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We have a Family Run, Licensed, Professional Handyman Company in California. We have looked and looked for multi-skilled people for three years, unsuccessfully. Anyone have any ideas for places to look. We offer full time and part time PLUS medical and dental, (not a bad deal these days). My Dad and I handled it together for years and now he has passed away. I’m going it alone, but turning down business every day. There is only one of me and only 24 hours in the day. To break through and be truly profitable I need skilled field people. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll go it alone if I have to. I just think there has to be an untapped source out there to find stable, skilled help. Where have all the multi-skilled gone?
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Mike,
Your best bet may be to hire potential and train. Multi-skilled in this day of specialization is rare.
Have you checked with the local vocational training facility? Let them know you are looking.
Best of luck.
Rich Beckman
*Mike:I agree with Rich. Ask around at the voc-ed dept at the local high school or junior college.Have you considered hiring someone young and in-experienced (but hopefully with enthusiasm and a good attitude)? Use them as a runner and labor, so you can put your skills and experience to best use. As things develop you can teach them some of the skills you desire in an employee. Depending on their interests/abilities, they might be able to help out with admin work too.If you hire them with little experience, you also won't have to pay them a huge wage.Interview thoroughly, and maybe have a one-day try out or a two week probabtion period. Or you could hire a runner part time and move to full time if things work out.
*mike... i look for stable and mature...married is great.. homeowners better still.. you'd be amazed at teh number of people who are working in other fields would love to do what you are doing.. factory workers....retail clerks...the only problem with young kids is they are still finding themselves.. so you get them trained and tehy move on...get someone about 30 or older who has been thru the mill and train them..b but hey , whadda i no ?
*Mike, where in California are you located?
*How about retirees?Do you realize how many part-time jobs at places like Home Depot, Lowe's, and the local hardware are filled by retired people?This is an excellent resource for experienced, trust worthy, dependable help. Of course they only want to work a part-time schedule and may want to take a month or two off per year for travel but a couple retirees may fill the void. Scott R.
*Mike is this the "Handyman Connection"( a business I see advertised here in So Cal)?
*Scott's suggestion of retired people is great. I've had 4 guys over the age of 60 that work part time. They all go to my church and wanted something to do. Most men that age know basic stuff and love doing handyman type work. They also sometimes "borrow" tools and do free work for people in the community that need it. They're never late and if things slow down, they don't mind not working. It's the best of both worlds!
*I heard a radio commercial yesterday that made me think Of a way to fill entry level spots.I probably won't pursue it but it might be just the thing for some of you out there." East High School is looking for a variety of speakers to discuss various career options with students."I assume this is some kind of career day event.
*I have used retirees through the years also. I actually also used my dad, but had to fire him. I now have a special question on my employment aps...Do you play golf?..... If they answer yes, I file it in the trash.....golfers are VERY unreliable!My dad used to say he had an appointment in the morning and could not make it to the jobs till 11. Then after a few months of this(I figured he had some medical problems but was to scared to ask)one of the guys tells me "yea, he showed up at 11, in his golf cloths, had to change in the truck" I then found out from mom that his appointments were tee-times. Gave him the good news one day....you can golf full time now....you're fired.
*If you want young, educated, skilled people you gotta train'em. Unless you are lucky enough to be in an area that has a good VocEd program skilled people just aren't out there in enough numbers to be able to plan on them. That's why a lot, if not most, major corps have really big time education and training programs.Using retirees is a good thing if you are willing to job share. As a matter of fact a lot of us would like to work part time, stay out of management and its' headaches, but still keep our hands in and get some of that extra money. There will be some fallout like the golfer. But overall respect us, don't treat us like some kid who has to jump through the hoops while he learns to work and we can do a good job for you.
*Multi skilled,that is the key problem. Im not sure what all Mike does. But here it would involve all house trades.You need a man to handle a variety of trades as a pro.Kids and retired people do not come with trucks with tool boxes full of a variety of tools and knowledge to be diverse.I quit small remodleing for the same reason he has a problem. He needs someone to do the jobs for him with out him there;like he was there. I hope someone does have the answer.
*I agree with a lot of comments in the previous posts.I have some ideas to add also.I have not had alot of luck with young kids. Married is good. Kids are good. Like Mike said, stable. Evidence of good personal financial management. That one takes some digging. I also like a guy who has some hobbies, and a life outside of work. Odds are he probably isn't looking to go into business for himself. I have had a miserable experience hiring guys out of the paper. 1 out of 10 that answers the ad do not currently have a job. Not good. The next job they won't have may be yours.I have found that you have to hire guys away from other successful companies, and/or train them. Training can be a long commitment. One of my current guys who I was fortunate to recognize had long term possibilities is really coming around after almost two years. I had an excellent experience this summer with a teacher. I was very skeptical and decided to run him through the mill and he proved to be a real asset. Worked his ass off for me. His primary motivation was physical fitness.I'm not sure where I'm going to find the next guy but I guess the key is recognizing him and financing the payroll for when you need him.
*Fortune 500 comnpanies ans smaller companies "budget" for training. And the more you can budget for the better. Training, as Tommy alluded to, costs money. It would be rare to find a contractor that budgets for training.I had my best people for various types of small jobs come from a newpaper ad for a "punch out man". These people generally are reasonably versed in varius types of trades. The key is to get someone who is very personable and workd well with the public. I've found that it "skill" #1. "Judgement" is #2, and something they naturally have or don't. You cannot teach judgement.
*Sonny,Your perspective on judgement is noted. I haven't thought about that.Although, financial health, and the other indicators, stable marriage, kids, and how they came about, etc. can be reasonably predict good judgement.As you stated good judgement is one of the core behaviours, of a succesful employee, at least in my company.I recently completed a job for the owner of a large hvac company, and he would often tell his guys, "use your best judgement". It was somewhat of a cliche amongst his guys. I picked up on it but never thought of the greater significance in finding good employees.
*Hahahahaha!Mike, you are looking for good Multi task people!?!?!I've spent my entire life looking for one trade wonders. If they are good enough to do the job, they go on their own. It's the same old catch 22.Now you know why the business stinks. It's not a business! Ask Sonny.A business is a business if you can leave it for a year and it's more profitable when you return!Go with the retiree idea and raise your prices!blue
*To advance my wife's career, I sold my successful countertop business and moved to another state. After taking a few months off, I began to look for work. For the record, I have excellent credit, no lawsuits, a file cabinet full of satisfied customers and enough remodeling experience to author several magazine articles, which I've done. So far I've found a guy who wants to "employ" me with a 1099 and the possibility of making $200.00 a day. After expenses, I might have $12.00 an hour left. No thanks. If I can't work the tools for scale, about $32.00 an hour with benefits around here, I won't. Guys like me are in your area, you have to make the effort to find them. You'll pay like hell when you do, but we'll make you money.