Why Are Contractors Apply For Work With Me?

Mike Finley

I put a pretty generic advertisement out for part-time and full-time employees, and out of the 10 responses it seems like 5 of them are guys who have their own contracting businesses, the common trait is they are either just starting or are slow...

Now why would somebody who has their own business apply for work with me? I haven't contacted them to discuss anything, but I just find it odd. None of them say they are going to close up shop, but why do they think I would hire them as an employee if they are going to continue looking for work on their own?

slickshift

Where was the ad?

Grumpy

Mike you can't be serious. They are SUBcontractors. I get calls like this every day, infact all of my installers are subcontracting crews. Sure you wouldn't hire them as an employee but why not give them work if they know what they are doing?

In addition being the worlds best tradesman doesn't qualify you to run a business though many think it does.


Today I had a guy apply for sales who used to run a roofing subconting company. He was shocked that I was going to with hold taxes. He kept saying that I wasn't going to pay him $50k a year (a number I discussed as an accurate target) but that after taxes he would only be earning about $35k. I told him "Pay now or pay later, you still pay." To which he responded "yes but I can hide alot if I am your subcontractor."

camaroman2125

They are probably really slow and just looking to get by or looking for more work for their company. For example my dad has owned his own company for about almost 38 years now. 25 in finish and 12 building homes. Right now its so darn slow in ohio that he's doing work for someone else on a hourly rate to just get by right now. Of course this isn't a perminate thing cause once the market gets back up he'll be building again, But ya do what you have to do just to get by.

joasis

In my little neck of the woods, I started out as a handyman, remodeler, roofer, and then grew to one employee, then two..and so on. The established contractors, who had been selective about who they worked for and how bad the charges were laughed and laughed, and said I wouldn't make it a year...even teased me about throwing a little work my way, stuff they didn't want to do.

Now, years later, we are down to two contractors who can't pay their bills and have no employees..and the other day, one asked if I could sub out any framing to him. (NO WAY) He may be a great tradesman and is a very good carpenter....but his attitude and mouth, combined with what he overcharged people who could not afford it, made the answer easy. I believe ethics has more to do with business success then any other single factor after experience. I won't hire someone who is not absolutely honest and straightforward. I would rather train my guys like I want it...and it is what we do. If I train them, then I know what I can expect. The few times I tried hiring a journeyman, it was not a happy experience getting them to do things my way, and not what they considered the right way. I know that makes me sound like a prima donna, but it is my name on the trucks, and my reputation that writes the waranty and gets the work. And, as has been posted in many threads, look how many ways there are to do any given task.

pwrpapa

I think the president said the same thing about Iraq.

jproffer

You're taking your BUSINESS too personally. It's business, period.

You based your decision on this:When it should have been based on this:I know what you're saying, and I don't like a know it all big mouth SOB either....but if he can make you money (as long as he's not uncivil with your customers...if he is, or would be, then that's another story) then let him.

What he USED to do, while running his OWN business has nothing to do with you, now. Nor is it your fault or your responsibility to "teach him a lesson". Money is money, if he can make it for you while you still charge your normal, reasonable rates, then I'd let him do just that.

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Jim P.

Mike Finley

Craigslist, or maybe I should say Dregslist. That's kind of mean, but some of the people contacting me just make me have to look around for Ashton Kusher to see if I'm on some kind of contractors version of Punked.

Mike Finley

Yeah, Tom, but nowhere does it say anything about looking for subs. I'm looking for employees - take out taxes, WC ect... I doubt any of these guys could even qualify with their lack of WC and their lack of insurance to even be able to work as a sub for me, my liability policy would cancel me for sure if they found out I was subbing work to them.

joasis

Good points you bring up, jproffer. I think I may have mis-statedmy real point. Once someone's ethics and integrity are of question, i won't use them. How could you trust anyone who is less then honest with work you are responsible for? I am not about teaching the old dogs new tricks. If I sub out a framing job, I have a few very reputable guys I have worked with who will do quality work, and treat the job as if it were their own.

Highland61

Mike,

Count your blessings. The year I start out on my own, my wife's business is not providing the buffer we had expected. We had planned everything, but not such a bad start for her. I am licensed, insured out the wazoo and have all my ducks in a row but will still keep a positive attitiude. On the other hand, I am not so proud not to work for someone else to keep food on the table. I just don't want to leave the industry to do that.
I have other options, some with great pay and an easy second retirement in other career fields, but this is where I will be happy (worth almost all risk to me).
I can only speak for myself, but I wouldn't take the time to do side work without my employer knowing and any work I did, would be small in nature, enough to keep the business alive.
So, without you all ganging up, I wanted to offer a different opinion.

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CST Solutions, LLC
General Contracting / Builder
Newport News, VA

Mike Finley

Don't worry Highlands, I won't gang up on you, glad to see you posting, that's why I'm asking, to try to get some perspective.

dgbldr

Mike, I honestly don't see anything wrong with these guys wanting to work for you. You advertised part-time. Presumably you don't pay enough for someone to make a grand living on 20 hours a week. So you already assume they are doing something else the rest of the time.

As long as these guys are not your direct competitors, which it doesn't sound like they are, would you rather they were firefighters or remodelers the other half of their time? If I were looking for a part time carpenter (on the payroll, etc) I would be delighted to hire a guy who did carpentry on his own the other half of the time.

DG

Sider' Brian

Hell everytime I run a radio ad for windows/siding we get at least 3 calls looking for employment and maybe one for an estimate!

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http://wellworthonline.com

ApgarNJ

i had an ad in the local paper a while back and got the same losers calling me for work, that had called the last time i was looking for new help. not sure if they were on their own or not. it's hard to find people with good hardworking ethics anymore. its horrible. what are parents teaching their kids?
some of them were practically begging for work, and would call 4 or 5 times a day. yeah, that's why i called them losers. not trying to be harsh. but you can just tell the type........

pdh2100

I have three out of state General Contractors working for us today. They came in when their market turned bad. I retained one of them permanently because he liked working with us so much. The others are here for a time and doing good work. I like guys who have been doing this for years and have had had the headache of running a payroll and dealing with getting and keeping business.
paul

Gordo

Yeah, you will get more sales calls from BBB list than anything (from other orgs. trying to sell you their product).

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Looks like some pros were here.

asbestos

Look, I am sure you are an unreasonable boss. You need to realize that it is more important for these people to take meth then to show up on time. And I will bet you don't understand the importance of drinking untill 3:3o am, either.

Justin

haha, LOVE IT!