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Looking to hire my 1st employee .. - Not sure where to start-
- Thread starter ronl1975
- Start date
FatCat
New Member
Yeah, just started going through that beginning of this year. Definitely has been an eye open-er. The sad fact is, nobody cares as much about your business as you. Sadly, A lot of younger people (18-28) seem to look at a job as an inconvenience and something they do to pass the time until they win the lottery or invent some new widget worth millions. 
darrell
New Member
You can train most people on how to do the work. Although I would say material handing and using an X-acto or or Olfa knife can be difficult. It's the "soft skills" that are really necessary, can they handle pressure, showing up for work, general attitude and do they want to be part of making a successful business? Think... will they think I will owe them a paycheck just for showing up?. Some math and using a tape measure testing should also be done and computer skills like can they use a mouse navigate a file system etc... My next interviewees are going to also have to answers many questions about how they work with others. There are good articles on LinkedIn to.
anotherdog
New Member
You also make no money from your first employee, Unless you are really lucky...(or you steal from another shop), you will have to train and eat the "learning" expenses. Its only when you have a couple of motivated employees that you begin to make money and free yourself up to chase new work to feed them.
One other thing; You have to put all the gards back on the machinery. If your teenage employee gets a finger caught in the laminator, you are now working for them.
I wish you luck. I tried it a few times and none lasted more than a few months.
One other thing; You have to put all the gards back on the machinery. If your teenage employee gets a finger caught in the laminator, you are now working for them.
I wish you luck. I tried it a few times and none lasted more than a few months.
TheSnowman
New Member
It is REALLY hard to find anyone that will do you a good job, but I'm sure they do exist. We've been through three secretary's trying to find one that will actually do work, instead of play on the computer all day surfing the net, and never show up on time. My biggest pet peeve is people not being on time, and so far, I have yet to find one under 40 that will be there when they're supposed to be. I'd hate to think of having to hire someone to do the same work I do. I'm 30, and I've decided my generation basically is pathetic as far as working. There are lots of exceptions, but seems to be that 51% of people are working, and 49% of people now do not, and expect everything to be handed to them.
visual800
Active Member
Baz
New Member
That's risky and it's up to you if you are a gambling man. If you are looking at full time help you would have better piece of mind if they were on the books and you paying workers compensation (accidents do happen!). If you just need a pair of hands here and there then i don't see a problem with paying someone with a little cash.
Finding someone who will already know what to do in a sign shop will cost you allot more than finding some young kid with a strong back! Also .. Maybe you want someone with computer skills or someone handy with power tools .. Someone who is good at both is hard to find. Computer kids don';t want to go out and install ... Manual skilled kids don't have a frikin clue what to do with a computer other than youtube and porn.
More than likely you will have to train this new person. Costs you at first but after time they work the way you like them to.
Best of luck ... It's not easy ...
It has its advantages, but what happens if the "employee" hurts himself more or less badly while on your workplace? Cuts off a finger, get run over, drops down seriously sick on your shop floor or something other terrible. That can cost you a lot lot more than the regular fees on top of the salary. About the same thing as insurance, you pay for it for twenty years and nothing happens, but be without it and... Just sayin'...
Craig Sjoquist
New Member
Wow these are sad reports ...Sure was alot easier when I was hiring sign painters in the 70's & 80's & we all worked for shops around town, it was just great to get on a wall or in shop with others, did not matter who sold it, we left other shops customers alone & got the job done.
In Craigslist here there is a good demand for graphic workers several you see again & again but then those are most min. wage paying
Best advise I can give is let them talk ...listen & take note of the 1st 10 or so things they talk about.. that is what they are most concerned about.
In Craigslist here there is a good demand for graphic workers several you see again & again but then those are most min. wage paying
Best advise I can give is let them talk ...listen & take note of the 1st 10 or so things they talk about.. that is what they are most concerned about.
MrPixelPuppy
New Member
When looking to hire an employee, always look for someone that you can hire up. Computer experience is a must! Drivers license is also a must. Also tell them that you will run a background and drug test. If you do it is great. If you dont at least there is a chance that you will weed out some of the people.
Everytime i hire someone i let them know that they are not locked into a specific job description. So i advertise for sign shop help. If you work for me you will at one point or another work in different departments.
Expect you employee to
Answer phone
Weed graphics
Help keep shop clean.
Help unload media when delivered and load jobs.
Provide customer service.
Hem banners.
My guys know that during the hours they work for me i will always have them help out where help is needed. I will never ask anything of them that i would not do, and i always treat them the way i wished my boss to treat me when i was on the other side of the table.
If you hire someone that does not have the ability to be promoted you are wasting your time. Find the best in your employees and help them grow at it. Find the worst of their qualities and help them improve. At the end of the day you want a successful shop.
Best of luck
Daniel
Everytime i hire someone i let them know that they are not locked into a specific job description. So i advertise for sign shop help. If you work for me you will at one point or another work in different departments.
Expect you employee to
Answer phone
Weed graphics
Help keep shop clean.
Help unload media when delivered and load jobs.
Provide customer service.
Hem banners.
My guys know that during the hours they work for me i will always have them help out where help is needed. I will never ask anything of them that i would not do, and i always treat them the way i wished my boss to treat me when i was on the other side of the table.
If you hire someone that does not have the ability to be promoted you are wasting your time. Find the best in your employees and help them grow at it. Find the worst of their qualities and help them improve. At the end of the day you want a successful shop.
Best of luck
Daniel
WildWestDesigns
Active Member
That can also open up a whole new set of issues as well. Not just with the liability of what happens to the employee if they cut themselves or what not while on the job, but what happens if someone that you have pissed off decides to report what you are doing? Thing is if they do report you and your caught doing this, more then likely the powers that be are going to assume that you've been doing this in some form all along. That can lead to a hefty fine.
This might also lead to them finding out about other practices that are "iffy" as well. It quickly spirals downhill from there.
I'm too risk adverse to suggest something like that.
zmatalucci
New Member
I recently ran into a jam, and decided to contact Labor Ready for a couple of laborers. I have to say that my experience was very positive and affordable. I called at 3:00pm on Tuesday, and had the guys first thing Wed. morning. Pay rate is $15/ hour, and labor ready pays all of the taxes, workman's comp bs, and pays the employee direct.