2 Tips to Finding & Hiring Your Next Superstar Employee!
You have often heard that people are victims of budget cutting and slow economic times. When business slows down, one of the first casualties is the payroll. A lot of good people are put out of work through no fault of their own. If you are a savvy business owner, you can recognize that many of these people would be a perfect fit for your business, either because they are motivated to work or because they meet your qualifications – or both.
The roofing industry in each market is often a tight-knit community where everyone knows everybody else. If you catch wind that a competitor is struggling, and you think there could be a solid person to hire on that team, try and reach out that person. For the right person, you might even consider a signing bonus. The value of an exceptional salesperson is much more than $1,000 you give him/her upfront. Offer another $1,000 if that person sticks for six months.
Smart business owners don’t put all of their eggs in one basket and look for future employees who have “industry experience.” Some of these experienced people have picked up some bad work habits along the way and already have preconceived notions about the jobs you have available. You may be disappointed to learn that these workers have little motivation to succeed – and even less motivation to help your business succeed.
In other words, consider recruiting people from outside the trades. A motivated person with a great attitude who is a bit handy can learn your trade over time and fit a tech role. Or make those people a salesperson. Teach them the technical stuff. You can’t teach motivation. You can’t teach people to be go-getters. They either are or they aren’t.
How do you recruit people to the trades? Well, you can always post ads on Craigslist and other online forums. You can also tell your current employees that you’d be interested in talking to anyone they know looking for a job. Also, always be looking for potential employees when in restaurants or stores. That great server or checker who has an exceptional personality and great sales skills may be your next superstar!
I know hiring good people seems tough. But it’s possible… if you’re looking in the right places for them!
