Saw shop requirements

[Fish]

The other thread discussing resume`s brings a valid question to mind.

How many saw/mower shops require resume`s, job apps, drug tests?
Most here in Ky. barely require conciousness or breathing, let alone
drug tests.
If they mention drug tests, I just say, it might be pure light beer, bit you
won't find any drugs...................

When I drop in by a shop to see if they are hiring, I cheerfully ask if they
are in need of a good mechanic, and if they say, "no".
I will come right back and say, "Well how about a chitty one, I can do
either?"
Just curious if any of the northern shops have any of these hiring practices.

 

[Kenskip1]

Fish,
I would start with a good neat and clean appearance.Ditch the tobacco products if used. A good mechanical aptitude will help. Have the owner give you a hypothetical situation.Do not try and snowball the man that you may be working for.Ask him how much he takes the raker's down.What grit wheel is he currently using.What brand of grinder he has.After a complete interrogation from you, offer him a handshake before you leave the door.Look about his shop. Does he have old deer mounts hanging about? How about old fishing rods and reels? Does he have a picture of NASCAR drivers on the wall? Any of these elements may help you get your foot inside the door.Hope this may help, Ken

 

[Fish]

Well I never take off my "Jeff Gordon Ballcap", could that be a problem?

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Well I never take off my "Jeff Gordon Ballcap", could that be a problem?

When I get my shop out in the open, and running full tilt, Im going to require a background check, drug test, 3 recc's and none can be family, Ill require them to have reliable transportation, and require them to NOT use tobacco products on the premises.

1. no felons
2. No druggies
3. If you cant find at least 3 people who think highly of you, gtfo
4. I need you to be able to get to work in a timely manner...hitching a ride from freinds isnt relaible.
5. No tobacco use. I dont want my shop smelling like smoke, its unsafe around gas fumes, and "smokeless" tobacco is just nasty, I dont want it on my stuff, or on my customers stuff.

I dont discriminate race or religion...but if you cant fulfill the above standards...I dont want you.

Also, if you promote Jeff Gordon...I will fire you on the spot, Im a Former Dale Sr. Fan, and a current member of the Jr. Nation.

 

[Fish]

Have you cave dwellers at least evolved to "lethal injection" for first time
misdemeanors?

 

[Lakeside53]

Have you cave dwellers at least evolved to "lethal injection" for first time
misdemeanors?

Huh? Way too humane. Decapitation, with an MS170, and RM2 chain mounted backards.


No rules in our shop... Just as well Smoking - not in WA, unless on an Indian reservation.

 

[Fish]

That 22 short in the temple gave you Floridians some bad press at Disney
world, eh? Just for breaking line.....
Giving the Mex's a bus ticket to Cinn. was a good idea though

 

[Wood Hick]

My favorite shop owner is training a young guy. Its quite funny at times, but we all start somewhere. He cracked me up not long ago when I walked in with an 028 WoodBoss. He immediately called for the owner to talk about an "old" saw. Guess i'm not getting any younger!

 

[Lakeside53]

I ressemble that remark!

 

[Hard Knocks]

Education and more education! I don't mean that I require a candidate to have a PHD but I do insist that they are trainable and willing to seek answers and information on there own. I would hire most Arboristsite members in a heartbeat because they are willing to search for answers on their own and share experiences with each other. I am very tired of spoon feeding so called experienced techs who tell me that they can't figure something out or don't know how to do it. Education is knowledge and knowledge is power!

 

[RED-85-Z51]

When my operation is humming, I would be willing to PAY a young person to go to the local COmmunity school for small engine repair, at my cost, as long as he would be willing to sign some sort of contract that he would finish the course and work for me afterwards.

unfortunately, younger folks arent willing to go to school after HS...even if it means expanding their knowledge and getting a solid job.

Also, IF YOU DONT HAVE A GED, or HS DIPLOMA...dont even bother applying.

 

[Kenskip1]

PHD? Oh yes, knowledge Piled Higher and Deeper

 

[SmokinDodge]

When I get my shop out in the open, and running full tilt, Im going to require a background check, drug test, 3 recc's and none can be family, Ill require them to have reliable transportation, and require them to NOT use tobacco products on the premises.

1. no felons
2. No druggies
3. If you cant find at least 3 people who think highly of you, gtfo
4. I need you to be able to get to work in a timely manner...hitching a ride from freinds isnt relaible.
5. No tobacco use. I dont want my shop smelling like smoke, its unsafe around gas fumes, and "smokeless" tobacco is just nasty, I dont want it on my stuff, or on my customers stuff.

I dont discriminate race or religion...but if you cant fulfill the above standards...I dont want you.

Also, if you promote Jeff Gordon...I will fire you on the spot, Im a Former Dale Sr. Fan, and a current member of the Jr. Nation.

All this for $8 an hour. Where do I sign up?

 

[RED-85-Z51]

All this for $8 an hour. Where do I sign up?

If you work for me, you are an extension of me. you represent me, my standards, and my shop.

If I have some kid leaning over an engine, spittin chew into a bucket...wearing tattered cloths hair all messed up, and using very poor grammer to customers..that makes me look bad.

8/hr is all mechanics get paid? damn:jawdrop:

I pull 50/hr right now as the owner/sole operator. But then I have to pay for everything, so I guess it all evens out...

 

[Kenskip1]

Fish, I had a very good friend back in NY. His wife lost both legs due to diabetes.Well she loved her garden and the lawn around it. Her husband bought her a used Snapper that was modified to her needs. It mowed well except when she mowed around her garden. Simply it would die. Her husband would come out and give it a pull and she would be off again until she went around this part of the garden. then it would again die. They called the dealer and they watched her.They replaced the ignition switch, the points and condenser, still the same thing.John called me one day and I went over and we had several brews. She was mowing and this thing died again. I asked how long this had been going on. He told me since the day he got it.I told him that I think that I could fix it. Well after about 5 restarts, she pulled it up to the porch. Her husband lifted her onto her wheel chair.Kathy said that it did all she wanted but the damn thing kept stopping on her. I told her that I think that I know what the problem was.I had John help me tip this thing onto it's side.Kenny, she thundered, what are you doing to my mower? I asked her if she had a turkey baster. She thundered back, of cource I have one. What kind of a farmers wife do you thing I am?I asked for a clean glass also.Well to cut to the chase, I used the turkey baster to dray out about an ounce of water that was in the gas tank.What was happening was that the lawn near the garden had a bit of a slope to it.When she would mow the water in the tank would be forced by centrifugal force directly beneath the gas pick up.Now anyone knows that gas is lighter than water. The water being heavier the engine would not be able to pick it up. As the engine died, the water would flow to the lowest part of the tank. Mystery solved.She made me a wonderful home made chicken dinner. She finally succumbed to her diabetic condition about 2 years later. Ken

 

[NYH1]

All this for $8 an hour. Where do I sign up?

How much does a chainsaw/small engine tech/repairman get paid?

 

[Mr.]

The problem is most small engine techs aren't worth more than a Mcdonald's employee.

It messes up the scale.

A good one should make as much as a good auto tech. @$20

Fred

 

[DOLMARatOs]

Wages

Saw techs and small engine techs are WAY underpaid usually because they aren't that good or the shop they are in is a POS.

Our wages for highly qualified multi-talented techs.

$9.50 per hour base pay, overtime applies.

$5.00 paid per billable hour (no overtime on this amount of course)

5% commission on any new sales (Multi-talented)

5% commission on all parts used in equipment.

We'd like to see productivity of 65-75% depending upon the season. If we are slow I'll only guarantee 40 hours per week (I can keep an employee busy even if it's with a broom and dust-pan).

So far I haven't found an applicant that was able to pass the practical knowledge questions.

 

[mysawmyrules]

Not to change the workplace being discussed but our farm in northern Alberta (I can get to Alaska in 12 hrs.) is competing with a massive oil and gas sector that is milking our labor pool dry we were not only forced to lower the bar we had to knock it right off the stand and are prepared to hire and fire as many as it takes to find some diamond in the rough. We even start guys at 15$ (Canadian of course) and still roll snake eyes more often than not . Actually downsized and rented out shop space. Different areas different business and the same problem.

 

[Kenskip1]

Shop requiements

Now I live in a small town in Texas. I have been doing small engine repairs for the last 18 years.I have been doing small engine work in my garage since 2005. I needed an air filter for a Honda. I went to the only small engine shop, spent some time with him and repaired a broken flywheel key in a newer briggs in less than 15 minutes. I was hired on the spot. 7$ an hour to start.Well I left in 4 days because of the poor quality of the mans work. He was charging a very high fee for doing next to nothing. He would grind the raker's down to nothing and tell the customer that it would cut now..After my 2nd day he bumped my pay up to 8$ an hour.I was unhappy with the way he was doing business. I left on good terms but it is simply unacceptable on what he charges. Ken