[Stonehenge]

I'm in the process of hiring a few people (as you probably know from other threads), and am getting a bit overwhelmed by the response. I placed one ad in the Sunday paper last week, and have had 50 calls so far, with more coming in.

Though frankly, I am enjoying having a bit more selection when choosing employees. I'm having to do a fair amount of screening on the phone, which is also new for me, but I'm finding that it is saving me time later.

I don't have so much a question or issue as much as I'm chuckling with some of the messages I get - one from a mother who's son is a senior in high school, and she's doing the prelim calling for him while he's on vacation, another telling me to call him at 10:30 tomorrow (who's the boss here?).

I'm also chuckling at some of the pre-screenings - one got fired from a fast-food joint, others with drug problems...

It's always an interesting mix. When I'm alone at the yard with a candidate and get handed an app with the 'yes' box checked for felony convictions, I begin to wish I carried heat at the yard...

[Nebraska]

At least he was honest about the felony..... ??

[Stonehenge]

Lol - honestly, that's part of what I was thinking, too!!

Then the other part was thinking - how can I knock him cold with the things that are within arms reach, if things get ugly?

[Bexter]

Originally posted by Stonehenge
It's always an interesting mix. When I'm alone at the yard with a candidate and get handed an app with the 'yes' box checked for felony convictions, I begin to wish I carried heat at the yard...

Interesting that this would be brought up ... I was almost going to mention to you in the other thread that perhaps you should give an ex con a chance ....
I feel that many companies go wrong looking for either young guys with no responsibilities, (you touched on that) or guys with too much education ... the ideal guy that may look for Landscape construction as a long time career is married with kids and little education ...doesn't mean they are stupid just probably took a wrong turn somewhere earlier.
Over the years I have worked with many ex cons in this business and the ones that truly want to turn their life around make the best employees.

[Stonehenge]

How do you tell the recidivists from those that genuinely want to turn things around?

[Nebraska]

That's the challenge of the Criminal Justice system that no one has an answer for. If I knew the answer I would have stayed in my field of formal education and possibly be changing the world on a larger scale than I am with lawn and landscape services. One of the theories is that it's biological; which leads into the larger ethical question dealt with in that new Tom Cruise movie where they simply test you and catch you before the crime occurs......

[Bexter]

Ya, It's a crap shoot but how do you ever know how someone will turn out. Admitting that he had a record is a start.

[Stonehenge]

Yeah, you really don't - but I guess I might still be shy about hiring anyone nicknamed 'Slingblade'.

I heard from a local supplier that their Huber law people tend to work out great, right up to the time they get out.... Seems that when someone else is making sure they're awake and driven to work, they do really well. But when they have to do it on their own, they begin to falter within a week.

[Stonehenge]

I'm now wondering when I should stop retruning calls - this ad has somehow been listed in places beyond the original paper - I just got 10 new calls yesterday, even though the ad ran more than a week ago.

I originally was committed to returning all calls, so I didn't leave a bad taste in anyone's mouths, but I'm feeling like I can't give anymore time to the Johnny-come-lately's. Where do I draw the line on returning calls?

[Nebraska]

When you've hired someone and feel that you have a decent pool of applications that you can draw on in the future if the need does arise and / or when it begins to draw away from your main focus for being in business......which in your case is to design and install your 'work's of art' and be amply compensated for it.