Hiring people. Ugh.

[Brendon Phillips]

If I had ONE smart hardworking person it would be so much easier. Instead I have 2 clueless goons that have never worked a labor job before and think it's rough working in 78 degrees. Yeah, they won't be around when Summer kicks in. But at least I know they won't steal my stuff. Learned my lesson about putting ads on craigslist. One of them worked 4 hours then quit. 2 weeks later I had detectives calling me lookin for him. He was on probation and violated it. Told them I was his employer. Turns out he likes to steal expensive equipment. Good thing all my stuff looks like junk. Haha.

My question is, how do you guys go about finding good guys to work for you? Not just branch dragging gorillas, people who learn and get better. These guys are killin me.

 

[audible fart]

I found a pic of the two guys you hired

 

[Brendon Phillips]

All I see are two butch women.

 

[sgreanbeans]

It is hard to find dependable people, lets face it, this is not a career choice for many. Those who choose it, and are good, end up going out on their own. They take your training and claim it as their own and go into competition against you. But most guys do it only because they can get a job. Its hard and has many life or death responsibility's. So they fizzle out or crack under the pressure. That is why the industry has many "bad guys" in it. They work for a couple weeks then go out on their own as well and become the hacks we all talk about. 2-3 weeks exposure and they think they have enough knowledge to do this professionally. Tree services often have a high turn over rate. Whether by firing or quitting, most guys wont or don't cut it. Then you have those who claim to know whats what. Give you a long list of their so called achievements, only to find out that they learned to talk the talk, but damn sure cant walk the walk, Get them on a job and they cannot do basic tasks, simple task, that the one who claims to know what is going on, should have mastered in the beginning, like using a porty or using a big saw. You can figure them out pretty quick when ya gotta tell them how to put on a set of chaps. I have tried many, only to be disappointed. "I am the best climber you have ever seen" Then you put them up there, and they refuse to walk a branch or have no concept of rigging "whats let it run mean?" "how am I suppose to cut this, I cant get balanced" best climber huh!
Then you have the guys that are clean cut, loyal, honest and hard working, but just plain dumb. Feel bad for them, but they don't last long either.
Good luck on your search, if you find a good one, better latch on to him!

 

[TreeAce]

very ironic that I come here and see this this morn. My "main guy" left a note on my other dude car last night saying he quit which of course he didnt see until it was time to leave this morn. I cant say I am to surprised though. This was his third and final chance in 4 years. He was supposed to be staying sober this time but I was seeing some tell tale signs and had been putting some pressure on him to make be accountable. So he bailed. He was developing into a good climber to. Now I gotta scramble and find more help. I got my son wanting a job after he grads in three weeks and he wants me to hire his buddy to. Two guys who know nothing.....shoot me now. Plus 3 weeks seems like a really long time considering I have a **** load of work and some of it kinda technical. I wish I woulda found a profession that I could do alone.

 

[mckeetree]

The main problem I see with my competition's hiring process is they don't pay enough to attract any good people. That's how we have made it the past 28 years
in business...we pay well enough somebody short of an idiot wants to work here.

 

[TreeAce]

The main problem I see with my competition's hiring process is they don't pay enough to attract any good people. That's how we have made it the past 28 years
in business...we pay well enough somebody short of an idiot wants to work here.

Are you able to get hirer prices than your competition? Or do you just make less money in exchange for good help? As hard as I work and the total hours I put in I cant see running my business for anything much less than what I make now. Its hard to be competitive and pay much more than everyone else.

 

[TreeAce]

CL wants 25$ to run a help wanted ad. I am not sure its even worth it. I am getting the word out and just see what happens i guess thats all i can do for now.

 

[mckeetree]

Are you able to get hirer prices than your competition? Or do you just make less money in exchange for good help? As hard as I work and the total hours I put in I cant see running my business for anything much less than what I make now. Its hard to be competitive and pay much more than everyone else.

We are way more expensive than our local competition...we have to be. We are actually in a semi-rural area just east of Dallas so Dallas, TX tree services are not my direct competition although I bid against some companies based there from time to time. For what my local competition pays all you are going to get is morons and I am really done with that. You know, we are twice as high as everybody else around us but we stay busy 90% of the time.

 

[TreeAce]

I found a guy who sounds promising. Plenty of ground experience and some climbing. Guess we will see. He had mentioned a name in conversation of a guy I happen to know. That guy gave him a thumbs up so that's an excellent sign.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

Nice. Would be great to talk to other tree guys around here. Most just think of each other as the enemy instead of working together on things. I guess that's how it is everywhere though. That one reason I love this forum. It's good to bounce ideas off of other tree guys.

 

[pro94lt]

What do you start your help out at?

 

[Brendon Phillips]

Depends on experience and attitude. Someone who knows nothing but wants to learn and is motivated, $15 / hr. Some guy who just wants a job and couldn't care less $12. A guy who does it all and knows the business, well that's negotiable. I'm willing to pay well for a badass.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

CL wants 25$ to run a help wanted ad. I am not sure its even worth it. I am getting the word out and just see what happens i guess thats all i can do for now.

When did they start doing that? Is it only in certain areas?

 

[Zale]

I've always found training someone from scratch is easier than hiring a "badass". For every 10 applicants, there might be one promising candidate.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

That might be true, but I'm tired of training new guys every couple weeks. I'd like to try someone who has experience. It would be nice to not have to climb every single tree every day. Ground time is good for ya every once in a while. Keeps ya humble. Haha.

 

[TreeAce]

When did they start doing that? Is it only in certain areas?

IDK when they started that. It does seem to be for certain areas. Cleveland being one of them.

 

[BC WetCoast]

We've hired women a few times and have had reasonable success. May have to cut some brush a little smaller and take more trips, but the job has always got done. I can't drag huge loads either. They've usually tended to be a little more dependable and more meticulous on the cleanup.

The other place we done ok for summer students are those who play in team sports. They tend to have a better "we're depending on you" attitude.

We've also hired guys who have owned businesses in other labouring fields ie construction, who for whatever reason have decided (or needed to) to get out. They understand the difficulties of running the biz and are more cooperative.

Finally, if you have any buddies who run landscaping businesses, consider trading staff.

 

[Brendon Phillips]

Thanks BC. Those are great ideas. I hate it when a new guy overhears the price of a tree and gets all bent out of shape when he knows I'm charging $1k to take down a tree and he makes $15/hr. What he doesn't know is all the costs associated with that removal and knows nothing about business. Drives me nuts.

 

[stltreedr]

Think about some of the reasons people don't leave corporate jobs- It's not because they're so fun and challenging. It's usually because of simple a human need, like security... The corporate world has it figured out: Pay people enough that it wouldn't be worth looking for a new job, but not quite enough to be independently wealthy after a few years. Provide benefits like insurance and retirement, and PAID VACATION. Don't work your people like slaves every day, and act like you appreciate the fact that they are putting your kids through college. Once folks get used to this pay and benefits structure they are very reluctant to go out on their own. Just because it's too comfortable where they're at.

We as an entire industry need to be charging our clients a price that allows us to achieve the above. Those of us who own the companies need to be better businessmen. Until then, we will have the same problems.