Forry

Put an ad in last night, looking to hire another person.... 84 responses so far. I feel like a chunk of meat thrown to the wild dogs... Now I gotta sift through to rubble and try and find a few gems to interview.

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now i am scared for my future
i've got all ten
smashed a lot of them stupidly before
-john5mt

jazzbone

Wait till februrary I'd bet it will be double unfortunately !

dougchips

Mention that you conduct a drug test and you will weed out a bunch of them.

__________________
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framerman

Maybe you should we-write it somehow. Maybe tell them that they must be able to show how to do "x" or prove "x" (maybe citizenship ) It may weed out a few.

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If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams,
and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined,
one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours
~Henry David Thoreau

Bodger

I've said this in a reply to another thread a while back, but it definitely helps. I state clearly in the ad that the applicants must show proof that they can legally work in the U.S. I also state that they will be required to prove that they can immediately identify various framing components such as headers, trimmers, king studs, etc., although I don't specifically state waht those components will be in the ad.
And the best of all, but it can't be used to weed out except in the actual interview. For those who state "general framing experience"...
I hand them a SkilSaw, a blade wrench, and a new blade with the diamond knock-out still in place and ask them to change the blade properly, just as they would do when they work for me. If they can't find the arbor stop, don't know how to punch the knock-out, and don't know that the threads on the arbor are REVERSED, ....end of interview.

AtlanticWBConst

Also: Do you have a valid driver's license and your own means of transportation? The answer is usually silence.

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- Build Well -

Bodger

Valid license with liability insurance, SS#, Green Card, that cuts through the list pretty quick.

Deadhead Derek

we have a test of sorts: how many lines from the Holy Grail can you recite, what is your favorite Marx Brothers movie, can you quote tommy boy. money pit, super troopers,etc.. do you understand the golden mean, fibbonacci sequence, the theory of realtivity and the Loch ness monster... weeds them out right quick....

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lawndart

I'm not surprised. I have about 6 people call me every week looking for a job, and I'm not advertising for help.

jiffy

Wow, that is a lot of responses to a job ad. I think that is a sign of the times and how many people are looking for work right now.

Duane1982

The only response I ever got from advertising in the phone book was people looking for work. Too Funny!

I can only imagine some of the people's responses on craigslist. I've sold some stuff and some of the email that were sent to me asking questions were like caveman typing or something I couldn't decipher

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Splinter

I get about two calls a week, and I dont advertise at all... I do have a business webpage, so they're probably finding me by doing google searches for local contractors.

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- Alex

dougchips

"diamond knock out" maybe a subject for another thread but I have never had to knock anything out of a blade to use it so I would fail your test. Out of interest, why would you knock out the diamond instead of buying a blade with the correct size arbor hole?

__________________
To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

BKFranks

Even the "Skilled Trade Services" section is out of control. Used to see maybe 30 posts a day, now hundreds of posts every day. Instead of competing with a couple of guys, there are dozens of people offering the same services.

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Stone Mountain

In early fall we agreed to participate in a government approved program to hire foreign workers. We hired one, who was supposed to start last month. Friday, it turned out that we're supposed to advertise the position to locals first. The agency took it upon themselves to place an add on Saturday. As of 11 AM this morning we've received more than 20 resumes some of which are from well qualified people. Where the hell were they all summer when we needed them?

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Bodger

You would fail the test.
If you've never had to knock anything out of a circular saw blade, then you probably have always used a saw with a round arbor and may never have noticed that a lot of the blades you buy have a diamond shaped die-cut in the center for reasons described below.

I have several SkilSaw Mag77 models. I use 7 1/4" 24T thin kerf blades. The blades come with a 5/8 dia. round arbor hole drilled into the center of the blade which is surrounded by a "knock-out" which is diamond shaped and held in place by enough metal to keep in there if you are using a saw with a round 5/8" arbor, but thin enough to be easily knocked out so the blade can also be used in a circular saw with a "diamond arbor", which is what all the worm drive SkilSaws have, at least all the ones I have seen and owned. The diamond shape, since it is not round, provides a positive lock on the arbor and prevents blade slippage.

Size isn't the issue, configuration is the issue, and obviously the blade manufacturers figured out that making a blade with a round arbor hole and also a knock-out diamond center would accommodate both of the common arbor configs.
I have a nifty blade wrench with a pin on the other end which is made specifically to easily pry the diamond out. A lot of guys will lay the blade between two 2 X 4's and punch the center with a chisel. I have done this too, but with the thin kerfs, it is actually possible to bend the blade slightly and you get a bit of wobble. Bye-Bye thin kerf.

Out here on the West coast, the standard seems to be worm drive with the blade on the left. I have heard this is not as popular in the East.
What kind of circular saw do you use?

Tscarborough

I knock it out placing it between two blades that are already out and then hitting it with whatever I have.

We have averaged 5 or so "looking for work calls/visits a day for the last 20 years, but I have noticed a slight uptick in walkins looking for work, especially drivers (many of whom are in their company uniform and driving the company truck).

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It ain't Rocket Science unless you are building rockets.

dougchips

I can't speak for everyone on the East coast but most of us use circular saws. I have a Porter Cable left blade one that has lasted me 12 years so far since I tend to favor the cordless Dewalt saws. For bulk cutting I generally use a miter saw.

Do you west coast guys still get a kick out of handing us east coast guys a worm driving and laughing when we notice to twisting (torque) when it fires up?

__________________
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Bodger

YES!! All the git-up is way out in front of the handle on those worms and it jumps if you aren't used to it.
Back to the OP, in the past five months, I have had more walk-ups on my job than ever before. I have had men with B General CA licenses coming up and asking me for laborer's wages. Very scary. I may have to do the same. That's not anything I consider beneath me, just not what I had planned at my age.

Bodger

Good tip...I have a bonehead..er...valued employee that I will share this with.
Worse blade bender I ever saw.