Source for Hardscape Foreman

[Mbella]

What have you found to be the most successful source in finding hardscape foreman?

Was it from training your own workers, recruiting from another company, advertising, etc?

[cgland]

I like to steal them from other companies! BTW, where are your crews working this week?

Chris

[mckeeland]

unfortantly the paper. the thing you want is someone that is mechanically inclined and has good management skills. hardscaping you can teach, common sense you can't. i hired someone this year that was an auto mechanic, he has picked it up better than anyone i ever hired without experience.

[kris]

What have you found to be the most successful source in finding hardscape foreman?



Brought them in from Germany. Over the past few years ... one out of four has worked out. We have a fellow leaving in a couple weeks . He will spend a month visiting family and doing some pre screening for us. When you get the One...defiantly worth it.

[mrusk]

I think mckee nailed it. You need to find someone with common sense.


Someone that speaks your lanuage is also a plus. It is trully hard to find a guy that can see your vision in his head. My guys are GREAT craftsman. However, without me they would be hopeless. Jobs would be pure schit. It takes alot more then just fundemental skills to create a work of art.

[CaptainsLS]

I have been having trouble recently with my foreman. Either he is just worthless or I haven’t given him enough specific direction. This year I thought he knew what I expect, so I let him run things with more freedom. I want to address the issue that it could be my fault before I give up on him. What I was wondering is does anyone have a "job description" or list of expectations they have set fourth? We have only had a verbal understanding and I'm having trouble getting everything on paper to present to him. Anyone willing to share?

[cgland]

Has anyone ever tried to use a head hunting service? Just curious.

Chris

[Dvmcmr]

Has anyone ever tried to use a head hunting service? Just curious.

Chris



Having dealt with head hunters myself while looking for work in past years my opinion of them isn't very high. They will try to sell both you and a potential new hire on anything you want to hear.

BUT, I suppose there are some good ones out there as well, you need to do your homework.

[Majesticman]

The best man I ever had was a cashier at the convenience store I bought coffee at. He was fresh out of high school and had a can do attitude. He got stolen after 5 years Chris :).

I am looking for a young man to start working and then take over the company in about 5 years. I don't want my company to die when I quit. I started it on a shoestring 23 years ago but I will not sell it to the competition that thought they could run me out of town or someone that will run it into the ground. The right guy can do it with no money and end up with a strong company.

[Meanix]

I think I could only sell or turn over my company to family. Not someone I have known for 5 years. I understand selling your client list. I am also guessing your name is not the company name?

[Mbella]

I hear ya Rob, but you never know....Often times, family and business don't mix well.

[Majesticman]

No, it is not my company name. I usually use Mr. Majestic (you may be too young) but it is used by too many people. I used to sell watermelons. No kidding!

I have a daughter that doesn't want it and a son in law that already is making the big bucks. I won't sell to in-laws because they would crash and burn once they had a $200K in their hands at the end of the year and the casinos would get all of it. It would be my fault and I wouldn't be welcome at my Mother-in-law's for Christmas. I love her dumplings.

It is not the customer list as much as the age of the company and name recognition that does the deed. We are mostly commercial so I will have to hang around until my customers trust them. The certification helps when you start but everyone uses it but Est. 1982 is much better because you have history. We have been around longer than certifying organizations. Pavetech was just starting back then and ICPI was a dream. Plus the lines of credit everywhere helps you get deals.

I saw one company I sold get trashed and don't want to see it again.

[JZap]

We have had some benefit from the crappy housing market, some of the construction companies have been giving up some workers that could easily transition from construction to hardscaping. Again, we look for the intangibles when hiring. Things you can't teach like people skills, sense of humor, willingness to learn, pride in work, etc. It's easier to train a hardscaper from another field than to re-teach a hardscaper with bad habits. IMO Maybe I could send them to the Rusk's "The art of pavers" Camp. hehe Stop stealin' EP Henry's catch phrases!

[Majesticman]

It's easier to train a hardscaper from another field than to re-teach a hardscaper with bad habits.

You have that right!

[SCgreenscapes]

You wouldn't believe the responses you get on craigslist. I got a bunch of junk, but I also got guys with 8-10 years of experience crying for a job. I had them send pics to help field the masses. I know that does not mean that those are always their work, but that at least helps narrow it down some until you get a chance to talk to them.

[Sodking]

I agree with Craigslist. Its my only form employment hire now...You get to prescreen through e-mail and chose the ones you want to call back...

[lawnkid]

Craigslist has worked out great from my experiences. I also like to go around and watch competitors crews for the guys who do good work. Then I swoop in like a hawk and steal them. You'd be surprised what some guys are making as a foreman. I hired a kid two years ago that had been working for a company for 6 years and he was only making $9.50 an hour.

[chardscapes]

I'm getting ready to call a hardscape laborer that was advertising on craigslist