Looking for Employees

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RAM460

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Where do you look for electricians or helpers to hire? Are there any publications, or websites dedicated to this? Do you all just post things in the " Want Ads "?

I'm not sure if this is an acceptable question for this forum, I hope it is ok.
 
Re: Looking for Employees

RAM460 said:
I'm not sure if this is an acceptable question for this forum, I hope it is ok.
I'll allow it for now. But let's not let this get out of hand. Any comments about union or non-union resources must be limited to information on how to get in touch. That's the OP's question, so let's answer that question.

If I see any debating of the virtues or limitations of either type of employment, I will delete this thread. That is my instructions from the Forum's owner, Mike Holt.
 
For licensed electricians I've had good success from advertising in our area's largest newspaper, the Boston Globe. Many responses. I tried 4-5 smaller, more local papers with poor results. Ads are expensive, but at least you get what you pay for. When I thought about it, if I were looking for a job, the Globe is where I'd look too.

I've had a lot of success hiring apprentices from other trades. I have 3 excellent apprentices who formerly worked for a HVAC company. Good people, excellent mechanical skills, just needed to learn electrical. Working under a good licensed electrician, they progressed extremely quickly, and one has since become licensed. One contacted me, and the others followed his footsteps a year later.
 
Generic job boards, free to employers, such as www.craigslist.com, www.caljobs.ca.gov or other government-employment-development databases, also access much less people than my regional newspaper, dominated by employer / agency listings in every job category.

This dominant media may help you negotiate the most qualified bargain, but buying that ad doesn't hide better offers found in the same place, nor refund bad fits, quits, or terminations, much less offer a window on the professional relationships of those you might hire.

There is a wide range of backgrounds participating in this forum that might answere that call. People already network here with some long-lasting exchanges, and searching posts by user name may be more useful than a resume. I would not discount union members who participate here, since retirement can be intolerable, especially when its unvoluntary. One common thread in this forum is that people recognize the value of their independence, and should know an oportunity to learn an industry under wing is a precious gift.
 
Finding help isn't my problem... it's getting them to show up everyday that I have trouble with. Some of the kids nowdays are just plain lazy. They only want to show up three days a week and then complain that they aren't making any money. I tell them if the would work more that 24 hr a week they might make a little bit more money. I try to look for ex-military because they have that work ethic and maturity that you can't find from someone fresh out of school. I will teach them the trade if they want to learn, but if they show up just to make a paycheck and not have the motivation to learn, I don't waste my time with them. You know when you hire someone who will do well in the trade by the speed at which they learn what you show them. If I find someone who is willing to learn this trade, I will pay for their apprenticeship as long as they maintain at least a "C" average and pass. If they fail, it is in the contract that I make them sign that I will take the enrollment fee back. :!:
 
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