Hiring Two Guys.

Winchester

Okay, so I took a job where I will need 2 guys on site all the time for 6 weeks. So, I am looking to hire 2 guys. The job starts in 1-2 weeks.

I have a bunch of resumes and voicemessages and I'm ready to start contacting people for interviews. I have a week to find 2 good guys.

Anybody have some good advice?

What kind of questions would you ask?

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Ryan

genecarp

What will these two guys be doing?

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Chris Johnson

Hire one guy that has a high calibur of work quality and the second guy to work below him. Hire two guys of the same calibur and nothing will get done.

Someone has to be accountable and two guys equal will be blaming each other.

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Chris

Blockade

If you are hiring two at the same time and not working with either or having someone you trust work with them you are running the risk of the patients running the asylum. They need to know what you expect of them as much as the other way around. The interview is only going to tell you what you want to hear. The proof is in the pudding. There are a ton of pretenders out there and you will find more them than not.

mahlere

what are you going to do with them in 6 weeks? are you going to let them know its a very short term stint? OT? i think you are expecting a lot, and will be very disappointed...

Jason Whipple

Will you be with them all the time or will they need to be one their own?

Is it a demo job or a 100k kitchen?

More info please................

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Mike Finley

Are they right or left handed, how tall are they?

Winchester

All good points.

It is turning what used to be a video store into a fitness club. A lot of things to do, but nothing overly complicated and nothing structural. Some demo and reframing office space, changerooms, shower rooms, tiling.

I see it as the perfect job to start new guys on since there shouldn't need to be a lot of babysitting going on.

I'm looking for a journeyman carpenter and a helper.

If all goes according to plan I will be with them the first week or so and then if I get the feeling that I can trust them I'll show up in the morning so we can all go over what should be done for the day and then be in and out during the day while I work on bids and estimates so I can keep them busy when this job is done.

For the journeyman I'm looking for someone with lots of experience doing renovation-type work, trade qualified, has supervised other people in the past. I'm willing to pay well for this. I have quite a few calls and resumes from people with 10-25 years experience. I've been told that quite a few large companies are laying off workers, or something...

If all doesn't go according to plan and nothing is getting accomplished, then I'll let one go and keep the helper working under myself.


So, it's these kinds of questions that helped you weed through the masses and pick some great employees? Amazing you're still in business

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Ryan

lodigirl07

ask to certifacation cards and DL and any green cards if hiring a migrant worker so it will be legal hire then get a list of tools they can use for your records then ask how bad they want the job try them on one of your other job sites for a day to get an idea how they work then youll find the perfect person(s) ask for a paper resume too

lodigirl07

hey weres the job i could help u find that perfect person(s)
ps dont ask the ? if right or left handed it make u look badi could work for you if its local near lodi i have every thing i need to do the job and i do it right as they say measure twice cut once i just finished the other job for a client of my boss waiting for new work i do all but plumbing electrical and concrete. i love my job i have paper and electronic resume im probably over certified

Mike Finley

Just being a doof until you gave some details.

Actually you can try out the cat question if you want a good qualifier.

Winchester

I am expecting a lot, but I'll also be paying well for someone who is worth it. I will also be happy setting up benefits if I get someone good who I want to stick around for a while.

I may be disappointed, but I hope not.

I can afford to pay well and still make good money.
The only payments I really have to be concerned about are my truck lease, gas, and insurance.
My liability insurance is only $850/year for $2mil, workers comp is built-in to labour rate, etc..

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Ryan

kylev

some things i would think about is your expenses. now is this employee going to be using there own truck and there own tools? and in some way they will have to be rewarded for that. i think that someone who does have these qualities will be a good pick for you. also depending on what quality of tools they have. you also have to charge out 2x or more what you pay an employee to make money off them. or sometimes you really gotta "bite the bullet" to keep a good guy happy.

Brock

I make lots good with wood and stuff. I want to give job a nice try. How much job it does pay? Give me chance I can show you mad skills with saw and chisel. Please pm me for this job.

Winchester

As far as tools go, I expect everyone, including helpers to have and maintain their own general hand tools.

As far as specialty tools and power tools, I will provide these whenever needed. They will stay locked up on site for the duration of the job. Sometimes I need to rent tools like a large rotary hammer, concrete saw, or plate compactor/tamper.

I also want to buy one of these

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Ryan

nlgutters

I think you are going to have a hell of a time finding someone. You need them in a week for temporary help. Either they dont have a job now or they will need to walk out of there current employer to come help you. If they are any good they usually have a job already.

Winchester

Most tradesmen here consider any job they have "temporary". it is common for people to be temporarily laid off because work is slow.

I never said that the position was temporary. I have the need for 2 people for this job, yes. When this job is over, I'd like these 2 to carry on as their own crew and replace me so I can focus on growing the business.

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Ryan

Scott Meyer

There is a lesson from the book Good to Great (it isn't specific to construction, more of a general business book) that getting the correct people on the bus is more important than filling up the bus and assigning the seats. The bus is an analogy for your business. If you try to hire a person specifically to be in charge or to be the helper, you will have more troubles than if you hire individuals for the overall quality they posses.

You should look into hiring individuals that can be both the one in charge and the one helping. Same with skill level. The ability to learn and think smart can sometimes be more important than their experience.

If you have good people on the bus, you can take it anywhere. If the bus is full of the wrong people, that bus won't last too long.

Hiring and training procedures are really important and can save you a load of money (retraining, high turnover, unethical employees cost a lot). Just because you have two seats open, don't feel pressured to fill both. Let’s say you can fill one spot and you have confidence in that hire. There might not be a good second choice. Spend some more time finding the right second person rather than hiring someone because you feel it is necessary. Replacing a bad employee takes a lot of energy and time. A little extra searching can avoid this added burden.

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Build Smart
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mnjconstruction

Ive been is buisness for 13 years now. I love the trade. What i hate about it is the hiring of new empoyees. I have 4 men who work for me fulltime, year round. but in the summer months i always need more guys. i usally go through at least 4 or 5 men trying to find a good one. I am in the need right now for a new lead carpenter. have been for a month now. I hate interviewing i hate hiring i hate babysiting. Seems like all the good ones are out on there own. so good luck I wish you the best of luck!

Winchester

Thanks! I'm still talking to people. Still waiting for the stamped drawings, so I've got a little more time.

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Ryan