Ad in paper
The ideal candidate for this job should be twenty-five
years old with ten years of education and fifteen years
of experience.
If you don't think employers place ads like this you have never tried finding
a job. Employers want the best and brightest and they want it cheap. Problem
is these kind of expectations can kill a business faster than...(add your own
metaphor here.) and that's fast! It's unrealistic but most employers secretly
harbor these kinds of expectations.
WHAT AN EMPLOYER SHOULD CONSIDER
Consider what a person may be going through when he/she shows up for an interview.
A job search isn't usually done under relaxed conditions. For many, the hunt
begins only after a pervious job has been lost. Every week without an income
eats into savings and damages the lifestyle a person may have worked years to
build. Desperation, can and often does, sets in. At this point some very talented
people may be willing to settle for less than they are actually worth. And there
you are, waiting to receive them, ready to take all those years of education
and experience at a greatly discounted rate. No, hold it, let me re-phrase that.
You're going to pay them crap because under normal circumstances you don't want
to pay for that kind of talent. But, since this person can't afford not to work,
you get some top talent at bargain basement prices. Aren't you the shrewd dude.
PROBLEM
How are you going to keep your new hire happy? You're paying crap, you knew
you were paying crap when the unemployed genius showed up. Let's say, for the
sake of argument, the wage you're paying for the work you want done is $10.00/hr.
This person happens to be worth, $25.00/hr. Why twenty-five? Count, say, four
years in school, maybe ten years experience and his last job paid $25.00/hr.
So he's been working under the assumption that someone else will pay him $25.00/hr
too. By the time he gets to your door he's settling for anything he can get.
BE PREPARED
Don't expect a long term relationship with this person. If the money isn't there pretty soon he won't be there either. It's only a matter of time before a better paying job pops up and your new hire will be an ex-employee.
Know how to deal with the frustration less money will bring. Remember, this
person is trying to support a $25.00/hr lifestyle on $10.00/hr. Where is the
other $15.00/hr coming from? I know it's not your fault but bills still need
to be paid. Bottom line: a frustrated worker is not an effective worker, a man
worried that he may loose his house is almost useless. And if his marriage is
suffering you can forget it. Sooner or later he's going to blame you and the
fact that you aren't paying him what he's worth.
THE SOLUTION
Make this a win-win situation by hiring him as a subcontractor. Four hours
of work will cost you $100.00. He'll be getting his full pay and you will see
what he's capable of. Advantages subs have over employees include: Zero office
space, most work from home. They're responsible for their own taxes and health
insurance and, best of all, if they want to retain your business, deadlines
must be met. Big disadvantages include: Loss of control. Standing in line, success
means there will always be other clients.
BEFORE
You hire a working stiff, ask if he would be interested in subcontracting some work. he's getting what he's worth and you're getting the work done. And that is what you are paid to do.