Should I Take A Chance On Someone Who Hasn't Been Completely Honest?

kanadaeh

I have been interviewing potential employees and there is one I'm considering but he hasn't been completely honest about his experience. He told me on the phone he had 20 yrs exp. but on his resume he put 25. Then on our application he put 15 and 20 on the same page! When I interviewed I mentioned a few times that experience doesn't matter as long as he's willing to learn but he just talked over me saying he will prove himself. His experience can't be verified and by looking at his resume I'm pretty sure he doesn't have experience. My problem is he wants experienced wages. Can I teach an old dog new tricks or will it be a pain. He has a good attitude and personal goals. I find a lot of people think anyone can paint and if they get there foot in the door they can wing it. Last week I hired someone with 12 years experience, took him to work and he couldn't fill nail holes. I asked him to roll a wall and he made a mess! He lasted a whole 45 minutes before I drove him home. The sad part is if he was honest with me I certainly would have trained him. Anyways, what should I do about the dishonest applicant?
Thanks

dougchips

Honesty is the key to any relationship. If you are not honest to your staff then they will not respect you. If you are not honest to your spouse then you will be single. The only time I accept a white lie is when I ask if I look better growing bald.

Slow to hire quick to fire has been going around for a while, I sort of like it.

George Z

Stretching the truth a bit on years of experience is ok.
Completely lying to get the job is not right.

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Teetorbilt

I wouldn't have driven him home. There's the door, don't come back.

Everybody fudges a little on their app. to show a continuious work history. Ineptitude is inexcusable when otherwise professed.

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joasis

I had a guy come to me for a job...said he did home improvement, could lay ceramic, knew how to roof...yad, yada, yada....I offered him a job, and he asked first thing, why so low...and I said I have to see what you can do before you get top pay...sure enough, he didn't know enough to lay felt in a roof valley, run straight courses, and follow instructions. If I paid him what he thought he was worth, I probably could not afford him....and yes, he didn't make it 4 weeks....paid as a laborer...hi still tells people I screwed him over.

My advice is your potential new hire will be trouble.

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Mike Finley

Stirke One.

Talked over you? Strike Two.

Strike Three.

What are you a glutton for punishment? What are you a woman? You think you can change him?

Don't do, it.

Doug M

I would not hesitate to confront him on his discrepancies.If you try him out let it be known that he will be on a very short leash

Doug M

kanadaeh

That's what I really wanted to hear. Thanks
By any chance do you do any personal coaching?

dshcontracting

I'd rather have an honest person with no experience then a dishonest person that could build a house by himself. I carry a ring on my belt of 20 or so keys to all of my customers home. I can come and go as I please when we are working, and they trust me enough to leave the guys with me permenantly. I can't afford a dishonest worker when the customers lay so much trust in me. If he lied about experience, will he lie when something goes missing from the house? It's your reputation on the line, not his.

I say no go!

Dan

donb1959

I have found that in paint contracting one tends to draw from the bottom of the labor pool. I've interviewed guys that claimed they can do any thing concerning painting. They have 30 years experiance, they ran huge crews, etc. I can tell within 1 hour of seeing them work if they can make it or not.

Last summer I had one of these guys. I left him with my two good employees and left for the day. Came back the next day and he had painted 20 6/6 windows in a day, not bad. I asked the guys how they thought he was working out and they said he seemed to be ok.

Next day I'm with them on the job, and all day long this fella is trying to kiss up to me, trying to direct the guys that have been with me etc. I go up on a ladder to paint a bit of overhand, and when I look down onto one of the windows he did, he painted all the bottoms of the window grids, but did none of the tops, he did that on all the windows, no wonder he did them so quickly.

This is typical of what I find with guys that exagerate their experiance, and talk a good game.

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Grumpy

I agree with Mike Finley. I was waiting for the thread to end with a punch line as I was reading it.

I told a guy on the phone today that it doesn't matter what he tells me he can do. He will prove himself. I've heard every song and dance, but I know the minute I put them on site what they can do.

Boogga

Don't waste your time because I'm positive that your time is worth more than his. You have to be a straight shooter with people, otherwise they'll bend you left, right and centre.

Boogga