confidence
• Enhanced visibility for hard-to-fill skilled roles
• Created a more consistent look and feel across postings

Ease of Use for Hiring Leaders

Workable’s simplicity has been key to adoption across Valard’s teams, many of whom are project-based and frequently in the field.

“I’ve used a lot of ATS platforms. Workable stands out because it’s easy for hiring leaders to navigate. It keeps them focused on reviewing candidates, not lost in a confusing system 

Customizable pipelines and email notifications make collaboration seamless, while intuitive workflows help non-recruiters engage confidently in the hiring process.

Expanding Efficiency Through AI 

Valard is beginning to leverage Workable’s AI features and Offer functionality to drive even greater efficiency.

• AI Resume Ranking: Helps Valard prioritize candidate review time for the most qualified applicants
• AI-Generated Screening Questions: Supports hiring managers in crafting better candidate assessments
• Offer Letters: Moving from manual PDFs to digital offers for faster, more professional onboarding.

“We’re testing the offer functionality now—it’s user-friendly, secure, and fits how we want to present ourselves: modern, tech-savvy, and professional.” 

Trusted Partnership and Responsive Support

Workable’s customer support has been instrumental in Valard’s success. Their dedicated account manager, Nick, has provided proactive guidance and helped implement feature requests that enhance usability.

“Anytime we’ve had a question or issue, Nick’s been incredibly responsive. He’s even escalated product suggestions to the development team for future updates.” 

This partnership ensures Valard can continuously evolve its use of Workable to match business needs and growth.

Looking Ahead

With Canada’s electrical infrastructure expanding rapidly, Valard expects significant project-driven growth in the coming years. After 10 years with Workable, it’s clear they know the platform is built to last, continuing to tackle hiring and the new challenges that come with growth. As Valard has evolved, so has Workable, giving the team confidence that it will keep supporting them through whatever comes next.

“We’re in growth mode, and Workable is key to supporting that. It lets us scale up or down seamlessly depending on project load, and do it professionally.”