I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Elias D wrote:
I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Good luck in even finding somebody w/ all those qualifications who's
looking for work--if he's got that, he's already employed.

W/ nothing to go on as for where this small metro area might be, no real
clue on what your local wage scale might look like. Here, a rural, 20k
town, _if_ you could find such a person, it would probably take $15/hr
minimum to have a chance to keep them as unemployment here is 3% (and
that's up from the barely over 2% of a year ago).

--

"Elias D" wrote in message
...
I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

My thought is that your subject line is wrong. If he is skilled, he is not
a helper. What you want is more of an apprentice type person that has some
knowledge and is willing to learn. A skilled self starter as you describe
has self started himself into a $25+ job, but that talented apprentice may
be had for $15 if you can find one.

FWIW, I have two people working for me right now that are skilled as you
describe. They charge me $40 an hour shop rate and are well worth it.
Don't let rates be the only factor either. I just got rid of an electrician
that was $45 and kept the $60 one because he is cheaper.

dpb wrote:
Elias D wrote:
I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.
Thoughts??

Good luck in even finding somebody w/ all those qualifications who's
looking for work--if he's got that, he's already employed.

W/ nothing to go on as for where this small metro area might be, no real
clue on what your local wage scale might look like. Here, a rural, 20k
town, _if_ you could find such a person, it would probably take $15/hr
minimum to have a chance to keep them as unemployment here is 3% (and
that's up from the barely over 2% of a year ago).

--
Go visit local vo-ed center (if your town has one) and/or your local
Habitat for Humanity office. Explain your situation. Both places love to
help their alumni find gainful employment, and actually have an idea if
the people they refer know which end is up.

--
aem sends...

On Apr 21, 7:30*pm, dpb wrote:
Elias D wrote:
I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". *Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? *Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Good luck in even finding somebody w/ all those qualifications who's
looking for work--if he's got that, he's already employed.

W/ nothing to go on as for where this small metro area might be, no real
clue on what your local wage scale might look like. *Here, a rural, 20k
town, _if_ you could find such a person, it would probably take $15/hr
minimum to have a chance to keep them as unemployment here is 3% (and
that's up from the barely over 2% of a year ago).

--

I found one, but about $2000 of my tools are gone, he is still here,
denying anything, but I saw my tool box in his truck. Have
fun......Better yet, forget about it.

On Apr 21, 8:17 pm, Elias D wrote:

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.

What're you doing?

I pay $100/day for better than that (cash, and minimum) and food and
beer for help with small/ish jobs. My guys are *smart*, and
experienced, but don't have much more than basic tools.

If we were doing a major rehab or new, it would have to be more, maybe
$150.

Roofing? Minor repairs or new, maybe. Guys with more skills don't
have to do real roofing. A tear-off, I'd have to farm that out.

Been there, dood that, not looking for the back azimuth.
-----

- gpsman

"Elias D" wrote in message
...
I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Skilled helper? Is that an oxymoron?

Steve

In article ,
Elias D wrote:

I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Hire a smart kid with no experience and low self-esteem, for minimum
wage. Train him well. Treat him well. Give him frequent raises. In six
months you won't be losing money on him. In twelve, you'll be making
money. In five years, you'll have the best skilled helper on the planet.

In article ,
Smitty Two says...

In article ,
Elias D wrote:

I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with a
hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm interested
in include self-starter, moderate skills to include carpentry,
plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good measure.
Working environment is a small metro area with extended suburbs with
about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Hire a smart kid with no experience and low self-esteem, for minimum
wage. Train him well. Treat him well. Give him frequent raises. In six
months you won't be losing money on him. In twelve, you'll be making
money. In five years, you'll have the best skilled helper on the planet.

::clapping and cheering::

The problem the original poster posed is one of a standoff between a work force
that wants high wages handed to them on a platter, and an employer that wants
skilled labor handed him on a platter.

You have the solution - grow your own.

Banty

Smitty Two wrote in
news
In article ,
Elias D wrote:

I'm in an area where every worker that's ever pounded in a nail with
a hammer thinks he's a "good carpenter". Three quarters of the time
they don't have a clue how to cut a board square.

So, what will a skilled helper cost me? Qualifications I'm
interested in include self-starter, moderate skills to include
carpentry, plumbing, electrical with some roofing thrown in for good
measure. Working environment is a small metro area with extended
suburbs with about 150,000 people.

Thoughts??

Hire a smart kid with no experience and low self-esteem, for minimum
wage. Train him well. Treat him well. Give him frequent raises. In six
months you won't be losing money on him. In twelve, you'll be making
money. In five years, you'll have the best skilled helper on the
planet.

And probably a good friend...one you can trust.