If you say so.

Congrats on the growth Shaun. It definitely sounds like an interesting opportunity for the right person. I would agree that the pay sounds a little on the low side, at least by my local standards. But you’re also a young business so obviously there are budgetary concerns. If there are opportunities for growth maybe play that up a little more to help attract interest?

Benefits?

Working with Shaun.

Occasional electrical excitement.

I'm bored. Gimme some pizza and beer and I'll come over that way. I only want to work 3 days a week because I'll be busy visiting my sister and her family. And can I have the pizza and beer while I'm working?

Two past assistants have joked they should be paying me given all that they learned. ;)

Benefits
1 week paid vacation after 9 months

Paid holidays even though hourly

Surprise bonuses for exceptional work (completely subjective and minimal ($100 in cash) but I'm a big fan of little surprises... I give the guy I work with at the anodizer restaurant gift cards all the time, he cares about our window frames as much as I do. Same as the plater I work with) People like being recognized.

No stress, "need to take the day off to do something random" culture

I understand people saying it's on the low side but it really isn't. Some thoughts on the subject.

First, I have always wanted to hire apprentice level body shop guys. They make $15/hr for a long time with very little room for advancement. If someone applied with solid bodywork experience, they would start at $20/hr and move to $25 quickly with room for growth after a year.

A crystal ball for prospective employees would be helpful. My current tech was making $30/hr before his pandemic lay-off. He could have gone back to that job about 2 months ago. He likes the work, the atmosphere, the potential so much, he's staying. So that says something about working here. There is a level of reward in doing this work that isn't found in many other jobs.

I have started people off at $20 and $24/hr and it was like setting a pile of cash on fire for 3 months and then having to let them go because while they could do "decent" work they couldn't do exceptional work. The only way I could pay someone $30/hr starting off is if they have already done this level of work. That is such a minuscule pool, it's not even worth trying to find that unicorn. Have talked with Paul Russell, RPM and many other high end shops, all customers, and the best you can hope for is to find a person with the right mindset vs. one with experience. Same unicorn in the eye of a needle in a haystack though, the needle might be a little bigger.

I have hired 3 such unicorns in 5 years. One was brilliant but after 6 months followed his gf to Ohio. Another was excellent but I didn't really like him as a person, he was trained as an electrician, never worked as one, and was the kind of guy who would see that you just flipped a breaker but would sell you a complete house re-wire. Yuck. Third is my current guy.

All three had to be trained from scratch, all three excelled in 3 months. Have had others and they lasted 2-3 months, most were really good guys that liked the work and really tried to do it but it just wasn't in them. Apparently a lot of people think they are detailed oriented and are a perfectionist but they just aren't. We are developing a test for when I get more applicants.

A customer's son stopped by yesterday, he's in commercial real estate, mostly analysis and really has his finger on the pulse of the economy. We talked for a half hour about the economy and job market. I wish I had taped the conversation but the net-net was wait until after August 18 to post an ad on CL, Indeed, etc. He said I should be back to my 30+ applicant pool then. That said, when relaying that to friends at a party last night, everyone agreed the kind of person who is waiting to see what the government is going to give them to stay unemployed is not the kind of person I would hire. Agreed. Still, strange times all around so I'll wait unless someone comes up from this post or others.

I completely agree Matt on playing up potential for growth, that's a good suggestion.

Congratulations on finding 3! Yes, it's all about attitude* and finding people you want to work with, not just someone who can do the job. Makes finding someone extra challenging.

*That said, I have had people with the best attitude, really tried, but just couldn't do the work. It's hard letting them go.

I resemble that remark.

Sounds like finding someone to grow is exactly your goal, so definitely!

Just want to say, sent some parts to Shaun @ Tru6 and wish I had sent more. Perfect, makes sense the business is doing well.
Aigel has a good point about rewarding's a current employee for referrals of a new worker. The best employee I ever had & have never been able to find again, was better than I at most things and I didn't have to train him. Training is expensive. A few years later someone doubled his pay and benefits, so I was happy for him on that level and we are good friends to this day. If you have a talented employee, the business can cover a lot of ground.

This sounds more like an internship than a regular hire which is why the pay seems low. Your top customers with that top dollar Ferrari would demand your top techs I would think if they know any better.

So that's a solid no on the pizza and beer?

Only pizza Nick. Beer is best after a long day. Gin & tonic works too.

Okay, I'll skip the beer during the day but you have to provide the Gin and I don't want any of that cheap stuff. No Gordon's Gin! <<< there's irony in that.

only drink bombay sapphire

It's settled then! When do I start? On a side note would you call my wife and tell her I'm being paid more than just pizza and gin and tonics for the job?

If it helps much, some of my best paint jobs were done after 5pm when the beer started flowing. But to be fair that was back in the day of lacquer paint.