Needing a new Journeyman Electrician

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Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ok, so you remember my last thread about the car wash... well, the Journeyman has decided to quit. (I did not pressure him at all, I did not ask, encourage, or even hint to this...)

So, Friday's his last day.

I am now on the hunt for a new Journeyman.

Here is the link for my craigslist ad:xxxx

First off: What do you think about the ad?

Second: What do YOU look for in hiring a new guy?

Third: Do you have any interview scripts?

Fourth: Where else should I advertise?

Thanks,
Greg
 
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nolabama

nolabama

Senior Member
Location
new orleans la
answer to no. 1 - i like the add its pretty good - i hope you pay well giving what you expect of them

answer to no. 2 - the current company i work for looks for a pulse

answer to no. 3 - the only thing i have gathered from (gleened if you will) my boss's interviews is : how many three way switches can you have

answer to no. 4 - craigslist is a good start - weeds out those who are computer illeterite

and a question to the contractors out their - how many of you make your jw's do this
Be able to create a bill, invoice customers, and receive payment.
i absolutly hate collecting from customers for my ec
 
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nafis

Senior Member
Location
Palestine,tx
Greg Swartz said:
Ok, so you remember my last thread about the car wash... well, the Journeyman has decided to quit. (I did not pressure him at all, I did not ask, encourage, or even hint to this...)

So, Friday's his last day.

I am now on the hunt for a new Journeyman.

Here is the link for my craigslist ad:xxxx

First off: What do you think about the ad?

Second: What do YOU look for in hiring a new guy?

Third: Do you have any interview scripts?

Fourth: Where else should I advertise?

Thanks,
Greg
Click to expand...

the ad looks great and stright forward

2nd I look for honesty and punctuality

3rd Interview script I usually keep it simple and introduce my self
And ask him or her to tell me about their self and the last job he or she had.
The worst situation or problem they had on the job and what action has been taken to correct the problem or situation…… and go from there.

Contact your IEC or local recruiting company

good luck
 
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Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
nolabama said:
answer to no. 1 - i like the add its pretty good - i hope you pay well giving what you expect of them
Click to expand...
I hope to pay well... If I can provide a good atmosphere, keep him motivated, and pay well... He will want to work for me... He will more than likely work better, and he will more than likely work faster (for those small bid jobs), and he will more than likely have a better attitude.

All factors for the interview.


nolabama said:
answer to no. 3 - the only thing i have gathered from (gleened if you will) my boss's interviews is : how many three way switches can you have
Click to expand...
I think I can fit about 2500 in the back of the truck, maybe 4500 in the van... but I can install them in pairs... :wink:

nolabama said:
and a question to the contractors out their - how many of you make your jw's do this
Be able to create a bill, invoice customers, and receive payment.
i absolutly hate collecting from customers for my ec
Click to expand...
Why do you hate this? I want to understand things from your point of view.
 
jrannis

jrannis

Senior Member
Location
Fort Lauderdale/ Miami
This is the first place I would look.
Get someone that likes to do service work.
They have an excellent apprentice program too.

xxxx
 
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BryanMD

BryanMD

Senior Member
Location
Maryland "the land of pleasant living"
Greg Swartz said:
I hope to pay well...

Why do you hate this?

I want to understand things from your point of view.
Click to expand...

You *hope* to pay well? Why don't you know?
What I mean is... don't you already have a nice bundle tucked away to pay him from or do you expect to pay him out of your week to week receipts? And know *exactly* how much a guy of the calibre you want will both need and expect? (hint: if he is any good he very probably has a job doing it, with benefits, etc. Can you really compete?)

Which gets to the "paperwork" aspect of things... in general, there are two types of JW's. The guys who will always be JW's and the guys who will be your competition in 3 years.

Which do you want to spend a ton of cash in wages and training on?
 
C

charlietuna

Senior Member
Your add should indicate what this man's weekly pay "MIGHT" be ? You are asking for a lot and in return you need to post a serious,very serious benifit package along with hourly wage??? Quality service people are a dying breed in our trade and your specifications are in the 1 in 1000 range, almost askig for someone who is qualified to be in business like you!!!
 
I

ITO

Senior Member
Location
Texas
A word of advice that I got to relearn more than a few times. When a man (or woman) tells you they don?t want to work for you any more and gives out the courtesy of two weeks notice, make your plans fast then thank them for their service, and after you have collected their keys, tools, and cell phones, cut them a check for the remainder of the two weeks and walk them out the door.

In my case I don?t even make plans, I just get my stuff, cut the two week check and walk them out as fast as I can. The vast majority of people that quit me don?t give me notice of any kind they just drag up which is fine with me, and there have been a limited few that had to leave for medical or other reasons and sincerely did not want to leave but their circumstances changed and they had to move on, and I still cut the two week checks and walked them out.

Something happens to people when they decide to leave you and sometimes their hearts and heads just are not with your company any more (that is putting it nicely) and it causes problems, and it has cost me a lot of money over the years.

Now before anyone gets all defensive about how they would never do anything disreputable after putting in their notice?.save your breath I know everyone here is perfect to don?t bother reminding us. I know everyone wont agree with this advice too and it took repeated lessons of my own heartburn to relearn it myself.
 
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nolabama

nolabama

Senior Member
Location
new orleans la
why do i hate collecting for my ec - lets count the ways shall we

1. first time i did this for him was for a t&m job that is to complex to begin talking about - the jist is , his men could not wire a 4 way switch to save their lives and i trouble shot this nightmare house (katrina rewire where only flooded wire was replaced - buexcoup j-b's ) after three others had tried to no avail and the bill was due - he charged 110 an hour for the work the others had done wrong - customer would not pay :mad:

2. second situation was a service change/insurance job/fire - his son and this other jk/a hooked up a 90 amp heater to the service of this old ladys home - no big deal right - wish those two a**hats would have noticed the 65 amp meter can feeding the 125 amp panel :-?- soo... after his son set fire to her house one cold night we got to do a service change and when her insurance paid her we went and collected - she refused to pay the entire amount stateing that we should have noticed that we were building a fire on the side of her house and shorted us 300 bucks - oh and she paid in cash -2200 bucks (he better be glad im an honest man) and we had no way of cutting her a reciept for the company - i luckily had the office depot invoice pad in my metal notebook i use to write my customers reciepts ( did i mention i will be his competetion soon)

3. last and not least - a customer of mine wanted some work done - quite substanial i might add - i did not feel that i should be doing it givin the current situation with our company - we were slooow and it was sounding like he might not make payroll , soo.... i toss him a bone and set this up, i go over with this waiter friend of his son's turned 2 week green helper and put in a week's worth of work in this place and we get a bunch done. - i like your add states have all my own tools, my benders, my sawzall, my drills, my hand tools lent to stoopid helper, the only thing of his that i am useing (which is very substantial i might add) is his credit accounts at the supply shops, everythings gravy right - i get the bill and hunt down my customer and get her to pay us like im some jack leg mechanic (which i might add i am) - he gets a nice bump from one of my customers at a rate that i feel is quite a bit high in this particular market ($110 an hour - one of the best plumber shops in this area sends two licensed plumbers out for $95 bucks an hour - $90 an hour is resonable for electrical work here - but 110 is a bit high) - and the straw that breaks the camels back here is HE DID NOT FILE THE JOB ahem, so what would be the difference if i did the work myself and not have cut him in at all - this left a particularly bad taste in my mouth -

all said im done with this contractor tomorrow - putting in my two weeks - i cant make it till my birthday
 
H

hardworkingstiff

Senior Member
Location
Wilmington, NC
nolabama said:
- how many of you make your jw's do this
Be able to create a bill, invoice customers, and receive payment.
i absolutly hate collecting from customers for my ec
Click to expand...

I think you are being short cited. If you learn how to do this, you are one step closer to moving up, or moving out (on your own). The great part, your being paid to learn.
 
E

emahler

Senior Member
ITO said:
A word of advice that I got to relearn more than a few times. When a man (or woman) tells you they don?t want to work for you any more and gives out the courtesy of two weeks notice, make your plans fast then thank them for their service, and after you have collected their keys, tools, and cell phones, cut them a check for the remainder of the two weeks and walk them out the door.

In my case I don?t even make plans, I just get my stuff, cut the two week check and walk them out as fast as I can. The vast majority of people that quit me don?t give me notice of any kind they just drag up which is fine with me, and there have been a limited few that had to leave for medical or other reasons and sincerely did not want to leave but their circumstances changed and they had to move on, and I still cut the two week checks and walked them out.

Something happens to people when they decide to leave you and sometimes their hearts and heads just are not with your company any more (that is putting it nicely) and it causes problems, and it has cost me a lot of money over the years.

Now before anyone gets all defensive about how they would never do anything disreputable after putting in their notice?.save your breath I know everyone here is perfect to don?t bother reminding us. I know everyone wont agree with this advice too and it took repeated lessons of my own heartburn to relearn it myself.
Click to expand...

my 1st thought...
 
E

emahler

Senior Member
nolabama said:
why do i hate collecting for my ec - lets count the ways shall we

1. first time i did this for him was for a t&m job that is to complex to begin talking about - the jist is , his men could not wire a 4 way switch to save their lives and i trouble shot this nightmare house (katrina rewire where only flooded wire was replaced - buexcoup j-b's ) after three others had tried to no avail and the bill was due - he charged 110 an hour for the work the others had done wrong - customer would not pay :mad:

2. second situation was a service change/insurance job/fire - his son and this other jk/a hooked up a 90 amp heater to the service of this old ladys home - no big deal right - wish those two a**hats would have noticed the 65 amp meter can feeding the 125 amp panel :-?- soo... after his son set fire to her house one cold night we got to do a service change and when her insurance paid her we went and collected - she refused to pay the entire amount stateing that we should have noticed that we were building a fire on the side of her house and shorted us 300 bucks - oh and she paid in cash -2200 bucks (he better be glad im an honest man) and we had no way of cutting her a reciept for the company - i luckily had the office depot invoice pad in my metal notebook i use to write my customers reciepts ( did i mention i will be his competetion soon)

3. last and not least - a customer of mine wanted some work done - quite substanial i might add - i did not feel that i should be doing it givin the current situation with our company - we were slooow and it was sounding like he might not make payroll , soo.... i toss him a bone and set this up, i go over with this waiter friend of his son's turned 2 week green helper and put in a week's worth of work in this place and we get a bunch done. - i like your add states have all my own tools, my benders, my sawzall, my drills, my hand tools lent to stoopid helper, the only thing of his that i am useing (which is very substantial i might add) is his credit accounts at the supply shops, everythings gravy right - i get the bill and hunt down my customer and get her to pay us like im some jack leg mechanic (which i might add i am) - he gets a nice bump from one of my customers at a rate that i feel is quite a bit high in this particular market ($110 an hour - one of the best plumber shops in this area sends two licensed plumbers out for $95 bucks an hour - $90 an hour is resonable for electrical work here - but 110 is a bit high) - and the straw that breaks the camels back here is HE DID NOT FILE THE JOB ahem, so what would be the difference if i did the work myself and not have cut him in at all - this left a particularly bad taste in my mouth -

all said im done with this contractor tomorrow - putting in my two weeks - i cant make it till my birthday
Click to expand...

yet he still get's it, and you plan on undercutting him as a method to success...oy vey...
 
E

emahler

Senior Member
hardworkingstiff said:
I think you are being short cited. If you learn how to do this, you are one step closer to moving up, or moving out (on your own). The great part, your being paid to learn.
Click to expand...

the flip side, you don't teach them...they still go out on their own...and screw up the industry out of ignorance...much better end result...
 
nolabama

nolabama

Senior Member
Location
new orleans la
point taken - but i have not had a 40 hour work week in a number of months - its funny that you noticed the undercutting, lowballing but not the HOUSE FIRE and i do not want to be the most expensive contractor in the city - but i do feel that if you are one of the higher paid rate contractors in the city you SHOULD NOT BUILD FIRES
 
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