Hiring by Craigslist

The last time I was hiring on a regular basis, I would place an ad in the local paper, screen the calls, interview less than 5 and hire. But the local paper lists the different ads alphabetically and not only is there not ever an ad starting with Roofer, there is rarely even a listing under "R". But in addition to Roofing the R category includes Restaurant and Retail. The fact that they no longer advertise for help in the paper convinced me to go Craigslist.

Some weeks back as I started a 53 square 10/12 job, I ran a Craigslist ad for help only promising a temp position, but stating permanent employment was a possibility. The only experience I required was "working on a steep pitch in safety compliance". The wage was $16. per hour.

I got about 20 responses within 10 hours and cancelled the ad. About a third of them I could tell were useless and after emailing the remainder and judging their replies, I thought there were 6 guys that were worth seeing.

I interviewed three guys, 2 looked good, but all 3 were only interested in being paid cash. I checked the other three guys I was interested in and they too were expecting cash.

I had to bite the bullet and pay a guy cash, but instead of having him work for me three weeks, I only used him on 2 days when we loaded the roof. He could have worked out long term, too. He was an ex-union carpenter. But he was addicted to unemployment extensions.

I don't know if the paid-in-cash mindset is widespread throughout Craigslist, mostly just in roofing or if my wording in my ad somehow only attracted guys on unemployment that wanted to stay on unemployment.

quiet woody your givin her ideas :laugh:

Many of you have been quite generous over the years when I was having trouble keeping the lights on so you still being part of our family is payment enough.

But perhaps you can see why I am such a hard-ass with those guys that are promoting their product in the Forum without my divine approval. Not fair to those who pay.

34 visitors online right now. Scroll down at the very bottom of your screen and there is a count of who is online at that moment.

14,136 wow, that's impressive. Just think what it would be like if you could somehow get $1. per month out of us deadbeats.

I'm not sure if I'm brave or just plain stupid. :laugh:

Dear Wywoody: 14,000 visitors last month. Well, 14,136 to be exact. As I write this there are 24 visitors online here. Only the brave dare to post here.

wywoody, there are a lot of guys that come here that do not post anything.

Vickie, I didn't consider and ad here because I (probably wrongly) assumed that ever since RoofsRus stopped posting, I was the only one within 150 miles of me that read this site. If the large project I anticipate comes through this Fall, I'll try it out.

The thing about the guys on unemployment is the "live for the moment attitude" they seem to have. Like it is more important to drain every dollar they are eligible for without considering that they need to also be establishing minimum hours to qualify for future benefits.

I was offering above-the-table employment with a layoff that would allow them to return to unemployment, but getting 120 hours towards the 680 required in Washington to be eligible in the future. I blame the continuing extensions for distorting the whole system and think there is a rude awakening coming to lots of people.

Good gig if you can get it. Cash work, unemployment and a subsidy for not growing corn.

What's truly disconcerting about the CL applicants....try finding a "sub" on there :laugh: I'll stop now

Most of the time, applicants expect to be treated as exceptional, paid in cash and paid by some sort of cut and/ or per sq/ piece price....or something.

They evidently get this without knowing our procedures or what is expected of the final job. Must have been that way on the last 20 or 30 crews they worked on. Why would they expect anything different here? :dry:

So as to the original question woody: Seems it has always been like that around here. As soon as I start talking about wages, benefits, a job for that matter....they are gone. Looking for "Opportunity".

Like Chuck says, crunch the numbers. they don't lie. Never did.

$16 hr cash = $16 hr, $640 a week, or $2,560 a month. ( assuming 40 hrs) and $16 hr. minus taxes = $12 hr, $480 a week or $1,920 a month. ( do you provide health insurance or would they have to pay for it themselves? )

If they are getting $350 a week unemployment and $400 a month food assistance. ( plus that may be qualifying them for a hefty Obimbocare subsidy or freebie ) That's $1,800 a month without working including health insurance.

So they can work on a roof all day 5 days a week and get $1,920 a month or sleep all day and get $1,800 a month. There's no sales tax on the food assistance so up that to $1,840 a month or like you said, roughly the same amount for working. Add in whatever cash they get from working here and there and other means and not working the full time job pays much more than doing it. :blink:

I have hired people off of this site in the classifieds.

I hired 2 brothers that came to work for me everytime I was backed up on work.

One guy was living in Washington State. Bought him a bus ticket and he worked for about a month and moved on. Was worth it to me. Got me over a hump.

I became so disappointed in people I knew that said "Why should I work when I make the same amount on unemployment" You see their character right then. If they are cheating the unemployment system who knows what else they cheat on.

Send me your ad and I will put it on the RCS classifieds for you. Why didn't you think of that to begin with? Haven't you ever noticed we run roofing classifieds?

You have to glean through the ones that apply. Most will be just trying to stay on unemployment. They have to apply for work to stay on unemployment. When they answer the add, they have applied for work.

But you can find good workers on Craigs List. I have found that people that have worked in resturants are good workers. They are used to long hours, hot working conditions. They are also used to taking their break when their is nothing to do. Instead of at a certian time.