Any Questions You Would Add To This Application?

Mike Finley

I am going to run an employment ad pretty soon and don't have the time to spend meeting everybody who responds to have them fill out an application and interview them, so I was thinking I could pre-screen or pre-qualify them first and then meet with the ones that have the most potential.

I figured the best way to do this was to direct them to call in the ad then after speaking to them quickly, direct them to my website and have them fill out and submit online a general employment questionaire. I put up a rough version and wonder what I am missing or should change.

http://www.rmchi.com/employment

theworx

Mike, from what I remember I've always had to give 3 personal references as well. Don't know how important that is if the person has good work references. You'd think the applicant would choose people who would obviously say good things about him. Otherwise, looks like you got it covered. I also remember answering a question asking if I would be willing to do a criminal record check. I guess that one's up to you and wether you trust the responses you get from the questions you're asking already!!

Mike Finley

Good points! Let me clarify that I want to use this as a pre-qualifier to actually meeting and giving them a full application which includes asking for their references and permission for drug/criminal/motor vehicle checks.

My idea is to use this as a tool to find out enough about them to see if they have the potential to be worth spending the time it takes to have them fill out an actual application, interview them and do back ground checks.

bob the builder

Are you going to drug test them. Where I live I guess it is assumed that your worker probably does some sort of drugs. If anything the employer would ask for three drug references ...

Bob

slowsol

i would re-word the question about being convicted of a crime. you can legally ask if they have every been charged with a felony. they are not legally required to answer unless they have been charged with a felony, and you aren't allowed to ask about anything else.

Melissa

Here's a couple that are on ours that you don't have. We bought our applications at Staples.

Social Security #:

Are you a citizen of the United States?

If not, are you legally allowed to work in the United States?

Driver's license number if applicable to the position:

And I would make sure they have a truck!

Good luck!

Mike Finley

Thanks Melissa. Once again though this isn't an application for employment, I don't need their SSN or driver's license # at this point, if they get passed this then they will fill out a full application.

This is just to weed out the really bad and not waste any time with them.

Mike Finley

Actually it can be deemed discriminitory to ask if they have been arrested or charged, (anybody can be charged or arrested for anything and be later not found guilty - remember innocent until proven guilty) it is legal to ask if they have been convicted, however on an actual application I should make sure it states that a conviction doesn't necessarily exclude them from employement.

IHI

Install the question "why is a manhole cover round?" and if they answer correctly then it shows they have some mental capacity which is a plus.

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UpIACrete

It is round so it cannot fall into the hole. I think......

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Mike Finley

Man hole covers are round?

RobertCDF

Maybe this wont work so well for you Mike because you work inside of peoples homes. But there are some good tax benefits to hiring someone convicted of a felony. Something to keep in mind for some of you others that might be able to do this.

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Mike Finley

WOw, you gotta explain that a bit futher Robert, I never heard anything like that before but would be curious to know more.

IHI

Heck yeah it'd work, think of all the side cash your employee's could bring to the table selling things they accumulate on job sites

Bob, just joking and I whole heartidly understand where your coming from and the "second chance" thing. Every case is different so it's hard to say this or that, but IMO, word will eventually get out you have "convicts" working for you, and all it takes is one pissed off person to fire up the rumor mill and the bad PR starts for your business and having "crooks" for your crew would not be the esiest sell especially if working inside the home-concrete I can understand and even roofing since it's all exterior, but folks are typically guarded about their interiors and anything that will set off bells is a bad thing.


To UpIAcreek: now your gonna be on mike's ******************** list since you gave the answer away and he'll have every goomba that's seen a hammer in a store or on TV filling out Mike's pre application application LOL!!

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DecksEtc

Mike, it looks pretty good to me. The only thing I can think of is that you may want to be open to those without internet access and take the answers to your questionnaire over the phone.

BTW, I took the time to fill one out. When do I get an interview?

Mike Finley

Terry when can we schedule a time to sit down, your brutal and honest evaluation makes me think you have manager potential written all over you!

I would also like to hear from Julio, some of your shall we say "unorthodox" skills could come in handy.

RobertCDF

That is why I said it will only work for some guys.... We had some on our old framing crew. And that is not a big deal. I MIGHT consider it myself BUT ONLY for outside work AND ONLY when someone can watch them all the time.

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RobertCDF

My wife was telling me something about it 3 months or so ago. She took a tax class for her accounting degree and told me something about a $2,000 tax break (I think) I will see if I can get her to write an article about it. Or at least a thread to fill in some details.

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DecksEtc

Cool

I do have over 10 years management experience at the stock exchange - how could you tell?

Be sure to let us know how the whole concept works for you...

slowsol

Good call on the charged thing. I knew that, I just worded it wrong. You are entitled to not hire them based on their criminal record, considering you may be putting this worker into homes with vulnerable people (elderly, children) to work. You just have to state that upon review of their criminal past, you do not feel that your customers would be safe with said employee alone in household. You are legally allowed to run a background and criminal history check also.