Need office Tech, biz advisor and manager

jlpressure

JL Pressure Washing
I need to come into the 21st century in my office but don’t know how to find the help I need. I have always held off getting any kind of office help because I have a home office and just didn’t want to bring a stranger into my house. I did hire my nephew for 6 months that was a mistake
Well, I have attached to my house a 900 sq ft mother in law house that was my mothers and she passed away over a month ago (God Bless her, man I miss her) so now in January I will be moving my office into the In Law. It will be perfect for an office, plenty of space and my side of the house can be locked

Now about my office. It’s a MESS, my business keeps growing but my office has stayed the same. I am in the dark ages. It’s very sad if you were to look how I do things, I know it, but office end isn’t anything I know how to run, plus often I don’t have the time to do anything other than proposals and invoicing. Sure I get by in my caveman ways but my biz could even grow more. That all has to change!!!!! The actual washing end of my biz pretty much can run itself, well somewhat. I go out in the morning, get the crews out and my foremen run it from there

Right now I need A LOT more than just a secretary or office manager. I need someone smart, someone that knows business systems, someone that can set up the office computer end. Not even sure at all what I need and that’s the problem. How do I hire someone when I don’t know what to tell them to do. I also need an office person, to learn what this office tech sets up. I’m sorry I can learn a lot but I know I won’t retain it all on a daily basis and won’t have the time to do what’s needed daily.

Big QUESTION - How do I hire someone when I don’t know what to tell them to do and how do I find these people I need

I will pay what’s needed. It will be well worth it. I am thinking I need this ALL around office tech, business advisor setter upper kind of person LOL and a office manager or just a smart secretary. Have this tech come on full time for 2 months,, 3, 4, 6 months whatever and for support and then have full time secretary. I Need this office tech advisor to show me everything, my nephew set a few good things up and I don’t even know how to use them. I need someone that can do office programs, heck someone that can show me how to use a smart phone everything.
We are working in other areas other than Myrtle Beach, all over SC & NC. I see the potential and need for my company and I know how to go after work, but how I do it now isn’t efficient. I can grow this biz, but not with the office I have now

I know there must be plenty of qualified people that could do these two jobs. In this economy there has to be some great people out there. How the heck do I find them. Is there a service I could look to?

Thank you all, really need to do this, any help is appreciated
 
Good luck to you Jeff. It's a different culture and good help is hard to find. People think the job owes them instead of them owing their job their best.

I've got a similar setup as you with the "work at home" area. Except our work area is actually attached to the house via an enclosed breezeway (which is now another office) We've had it like this since 2003.

The work area has it's own bathroom, coffee station, ice and water. I've had a lot of people working here over the years and I can't think of more than a handful of times any of them ended up in the main house for any reason. I've had cameras in the work areas and an obvious looking camera right at the door that leads from the work area to the house.

As far as hiring goes. Prayer seems to help. After that here are my experiences:

1) High school kids that like money make good employees and they know technology.
2) Wives who's husbands are out of work seem to do well.
3) Men who are the primary breadwinner seem to do well, if you pay them well enough.

On the other end:

1) I've never hired a single college kid who knew his @@@ from a hole in the ground. They start off gangbusters and deteriorate into worthlessness pretty quick. They call in sick a lot.
2) Anybody who has had more than two jobs in five years is oftentimes worthless. I'd hire a guy who's been laid off 2 years but spent 6 years at his last job before I'd hire one who's scrambled and is still working but has had 3 jobs in the past 3 years. If he's moving around, there's usually a reason for it.
3) It doesn't matter if they are young or old, if they have "the world owes me" mentality they are going to be worthless.
4) As them about insurance. Many times that will open up the discussion about health. Then they will tell you about their "carpel tunnel syndrome" they got from their last 4 jobs and the "shift work syndrome" they got from working 3 nights as a security guard. Then toss 'em.

Anyway, that's some of my experience. Since 1998 we've hired about 19 or 20 and of those about 5 were outstanding, 10 or more were worthless and the others were average. So my experience is limited.
 
Hey Jeff,
Put an add in the local paper and put everything you said above in it. We were in the same position, didnt know how to set up an office. Found a girl who set us up, man she knew just how to keep us organized. After she got us organized she has time in her day to do Blogging, advertizing, cold calling and so on. I hope you find someone like that it will make your life so much easier. Good luck.
 
Big QUESTION - How do I hire someone when I don’t know what to tell them to do and how do I find these people I need

Jeff I would say you dont. I think you really need to sit down and figure out exactly what you want this person to do. Then come up with a job description. Just sit down with a pad and pen and start jotting down tasks you would want this person to do.

IE:

Payroll
Respond to emails
schedule jobs
update our website
plan safety meetings
whatever..
 
I know there must be plenty of qualified people that could do these two jobs. In this economy there has to be some great people out there. How the heck do I find them. Is there a service I could look to?

We have gotten most of our good people this year from craigslist. You could probably go there right now put up a little ad and the resumes will just flow in. I wouldn't be surprised if you got 100 resumes in one day.
 
Its tough to find a good office person. Craig's list would be a good resource, much better than the paper. At a min they will need to be able to use a computer to contact you and read about the job so there are some skills. Like Chris said make the list of what you require and other skills that would be helpful, thats how I would attack it. Good luck.
 
What's your budget? I'd offer to do it for you, but I'm in contract for the next year...
I have someone in mind, but she's not cheap either!
You're looking for a CFO. You may want to hire an "office girl", and have them on staff while you bring in the CFO. It will blow your mind how far that will take you!
 
Good read on Gen Y. On careerbuilder

Read it, seems like a selfish group to me in a way. Pretty much sums up what I already have seen

My boy is 8, he will be working a little the summer he's 10, more by 12 and by 14 he'll be working more during the summer. I talk to him a lot already about right and wrong, college and working for me or himself. He'll has already sold lemonade in front of our house. You have to start early with kids. I see so many teens and 20 year olds that have no clue how to justt even show up every dayy. I hear stories all the time about lazy workers and I see it with some I have hired. My kids are going to know how to work and make money

Good luck America
 
Pressure washing help

I hired my wife for the office and sales. She quit her job last year as a school nurse and now she is doing the accounting, helping with the hiring, and updating the web site I given her some leads and has done well on sales. What she doesnt know I will send her for a class or hire someone to come in for a day or 2 to show her the best way.

Oh before I hire anyone I pray with them.
 
I can't help you find the right one. But I literally just hired my first secretary this year starting Jan 2nd. And so far it is the best salary I spend on my payroll by FAR! She has organized our office and completely turned our company around. And she frees up time for me to get more work! I got lucky and found the right one right away.

Good luck to you, Jeff
 
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