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08-31-2004, 09:41 AM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
USDA Zone 5
Posts: 152
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Employee interviews
"What are your long term career goals?"
Candidate # 1. I want to be a landscape worker, maybe run my own company. Would you consider making me a partner if this works out? Then I could branch out on my own later.
Candidate # 2. There are seven wonders in this world, and I want to travel and see them.
Candidate # 3. I want to continue to grow in love for life and service to the world and all the creatures in it.
Who do you hire?
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08-31-2004, 11:15 AM
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Sapling
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Join Date: Jun 2004
USDA
Posts: 215
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# 3
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08-31-2004, 11:51 AM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southwest ct
USDA Zone 6
Posts: 1,742
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I'm going with #3 on reflex , but would consider #1 if I had some personal knowldege of the candidate and position.
Laborer looking for his own business someday (at my expense), NO. In school or just out of school and thinking of his own business someday, that I would consider seriously.
What position are you interviewing for: Laborer, Foreman, Designer, office assistant?
__________________
As a father I was always aware that I was raising my sons to leave home, marry, establish families, and be men who could stand on their own two feet. We must fulfill our own destiny. I really wasn't concerned about what they might 'do' but I wanted them to 'be' good men.
- David Epps
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08-31-2004, 01:29 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cape Cod
USDA Zone 6
Posts: 1,323
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Hire all three of them. Use them for what they are worth (whether they are worth a lot or a little). Then see how they pan out.
In my area there are tons of opportunities to work in the landscape field. In other words, you have little choice than to hire about anyone that is not an obvious major liability or you have no help. I know that it is not the case everywhere.
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08-31-2004, 03:41 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
USDA Zone 5
Posts: 152
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My favorite answer to an interview question is "Because I set the garbage can on fire."
At the time, unemployment was less than 1% in our county, and I hired him! The pool of candidates has definitely improved in the last few years.
JW, this is for a laborer position.
Agla, I hear ya! We pretty much hire for attitude, and then see how they pan out in a day or two on the job.
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08-31-2004, 10:05 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
USDA
Posts: 1,882
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#3 also
How about this for an interview question...., if you were a Big Mac, what part would you want to be?
Answer that secured the position...."The person making the burger"
__________________
Bill Schwab
In the year 1491, if the Naturescape Landscape Company did the site work in Pisa, Italy, they would not be calling it the "leaning" tower.
Encinitas, Ca. 92024
www.naturescapelandscape.com
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08-31-2004, 11:06 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
USDA
Posts: 939
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# 1...
as he is the only one who answered the question directly.
the other two didn't really put 'career' goals down. Their answer was kinda like putting 'jogging' in the skills section, and not in the 'hobbies'.
But......
If you're just hiring someone who will most likely be digging holes for the first few weeks, I'd give them all a chance. Hey, this isn't the apprentice and were not asking harvard grads questions.
The only way I get nervous is when I see a 40 year old man come to my door who, after I give the form for him to fill out, asks if he can go out to his car to have his mom help fill it out, who by the way, drove him there because he has no license.
Last edited by PSUscaper : 08-31-2004 at 11:10 PM.
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08-31-2004, 11:51 PM
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Acorn
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Join Date: Mar 2004
USDA
Posts: 24
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It's hard to sum it all up based upon answers only not knowing how the rest of the interview went- fumbling with words, how well they carried themself, etc. But quite honestly I'd go with #1. As Pennscapes said, he was honest with his career goal. #2 is not going to see the seven wonders of the world working with you. And something about #3 just rubs me wrong- not sure what, but it does.
If #1 is seriously considering (notice it's "maybe" run my own company) he will be a sponge intrigued by the ins and outs absorbing it all. He may see the headaches involved and decide to just be a terrific right hand man. Any employee has the potential to go home and say, hey I can do this myself- I'm gonna quit and start my own company.
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08-31-2004, 11:57 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
USDA
Posts: 939
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"#2 is not going to see the seven wonders of the world working with you"
I loved that!
How do you now that fire......spiderly may offer a excellent travel plan for his employees!
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09-01-2004, 09:37 AM
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Acorn
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Join Date: Mar 2004
USDA
Posts: 24
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Goodness, did that come across rude? It certainly wasn't meant to be.
If Spiderlily offers a travel plan like that, I'm ready for a phone interview- just let me know the date and time!  |
09-01-2004, 10:03 AM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
USDA Zone 5
Posts: 152
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No, it wasn't rude, but it was funny! Sorry guys, I do have a pretty ambitious travel plan, but it doesn't include employees, or, for that matter, my husband or family. I AM trying to figure out how to make my next trip to Italy tax-deductable!
After one day on the job, the results are already in:
#1. Laziest mover I saw. He'll never be in business for himself, and he's not killing time here.
#2. Forgot to mention his night job at the strip club. Too tired all day to be worth much.
#3. Know-it-all, "ascension meditation" instructor, prettyboy. But a good worker. We're going to keep him.
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09-01-2004, 10:12 AM
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Acorn
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Join Date: Mar 2004
USDA
Posts: 24
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I'm glad to hear one of them proved to be worth something to you and your company. Sometimes one doesn't even get that lucky!
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09-01-2004, 11:07 AM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
USDA Zone 4
Posts: 7,563
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Thanks for the chuckle on #3. I had an interview with a guy similar to that - was a martial arts instructor. He went on to tell me about how he tries to teach kids to be stand up citizens, get out of bed and face the world...kick yourself in the butt if you have to, but make sure to work hard, always be on time, and have a good attitude. It would've impressed me if he wasn't 15 minutes late for the interview....  |
09-01-2004, 11:50 AM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
USDA
Posts: 1,882
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Jeff:
that issimilar to the schools out here telling the kids to be there by 7:30, making them line up by 7:45 to make class at 7:55, and having a small handful of teachers walk in past the line at 8:05 with cups of starbucks to begin class.
All they are teaching our kids at that point is that it is ok to be late. No wonder so many San Diego contractors are late, never call back, and wonder why they fail.
__________________
Bill Schwab
In the year 1491, if the Naturescape Landscape Company did the site work in Pisa, Italy, they would not be calling it the "leaning" tower.
Encinitas, Ca. 92024
www.naturescapelandscape.com
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09-01-2004, 01:40 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cape Cod
USDA Zone 6
Posts: 1,323
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I'm surprised that no one answered "none because they all spoke English".
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