Where do you find top talent – people willing to work hard in challenging conditions? Alex Fransen says labor pains are the biggest obstacle the company faces as it grows. “We could grow so much this year, but we are not going to over-promise and under-deliver, and finding employees is our biggest hurdle,” he says.
Fransen knows he’s not alone in this struggle. So far, word of mouth has been the most successful recruiting method. “We have gained a lot of respect from our customers, and they go out of their way to tell friends and family about our services, so that helps us hire people,” he says.
Mainly, those referrals have been children home for college who can provide general labor. And this is truly a help. But Fransen also needs to fill full-time positions, and he’s not willing to hire just anyone off the street. In fact, he’s not willing to advertise just anywhere either. He learned that lesson the hard way with Craig’s List.
“I was burned a couple of times by people who had to keep their government assistance so they applied for a job with us,” he says.
Facebook presence, on the other hand, has brought in some positive leads. Before applying, potential employees can get to know the company, its work and its culture. Fransen has also invested in recruiting ads on Monster.com and Facebook advertising. (He backed off on Craig’s List.)
Because Fransen is focused on gradual growth, ensuring that projects are the right fit for his boutique design/build firm, he’s O.K. with hiring slow – real slow. “I want everyone who joins our team to be successful and happy here,” he says.
