“Hiring Right” mini-series for Contractors – Part 4 of 6 (No-Fail Interview Questions to Ensure Candidate is a Right Fit…)
Hiring the wrong person for an important position within your contracting company can be a frustrating and costly mistake.
Unfortunately, it happens far too often in the construction industry.
Many tradesmen spit-shine their written applications to make their skill level sound much better than they really are.
It’s not until you’ve already hired them that you realize they don’t have the skillset their resume or application reflected!
The problem, in most cases, comes down to interviewing techniques that don’t reveal if a candidate’s skills actually meet your needs.
In part 4 of my 6-part “Hiring Right” mini-series for contractors, you’ll discover my field-tested approach to becoming a great interviewer.
Watch today’s video to discover the little-known secrets great interviewers use to gain clarity and confidence, so you can begin to hire the right people for the right positions, without second-guessing yourself.
“Hiring Right” mini-series for Contractors – Part 3 of 6 (Proven Phone Screening Process Weeds Out the Time Wasters…)
Okay, contractors and construction business owners, be honest…
How often throughout your career have you invested time interviewing someone, only to realize when it was all said and done, you’d just wasted hours of your valuable time?
It’s a common problem that happens far too often.
Well, after having that same dreadful experience myself years ago, (and never want to repeat it ever again), I decided to create a foolproof phone screening process, that lets you quickly and confidently identify whether the prospective candidate is worth interviewing in person or not.
It’s a massive time saver and confidence booster, and I want to share it with you!
In part 3 of my 6-part “Hiring Right” mini-series for contractors, you’ll discover my simple, proven steps and easy-to-follow outline, which will help you save time by screening out candidates that are NOT a good fit before you interview them.
If you’re interested in the entire suite of tools, including a phone screening checklist, and interview questions, check out my course – Contractors Hiring Blueprint where you’ll get training videos, checklists, and resources for finding and recruiting, and onboarding great employees!
“Hiring Right” mini-series for Contractors – Part 2 of 6 (Clarity Helps You Hire Better)
If you’ve owned your contracting business for any length of time, you have no doubt been on this disheartening adventure…
…You spend the time and effort finding and hiring someone you thought was the right fit for an important role in your company, only to discover shortly after they start, they were not!
Don’t worry, I’m not judging, it happens to the best of us. 😊
You see, the problem, in part, is due to a lack of clarity about WHO the right person for the job truly is.
That’s because we often mistakenly believe that a “job title” means the same thing in every company.
Spoiler alert – IT DOES NOT!
You may be asking, “Is there a way to be clear and confident about WHO the right person to hire is BEFORE you even begin the interview process?”
The short answer is, YES, and in part 2 of my 6-part “Hiring Right” mini-series for contractors, I show you how doing one simple thing before you begin your next search will greatly stack the odds in your favor of hiring a more skilled and qualified employee.
Click the link below to watch the video and gain a boost of confidence in your hiring process.
“Hiring Right” mini-series for Contractors – Part 1 of 6 (Avoid this Common Mistake)
Contractors and Remodelers, tell me if you can relate…
Your company is growing, (and so is the pressure and stress) so you start looking to find good talent to hire.
You beat the bushes and find what you think will be a great addition to your team…
After spending a lot of time and energy getting your new hire up to speed you come to realize that while the person was helpful, they really didn’t take as much pressure or stress off your plate as you had hoped.
…Maybe you feel like it’s time to take the leap and make a big hire within your company, but you’re just not quite sure which is the right position to fill.
A common mistake made by busy contractors when it comes time to hire is forgetting to first take personal inventory.
It’s so important to first assess where YOU are as an owner or manager and how and where you are spending your valuable time.
The first thing you want to ask yourself is: Where is the best place for you to be spending your time, in order to bring the most value to your business?
It’s within those areas you want to consider making your next hire because that is where you and your company will benefit the most. Today’s short video focuses on a simple and effective way to make that vital assessment, so you can confidently know the right person to hire.
recruiting best practices (in a post-pandemic economy)
Construction contractors, it’s time to address the elephant in the remodeled room…
The reality is – finding qualified people in the construction trades has become more challenging than ever, in this post-pandemic economy.
Unlike many unscrupulous “GURUS” and guiltless consultants in our industry, I’m not here to tell you it can be easy – because that would be a lie.
What I AM going to tell you is that when you implement a few practices around HOW you recruit, you’re far more likely to attract highly qualified and skilled candidates…
…And not only that, but you will also spend a lot less time and a lot less money on hiring and recruiting.
In this week’s Recruiting Best Practices (in a post-pandemic economy) blog you’ll discover:
- Why is it more effective to view recruiting as a “continuous process” rather than the more typical perspective of seeing recruiting as a “project” …
- The benefit of continuous recruiting will combat the “raises by blackmail” that so many business owners face. (You’ll always keep the upper hand and never be at the mercy of an employee again).
- The reason why it’s smart to keep posting job ads, even if you don’t have any current open positions. (This one simple strategy will allow you to always have the “pick of the litter” when it comes time to hire.)
- How to interview people honestly even if you’re not looking to hire anyone right away. (It’s about building long-term relationships, so when the time comes, you’re working WARM leads rather than shooting in the dark.)
- That you won’t hurt the morale of your current staff if they know that you’re actively recruiting people for positions that are already filled… In fact, they will respect you more as a leader and take more pride in their work!
- And much more…
My guest Ed Earl with Contractors Staffing Source has been in the industry for over 20 years as a construction manager and coach, and truly understands the construction industry and how to build great teams… And be sure to check out the screening tools they use at Contractors Staffing Source.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I share my “Hiring Right” mini-series – all geared at helping you be better at recruiting and hiring great people for your team!
Three Part Succession Planning Mini-Series: Part 3 – SOLD! how this husband and wife contractor team successfully sold their business!
If you’ve owned your contracting business for any length of time, and have asked yourself the inevitable question: “How’s this going to end?” you are in the right place…
In the third and final installment of this three-part succession planning mini-series, I’m sharing an interview I did a few years back with contractors Tom and Barbara who worked through the challenging up-and-down process of transitioning out of their business.
Whether you’re considering selling your construction company, looking at retiring, or simply wanting more free time doing what you enjoy, building systems that can sustain success in your absence, as Tom and Barbara point out, is key.
Discover the ins and outs of how they were able to successfully set themselves up with a great ROI for the many years of hard work they put into their business.
Succession planning isn’t always straightforward, and today’s video will show you how to identify and sidestep some of the often-overlooked challenges of selling your construction company.
When you’ve finished watching this video, if you haven’t already, be sure to watch the interview I did with Tom and Barbara’s son Louis in Part 2 (published last week) to get a birds eye look at what HIS experience was. It’s quite eye-opening and chocked full of important lessons.
Leave a comment below and let me know if this series was helpful.
Three Part Succession Planning Mini-Series: Part 2 – How to successfully succeed your business to the next generation
Succession Planning Mini-Series Part 2 of 3: “Lessons from Louis…”
Like many family-owned companies, it was just an assumption from the time Louis came on board (after a stint in the hotel industry) that he would take over one day, but they, unfortunately, failed to plan anything out for the first few years…
In fact, it took several years to make a clear decision together that he would take over the business.
In hindsight, Louis said it would have kept things simpler and helped save money if they had sat down for those conversations much earlier.
If the thought of transitioning your business to the next generation sounds scary or impossible, part 2 will open your eyes to the good, the bad, and the sometimes, yes, even the ugly, reality of being in business with family.
In this highly informative interview, Louis shares the details of how his parents successfully succeeded the business to him and gives a candid look at what worked, and what didn’t.
And to help you save time and avoid as much frustration as possible, Louis generously shares his powerful 12-point checklist of the proven strategies they used to help make it all successfully come together.
Whether you’re looking to simply work less in your business, or transition it to the next generation, building systems that can sustain success in your absence is key.
Get Louis’s free checklist 12 Tips to Successful Succession
Three Part Succession Planning Mini-Series: Part 1 – How to Get your contracting business ready to sell
If you are a construction contractor looking to sell or transition your business, this 3-part succession planning mini-series will be very helpful…
In this informative interview with David Lupberger, he’ll share the behind-the-scenes details about how he transitioned out of his contracting business and how to get your business set up to sell for top dollar.
David expertly walks you through some important questions to consider as you think through the next phase of your professional life.
Not only that, but David will also show you step-by-step how to seamlessly transition more of the day-to-day tasks to your team, ultimately providing you with more choices and options about how you spend your time.
If you are thinking about selling your contracting company, this informative interview with David shines a light on the big picture, and how to strategically think about transitioning your business.
He also provides a powerful list of things you can begin doing RIGHT NOW to help you quickly get started.
Be sure to also check out parts 2 and 3 of this succession planning series where I interview the current and previous owners of a design-build firm who successfully transitioned their business to the next generation.
Finally, be sure to check out David’s “Exit Assessment” tool that will help you immediately identify what areas of your business you can begin to transition now.
Ed Earl provides workable solution for managing emotional and challenging clients
All contractors hold this truth to be self-evident… That all clients are not created equal.
Often during my initial check-in with new clients, I find myself listening to frustrating tales of woe, about their challenging or difficult clients.
90% of the time those stories involve an emotionally indecisive homeowner or an impossible-to-please demanding client with unrealistic expectations.
It usually comes down to the contractor secretly wishing the client would just trust them and let them do their job! After all, they hire you for your expertise, right?
Have you ever found yourself wanting to shout out loud – “JUST MAKE A DECISION and pick the tile you want – otherwise this kitchen project will never get finished!”
If so, you are in good company, because it happens to the best of them!
While talking with my friend Ed Earl (affectionately known as the Zen Builder) about his unique approach to managing clients, I instantly thought – “gosh, my clients and followers would gain HUGE value from hearing Ed share his time-tested insights for optimizing the client experience.”
Today’s video is rich with actionable advice as Ed shares his proven strategies for understanding and expertly managing the client relationship.
You’ll discover some powerful insights that will help you AND your client have a better, more satisfying experience throughout the construction process.
As a bonus, at the end of the video, Ed shares a little-known resource that will definitely help you create a better “win-win” on your next project!
You can get your copy of it here
what the Grand Canyon taught me…
I love the contracting industry and I am grateful for the life it has allowed me to build…
As I watch with bated breath and a bit of anxious concern about what is happening to our country and the economy, it draws to mind an experience I had while hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back.
You see, for 30+ years, I’ve lived in the trenches of our industry, I’ve paid my dues, and I put my heart and soul on the line day-in-and-day-out, providing timely insights, expert direction, and proven actionable advice to help hardworking contracting business owners as you succeed.
I’m laser-focused on making sure the content I publish helps my readers, clients, and community members successfully navigate the days, weeks, and months ahead.
The other day, I came across the blog post I wrote shortly after my Grand Canyon hiking experience. That tough journey taught me 4 key lessons that correlate perfectly to all of us in business, especially during these uncertain times.
I’m sharing it again today in hopes that you too will find the wisdom in these words helpful.