So is anyone interested in a job then?

[cr0ft]

After my recent thread on wage advice I thought I would ask if anyone is interested in applying for a full-time plumbing position in our company. Being able to install bathrooms to a high standard including tiling would be an essential requirement.

Wage would be £25-30k dependent on experience and workmanship - company van, all tools and uniform/PPE provided. No requirement to be gas registered but it would be a nice to have!

30 days of annual leave each year and the opportunity to join a fast growing small business! The only downside really is having to work for a Jock!

No emergency callout work unless you want it.

The job is based in Lincoln which is a pretty cheap part of the UK to live in too!

if anyone is interested please drop me a PM in the first instance with details of your qualifications and experience.

Thanks,

Keiran.

 

[voivod]

Jocks make best workers n bosses m8...dinnae let them grind ya doon ...haha

 

[cr0ft]

It seems not. 60 views on the JobCentre website and not a single application. I'm not even mentioning the wage yet so it can't be that.

It seems that there is a real and genuine skills shortage out there atm.

 

[hammers4spanner]

It seems not. 60 views on the JobCentre website and not a single application. I'm not even mentioning the wage yet so it can't be that.

It seems that there is a real and genuine skills shortage out there atm.

I think people are mainly fed up of working for companies so many down here now starting up themselves .When you ask them why they say exact same just fed up of working for someone.

 

[Ray Stafford]

It seems not. 60 views on the JobCentre website and not a single application. I'm not even mentioning the wage yet so it can't be that.

It seems that there is a real and genuine skills shortage out there atm.

The person you are looking for is not necessarily camped on the Job Centre website. We normally only find that useful for recruiting unskilled or inexperienced staff. The person you want to hire is probably already working and doesnt necessarily know that he/she wants to
change jobs yet.

We also find that not mentioning salary reduces the number of applicants.

 

[cr0ft]

Interesting. My view was that by mentioning salary I might put people off, both ways. How do you reach the people who are already working Ray? Interested in what recruiting methods work well and what doesn't.

 

[Masood]

A friend of mine recently recruited an excellent candidate from Gumtree. As Ray said, the guy was already working and applied because he wanted a new challenge and a bit more money.

 

[markadams]

Keiran,

I wish I lived in your area as I would be a good fit for the job, I do tiling, gas, qualified in electrics and fitted many bathrooms. unfortunately I am not in a position to move at present.

Having been self employed for several years it would be nice to have something stable and let someone else worry about the problems of running a business. I think the salary would attract people rather than put them off.

And above all you seem like a really decent bloke from our previous conversations.

Mark.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Interesting. My view was that by mentioning salary I might put people off, both ways. How do you reach the people who are already working Ray? Interested in what recruiting methods work well and what doesn't.

I think if people don't see a salary, they assume that you are hiding it because it is low, but thats just supposition. You can always make it a very wide range.

Word of mouth is the most powerful tool that we have - via both our customers and supplier reps. Most skilled people we hire approach us via informal networks.

We use agencies only for very specialist skills - for example accountancy or IT.

Newspaper advertising can help, not necessarily because your prospective employee is scanning the ads, but a friend or family member might be. We are steadily reducing our newspaper advertising.

Finally - if you have a website, why not add a "recruitment" section?

 

[leelister6]

Put the word around the merchants you use. The blokes that go in will more than likely be local to the area, already be qualified/experienced and may be fed up with the job they're doing. Also the lads behind the counter will be able to tell you if they're the blue trousered, 15 boiler swaps a week, leaning on the counter for an hour bullshifters or genuine workers!

 

[cr0ft]

I like the idea of a recruitment section on the website. I am kicking myself for not even thinking about that before!

 

[cr0ft]

Finally recruited - 4 staff now including me and I will be dropping back to 4 hours per day on the tools from middle of October. Very scary step to be honest but I'm really excited to be finally working on the business rather than in it!

 

[SimonG]

Congrats

 

[cr0ft]

Thanks. It's a bit scary to be honest. Having worked till 10 at night tonight doing quotes etc I'm not worried about the work coming in. It's just now I have to be a businessman and not a tradesman lol.

 

[Ray Stafford]

It's just now I have to be a businessman and not a tradesman lol.

Kieran, if there was ever anyone on this forum that was cut out for this shift of focus, its you.

Have faith in yourself!

 

[cr0ft]

Will do, but one of my first tasks is to start negotiating better rates with our suppliers to add to our bottom line straight off (I mean on all the stuff you don't sell of course ). Don't even know how to approach that one lol. All I've done is price bathrooms and jobs for the last 8 years and then do them.

I'm looking forward to it but I'm much more nervous about taking on someone who is going to replace me on the tools than I've ever been taking someone else on.

 

[markadams]

I would certainly agree with Ray, you will do really well.

Where did you find the new staff member in the end?

Mark

 

[Millsy 82]

Finally recruited - 4 staff now including me and I will be dropping back to 4 hours per day on the tools from middle of October. Very scary step to be honest but I'm really excited to be finally working on the business rather than in it!

It won't happen you will start off with 4 hours and then it will creep up and up again. Lol.

 

[Millsy 82]

I think people are mainly fed up of working for companies so many down here now starting up themselves .When you ask them why they say exact same just fed up of working for someone.

That is why I went self employed. Not because I want to earn a fortune but because I want a half decent work/life balance.

Most of the companies I have worked for wanted to own your soul and wanted you to work all the hours in a day for a pittance.

My first work goal is to be earning the same as I was on the books within 3 years.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

I'd apply but I'm in SL3!!!

 

[cr0ft]

The guy actually responded to my Job Centre advert. Starting on 19th October, will see how it goes from there!

 

[Rickster123]

Fair play to you crofty hope it works out mate..

 

[rpm]

The guy actually responded to my Job Centre advert. Starting on 19th October, will see how it goes from there!

Does he live in SL3 ? lol