I need an assistant
 

Put an ad on Craig's List, got no qualified response whatsoever. My sense is living in an automotive wasteland, I won't get a great response but was hoping for better than I got.

Any ideas on where I can find someone? Any suggested changes to the ad? Is $15/hr enough? I just started getting Ferrari stuff in and think that will really blossom once I get a few jobs back out to customers, so need someone very soon.

Here's the ad.

Tru6, specializing in vintage Porsche restoration, is looking for an assistant. We focus on surface preparation for best possible hardware plating, chrome, aluminum window frame anodizing and parts polishing, painting and powder coating. Previous automotive experience is a plus, but not a requirement. We are more interested in someone that has good focus and excellent attention to detail. This person must be eager to learn, ready to work with serious commitment and should have a real passion for these cars.

This is an entry level position as a general helper. Duties will include:
• unpacking and set-up of customer jobs and photography
• disassembly and cleaning of parts and machinery
• parts pick up and drop off at suppliers
• parts packaging and shipping
• shop clean up and organization

Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

This job is a part time position that will usually require between 20 to 30 hours per week.

Starting pay is $15/hr.

Absolute requirements
Drivers license
No recent tickets
Need to demonstrate a track record of good attendance at your previous jobs
Please provide 3 references

Maybe try a chem major from the local university/community college...
15 $ hour sounds very fair.
I would not mention porsche. Just mention plating methods. Maybe mention must know cathode from anode?

Maybe change assistant to shop helper?

I think this is your biggest issue, and a sentiment shared by many, spanning every profession/employer that posts a job listing there.

You might eventually find someone that fits, but with CL you will just have to fight the maddening signal/noise ratio.

You may have better luck with social media, or posting on sites like this one (and Rennlist/F-chat/etc.).

For specific job-search type listings, you might check out indeed.com. Still no guarantees there either. Good luck...

Talk to the guy who teaches auto repair at the local community college.

Or high school auto shop teacher.

He just did!

Brilliant way to place an ad without placing an ad. ;)

I have to agree that Craigslist is not a place to do recruiting. The suggestions to reach out to local schools is probably your best bet. I'd expect the community colleges and vocational/technical schools should have a career development/counseling department. That's who you want to connect with.

Facebook has been our best recruiting tool. $15/hr is reasonable out here in the corn fields, but I don't know about in the city. "Cleaning parts" seems vague. Cleaning with what? What kind of parts? Could be anything from sandblasting frames to dropping carb parts in an ultrasonic tank. Just MHO.

Good replies, thank you Gentlemen, I feel newly invigorated, and have some work to do tomorrow.

blast cabinets and paint stripper, working with the tumbler.

Have you tried "looking for a stripper" Shaun? :D

Seriously it looks like you're asking for entry level general shop help so I think your rate is more than sufficient.

Facebook and Linked In. Someone might know someone. That's what works for me.

Back in the day when newspapers where newspapers printed by skill pressman, the local paper routinely had a classified advertising for a 'Stripper'. Apparently it was/is a job dealing with presses or some other aspect of printer a newspaper.

Local jr college or high school. If high school, talk to their teachers and don't believe only one. They don't have to be interested in automobiles to start(I rather have it that way). People can be trained and their interest will come along as long as long as you are able provide training and the patient.

I used to think hiring from the trade schools was the only way. No go, everyone single of them want to build sky scrapers and none of them want to carry anything or clean up. Somehow, their instructors told them cleaning around the job site or facilities were not part of their job. They all seem to want to do the most interesting and difficult work, but no one (all four that I hired out of trade school) want to start at the bottom.

I would omit the cleaning part. Tell them in the interview.

My son, who will be a senior in H.S., is involved with a local Career & Technology center at a different school for the mornings during the week. I think if you have something locally like that, and talked to the auto shop teacher, he could find someone to help you.

Find a retired engineer/machinist/mechanic, looking to make some spare change? Other than the 50# lift, I'd post on the bulletin board of a local active adult community.

I pay a neighborhood kid to do the grunt work. Not just on the cars, but around the house and yard too. No kids in your hood?

You mention "taking things apart" and the shop that used to take care of our Porsche collection used to say "You learn an awful lot about what is wrong when taking things apart". In thinking back to my days as a nuclear machinist in the Navy, we always were careful when taking something apart, might tell you something.

I would suggest a couple things, the chance to start at $15 per hour, if really good, more money. Or a sliding scale depending on what you have the person doing, I.E. a Ferrari pays $25 per hour and a Chevy pickup pays $10 per hour?

Modify the post you made on FB with the suggestions here. Post it from your business page, do a boost post and target local car groups and clubs. Spend like $20 and I bet you will find someone. If you need help let me know, Facebook will put it right in front of the guys who need to see it!