Overwhelmed with losers applicants

Joined
Dec 5, 2017
Messages
454
Location
Robeson County, NC
Name
Austin Willoughby
The millennials want to work -
Tuesday-Thursday
11:00 am - 3 pm
Starting wage of 120k/ year
Company phone
Company CC
Company car...
want 100% benefit package from day 1..
6 weeks paid holiday after 4 months
Raises every 2 months
Can call in sick WHENEVER they feel the need
Allow them to surf the net, play on social media, shop, or talk on their phone, WHILE working...
God forbid you even mention their performance, because every task they do is perfect....
You think I’m joking????
This was told to me by an individual that’s the building manager @ a tech company I do work for....
It snows indoors daily inside buildings like this all the time....
Powderpuff, snowflakes....
I agree. There are still a few good ones but good luck finding them. I'm a millenial but so glad I dont dqll into the category above! Ambition, motivation, and work ethic is a born trait not a taught one.
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2017
Messages
454
Location
Robeson County, NC
Name
Austin Willoughby
I think they should be payed what there worth but let's be honest cleaning carpet is easy. There are guys that do construction and sheet rock for less them 10 dollars an hour I think 12 to 15 is very reasonable in this industry starting out. Especially considering minimum wage is 8 to 10 in most states.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BIG WOOD
F

FB7777

Guest
I think they should be payed what there worth but let's be honest cleaning carpet is easy. There are guys that do construction and sheet rock for less them 10 dollars an hour I think 12 to 15 is very reasonable in this industry starting out. Especially considering minimum wage is 8 to 10 in most states.

there are different markets though. Out here minimum wage is $11 / hr going to $12 on January 1st

and you’re not getting anyone of value under $15


its my experience that without exceptional pay you aren’t going to attract exceptional candidates
 

D Luke

Supportive Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Messages
1,013
Location
MI
Name
Derek
I think most small employers (myself included) tend to think $15 is a solid starting wage, but honestly that thinking is anchored 10+ years in the past when minimum wage was $6 in most places.

Heck, most McJobs now start somewhere around $12 and probably include at least a few benefits and flexible scheduling.
 

Brian H

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
3,568
Location
Detroit Michigan area
Name
Brian H
I think they should be payed what there worth but let's be honest cleaning carpet is easy. There are guys that do construction and sheet rock for less them 10 dollars an hour I think 12 to 15 is very reasonable in this industry starting out. Especially considering minimum wage is 8 to 10 in most states.
Unlike construction work, you need someone who is personable and nice. They need to be able to interact with a wide variety of customers in a wide variety of scenarios all the while working in one of the most challenging work environments around. I am talking about the customer's own home.
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
6,242
Location
Bc
Name
Jeff T
I worked in heavy construction for 18 years before I got into professional cleaning.
I would NEVER bring 98% of the guys I worked with into the homes I service now.
The industry draws some of the worst of the worst society has to offer.
It was an almost weekly occurrence, the police would show up at a worksite, warrant in hand for one of these guys...
The charges were all over the board....
You NEVER brought personal items onto site, cause by the end of the day, they would disappear...
Most onsite shacks were locked between breaks...
We are not talking about some 3rd world country...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob Pruitt

Fat Mike

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
2,832
Location
AZ
Name
Mike G
I think they should be payed what there worth but let's be honest cleaning carpet is easy. There are guys that do construction and sheet rock for less them 10 dollars an hour I think 12 to 15 is very reasonable in this industry starting out. Especially considering minimum wage is 8 to 10 in most states.
$11/hr here $12 Jan 1st
 

Fat Mike

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
2,832
Location
AZ
Name
Mike G
Keep in mind your best employment prospects are...

"ALREADY WORKING" somewhere else.

Winner winner

My best guy is mid 20’s wife and 3 small kids. He was working full time and that’s what we did. He gave his two wk notice and still worked with us after his regular shift.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nomad74

hogjowl

Idiot™
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
47,883
Location
Prattville, Alabama
I worked in heavy construction for 18 years before I got into professional cleaning.
I would NEVER bring 98% of the guys I worked with into the homes I service now.
The industry draws some of the worst of the worst society has to offer.
It was an almost weekly occurrence, the police would show up at a worksite, warrant in hand for one of these guys...
The charges were all over the board....
You NEVER brought personal items onto site, cause by the end of the day, they would disappear...
Most onsite shacks were locked between breaks...
We are not talking about some 3rd world country...
Sounds like just like carpet cleaners
 

Dolly Llama

Number 5
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
30,495
Location
North East Ohio
Name
Larry Capitoni
Got another one that doesn't even have his GED, I'll probably pass on him.

why would that be an automatic disqualifier ?

had over 30 interviews scheduled this summer.
Starting pay with no experience $15hour up to $25/hour contingent on experience
of the 30+ scheduled, think maybe 8 (AT MOST) showed up.
Of the four I hired, only one has any real potential/promise

That's the way it is when the country is at full employment like it has been


..L.T.A.
 

Jimmy L

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
15,162
Location
Ne
Name
Jimmy L
Plenty of illegals..............down on the corner............out in the street.

A well known Guru in the industry years ago told me that not to worry about them taking business with cheapo pricing. He said most people don't want them in their house. Not trustworthy
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Nomad74

Papa John

Lifetime Supportive Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2013
Messages
6,587
Location
San Francisco, CA.
Name
John Stewart
In SF, this job sucks even at $35 hour!
A customer tipped my guy $75 for a 2 hour job and refuses to ever serve her again. I guess she should have treated him with more kindness, respect and acted with less entitlement. :eekk:
 

scotty747

Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
836
I made it through 9th grade. 4.0 gpa. Just couldn't stand the stupidity of the kids and teachers. Started scrubbing toilets. Then waxing floors dreaming of the day I could afford carpet cleaning equipment. Like Mr. T says " Don't be a fool. Stay in school".
 

The Great Oz

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
5,265
Location
seattle
Name
bryan
Damon would you mind describing your dream technician?

@The Great Oz, please describe yours after Damon does.
Everyone's dream technician is probably the same: Polite, clean person that shows up on time and cares enough to do a good job.

My favorite starting candidates are people in their late twenties that have come to grips with the uselessness of their macro-anthropology degree and have found that restaurant hours don't work when you have a kid. They've experienced a good dose of reality, pick up on things quickly, and just want a steady job that pays well.

I have a hiring bias against former small business owners, construction workers and Canadians.
 

The Great Oz

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
5,265
Location
seattle
Name
bryan
This is a tough time to hire. Not just because there's an overall shortage of good candidates, but because all of the retail stores are offering high pay for seasonal work. If you need someone long term, maybe wait until after the first of the year and make sure you can keep them employed through your slow season.

In times like this, we all have to accept "less than perfect" candidates, and then work harder to polish them into great employees, and accept that more of these people will wash out.
 

Hack Attack

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
5,620
Location
further south than you
Name
Dan
Big horticulture sector here, casual staff will earn $25-30 an hr on piece work.. but they can't get locals to go work outside, they'd rather be in retail or at a desk earning minimium wage

So we bring in transitional staff from the Islands or Brazilians or Thais on 3-6 month work visas smh
 

Condog

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2019
Messages
431
Location
Phoenix AZ
Name
Tony
I think they should be payed what there worth but let's be honest cleaning carpet is easy. There are guys that do construction and sheet rock for less them 10 dollars an hour I think 12 to 15 is very reasonable in this industry starting out. Especially considering minimum wage is 8 to 10 in most states.
Construction workers under $10 an hour?
No habla
Go to Home Depot they’re in the parking lot looking for work. $15 minimum, if you’re lucky.
Maybe Damon should try that. At least you know they’re actually up looking for work.
Not on the computer looking for a job, because mom said they had to get a job for the third year in a row.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris A

Condog

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2019
Messages
431
Location
Phoenix AZ
Name
Tony
Everyone's dream technician is probably the same: Polite, clean person that shows up on time and cares enough to do a good job.

My favorite starting candidates are people in their late twenties that have come to grips with the uselessness of their macro-anthropology degree and have found that restaurant hours don't work when you have a kid. They've experienced a good dose of reality, pick up on things quickly, and just want a steady job that pays well.

I have a hiring bias against former small business owners, construction workers and Canadians.
Canadians ?
 

The Great Oz

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Messages
5,265
Location
seattle
Name
bryan
Canadians ?
This comes from experience with very small sample sizes, but the common traits among them have been bad enough to want to avoid more of the same.

As much as I like Canadians in general, the ones that have come through here have all been looking for a way to cash in on unemployment, disability, or other government program that they can easily defraud. For some reason, even when they get caught our government agencies don't prosecute them, which is probably why the scammers are here in the first place.

Construction workers that hate the seasonality of their work always go back to it when they get the opportunity. Former owners of small businesses want to do things their way and refuse to understand that's why they failed.

I know these are generalities and good employees could come from any of these groups. Just hasn't been our experience.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom