Now Hiring – Must Have a Clue
Today I am siting at a an excellent little place named Bistro 412 located at 412 Main Street in Park City, Utah. What in the world am I doing in Utah you might ask, to which I would reply… none of your business. Of course I would then remember that you are reading this blog and it is my job to write about interesting things for the small sign shop owner. So I’m sorry for my bad attitude.
All right, what exactly am I doing here in Park City, Utah? Well, I am currently working on a project in Salt Lake City, Utah which is only about 30 miles away from Park City. Since I love movies, and I was so close, I thought it would be fun to go take a look at the place that hosts the world famous Sundance Film Festival. Every year Sundance attracts famous celebrities, film makers, agents & innocent bystanders to Park City to take a look at the new upcoming films and rising talent in the movie industry. From a practical viewpoint, this is an excellent place to see and be seen by those interested in breaking into show business.
So, what does this have to do with owning or running a small sign business?
Well I”ll tell you, just keep your pants on!
As I sit here considering the importance of the Sundance Film Festival to the movie industry, I got to thinking about the ways that we, as a small sign shop, find our own up and coming talent. How does a small sign shop typically find their rising new stars? What is the best way to locate and hire talented designers, production staff, sales professionals etc? To tell you the truth, I have no idea what the “best” way is but I do have a list of good ideas for you.
1. Local Trade or High School: This can be an excellent way to find some local enthusiastic part-time / beginner help for a sign shop that just needs someone who can quickly learn the basics of sign production and installs. Of course, this type of help is generally inexperienced but their potential interest in the sign & graphics field can more than make up for training required. If you find the right individual, you can guide their personal development and train up an excellent and loyal associate.
2. Newspaper Ad: This is generally a pretty expensive prospect as well as being a short term advertising opportunity. If you don’t find someone within a week or two your money has just been wasted. On the plus side, if you write your ad right and DO get lucky, then it is possible to find an local individual with exactly the right qualifications for your shop.
3. Craigslist: This is turning into an excellent way to put out online ads for specific positions for your sign shop. If you are in a market large enough to have its own Craigslist site then the opportunity to post FREE “Now Hiring” ads is a win-win for a small sign business. Just navigate to the “Jobs” section on the main page and look down until you find the right category you wish to post in. I guarantee you will find the perfect description whether you need sales staff, a designer or channel letter fabricator (skilled trade / craft). The down side for this medium is that you can have a tendency to get a whole bunch of unrelated applicants who did not take the time to read the qualifications you might have listed. Regardless, the worldwide exposure combined with the fact that its FREE makes Craigslist worth a shot.
4. Trade Forums / Websites: There are several sign industry websites available that offer free online job postings. After signing up (for free) you are able to post openings on SignWeb.com, SignIndustry.com, or Signs101.com for starters. These online resources are excellent for locating experienced sign industry professionals but I have noticed that you can run into problems with inquiries coming from all over the country.
So, while we still don’t have a sign industry equivalent of the Sundance Film Festival, there is a wide range of talent finding resources available to the sign industry. When you find yourself in need of good quality help give these options a try and find your own super star.