Hiring?

denick

I have been thinking of hiring two more people. It's been 5 years since I hired any full time people. I just ran through what that was like, to remind myself of things that I said back then I would "never do" the next time. It was a period of 5 years previous that we searched for good people to end up with the crew we have had for the last 5 years. Quite a few interviews in 5 years.

It struck me back then that the people interviewing for the job
(mostly under 35 years old) had some thing's in common.

They had no level of skill. Example, not one had spent time learning to be competent at performing one task in construction so as to be able to perform all the work required to complete that task without direction. In almost every person they had no skill outside of work either.

They did not think it required getting dirty to be employed by a company that advertises as a company performing excavation, concrete and masonry construction work.

They considered construction an 8 hour a day job.

Talking to other business owners in almost any type of business in this area the same basic things are problems. Is this a geographical society problem? CT is pretty well off compared to many places.

I'm not writing this to bash employees or persons under 35 in any way. We did find 6 very good employees in those 5 years. Only 2 younger ones.

Just thinking out loud my reservations about starting to look again.

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

mdshunk

Two excavating contractors in my local market started equipment operator's schools. They acutally have guys pay money to attend their schools, pay the guys a nominal wage to do co-op field work on their jobs, then hire them when they're fully trained.

fhdesign

Nick
I think that society has everything to do with the type and quality of employees in any given area and if that changes so does the work force. For us finding qualified skilled help, such as operators, wasn't as difficult as finding reliable laborers in the late 70's, but things changed here in lower fairfield county and now it's just the opposite. Good luck on your search for some good help.
Jon

rino1494

Most young guys, especially those that go to operators school are the ones that want to be paid the most and all they want to do is sit in the machine all day without getting out and using a shovel.

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pigseye

I agree with you Rino, what ever happened to us all working together to get the job done, not on operator sitting on his machine, watching or a laborer standing there watching someone else do his job, what ever happened to all of us working together to get the job done. I really have seen a decline in young guys getting into this profession, I'm only 30 and I've been doing this since I graduated highschool, and in the last seven years, I have seen a new laborer come on board with us and stay longer than two weeks, too dirty, the hours are too long, when am I getting paid, blah blah blah.

denick

What I see missing in people looking for jobs are people who actually "know something". When I wanted to get away from the family business and get a job with an excavating company that I thought was good you were measured against and by the men already there. Guys that could dig a basement + or - 2" with out a grade checker. And carry a grade in a trench. And load a truck with a dragline. and so on.
If you couldn't you were a liability to the men you worked with.

But these men were accomplished in something else. A mechanic, welder, machinist, carpenter, fisherman, sculptor, artist, musician etc.... I'm not talking about out of a do it yourself book because there were none. They all had a curiosity and ability that developed because I think then people did "things" not just watch things. ????

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

POOLMANinCT

Talking to other business owners in almost any type of business in this area the same basic things are problems. Is this a geographical society problem? CT is pretty well off compared to many places.


Denick that really caught my eye. Is it a socio econimic prob in the area. Im in litchfield County which is rather well off. Though the labor pool is the pits. I hate to say that anybody w/ half a brain is punching a keyboard for a living around here. When the spring slam comes i find i am interviewing 95% true degenerates.
I am 33 yrs old, I do not dig my own holes or own the equipment to do so, the operators who dig for me are men in there late 40s & 50s.

I am getting rather sick of explaining to an "adult" the same procedures every time the task is at hand.

& have a hard time grasping how an "adult" is content floating through the work day or season w/o picking up a trade.
I realize my biz is very seasonal, so retainment is tough. Though if a guy spent 2 or 3 yrs w/ me, he would have a decent set of skills if he applied himself.

pardon me if i am rambling, but i find a college kid just working for his beer money or to keep his parents happy, are the best around here.

ray

fhdesign

Nick
In my area most of the people who "know something" are either owners or have been with the same company for a long time.
Everyone that I know is more than happy to find someone that reliable and is willing to learn, they'll teach them the job and hope they stay.
Jon

denick

FH,

I grew up next door in Stam, Darien. Probably know some of the same people. You sound 20 to 30 years old. If so might know your people.

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

fhdesign

Nick
It's a small world, so we probably do know some of the same people, 20 or 30 I wish I'm 44.
Jon

denick

Sorry fh,

Electronically you look 10 years younger.

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

fhdesign

Nick
Thanks!
Is it really that hard to find good help in your area? The Danbury area has a huge Brazilian population and I've worked with a lot of them over the years and most have been very good.
Jon

denick

fh,

Very little immigrant labor here. No housing for them and just about anyone else who's not a weekend person

__________________
Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

Gmads

It seems like 20+ years ago around here you had a lot of guys coming into this line of work from "the country". These were guys use to working family land, farms, or ranches and were use to doing "work" as soon as they were old enough to contribute. I see the same thing now in the growth of immigrant labor (hispanic) in our parts. Most of these guys have family farms or ranches that they are leaving behind in Mexico. These guys are use to working. It's hard to get a twenty old guy new to this business to get use to hard work in 100+ degree weather when he grew up playing Nintendo in air-conditioned suburbia.

MC Excavating

I hate to admit it, but there are very few young guys in their 20's and 30's that actually have man quality's. I'm 28. How about just owning some tools and wrenching on your own stuff every once in a while. Most of my friends barely have tools let alone actually use the few tools they own. Its a damn shame. Well I look at it this way. In the future, I will have more job stability due to the dieing breed of MEN. I hardly ever see a young guy on the job site my age. This means less competition in the future.

rino1494

I've always said the same thing. By the time we are in our 40's, prices will be double, if not triple

__________________
Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid

Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH