Plumbing and Heating Mechanic Needed for Residential Service Work in NJ.

JohnNY

Great shop! Great learning opportunity! Grow with us!

Plumbing and heating/mechanical serivce company based in Essex County, NJ is seeking qualified, presentable, skilled mechanic, or possibly Mechanic-Helper team, to manage and perform residential service calls dispatched by a central office. Our company has a strong reputation for steam boiler and hydronic heating troubleshooting and qualified candidates should be skilled in this area and/or be willing to receive additional training both in the field and online, or in-house. However, common domestic plumbing repairs and installations will account for the bulk of the work and a strong backgroud in this field is a requirement, as is a valid driver's license. Salary/commission negotiable. We are eager to hire the right person(s) and intend to offer an attractive compensation package to maximize skilled staffing. Please reply with a résumé to info@torototherescue.com
ToroToTheRescue.com

JohnNY

Crickets again!

luketheplumber

tempting

JohnNY

Trying this again...
Still looking! Great opportunity!

SlamDunk

You have been looking for three years?

JohnNY

SlamDunk said:

You have been looking for three years?

No. I've been looking for 35 years. You interested?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

With all the work that you've shown us that you come across, I'd be there in a New York minute if I were 18 again.

All that amazing steam and hot water work that you see; never a dull moment and every day, something new to feast on.

Thirty years ago, there was a kid outside my business asking for work. Fresh off the boat, he said he used to help his uncle do plumbing in Nicaragua. I hired him and he went through the local PHCC apprentice training 4-year program. Out of all the people that I trained, he was the only one that really caught on to hydronics and he eventually purchased the company in 2007 and is now doing well.

He turned up out of the blue after I had spent a lot of time and money searching for someone, anyone with a pulse. You'll find someone, John.

mattmia2

Do it @luketheplumber

JohnNY

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes said:

With all the work that you've shown us that you come across, I'd be there in a New York minute if I were 18 again.

All that amazing steam and hot water work that you see; never a dull moment and every day, something new to feast on.

Thirty years ago, there was a kid outside my business asking for work. Fresh off the boat, he said he used to help his uncle do plumbing in Nicaragua. I hired him and he went through the local PHCC apprentice training 4-year program. Out of all the people that I trained, he was the only one that really caught on to hydronics and he eventually purchased the company in 2007 and is now doing well.

He turned up out of the blue after I had spent a lot of time and money searching for someone, anyone with a pulse. You'll find someone, John.

Great story, Alan. Thanks for the encouraging thoughts. I just had a guy leave last week after 17 years and another left last year after 21 years. I've got a fresh young crew now but it's a lot of work for me.

neilc

John,
can I / we ask why the 2 veterans left ?

SlamDunk

JohnNY said:

SlamDunk said:

You have been looking for three years?

No. I've been looking for 35 years. You interested?

Nope!

JohnNY

neilc said:

John,
can I / we ask why the 2 veterans left ?

One got his license and is giving it a shot on his own and another took a job with the Port Authority.

Mad Dog_2

Its brutal when you put your all in to an employee for years and they fly the coop.  Very disheartening even when you're happy for them.  The Port Authority guy will never be back, but there is a good chance the other guy will when he sees what you have gone through every day for decades to keep your guys working, educated, happy. The paperwork alone for a 5 man shop will choke a horse...forget about a Union Shop like yours!   Hope the new guys make you some $$  soon..  Mad Dog 🐕 

HomerJSmith

John, what you want is someone who is 25 yrs old with 50 yrs of experience. Good luck with that. Because you have the skills, you will be in great demand, so you had better not retire because America needs you. Lack of skilled labor is a worsening situation that is going to get worse.
https://www.oftwominds.com/blogapr23/labor-scarcity4-23.html

ChrisJ

I'm just guessing, but I think John wants someone who gives a crap and knows how to think. The rest will come naturally.

Both of those traits seem to be in short supply.

GermanPlumber

The shortage of skilled employees is bad . Not only skilled , people with a troubleshooting mindset who can think logically.  
John NY I feel your pain but eventually Mr.Right will show up ,lol. If I decide to make my American wife happy and move back stateside I would love to work with you . 
All the best ,

Mario 

HomerJSmith

John wants someone who gives a crap and knows how to think.

Ya, the guy that doesn't have one square inch of skin that isn't tattooed with purple hair.

JohnNY

HomerJSmith said:

John, what you want is someone who is 25 yrs old with 50 yrs of experience. Good luck with that. Because you have the skills, you will be in great demand, so you had better not retire because America needs you. Lack of skilled labor is a worsening situation that is going to get worse.
https://www.oftwominds.com/blogapr23/labor-scarcity4-23.html

Wow. Thank you, @HomerJSmith.

Steamhead

I've had people tell us the same thing. But time marches on and we don't get younger. One day we'll all be retired, hopefully.

And after that? Doesn't look good......

ChrisJ

Steamhead said:

I've had people tell us the same thing. But time marches on and we don't get younger. One day we'll all be retired, hopefully. And after that? Doesn't look good......

It'll be fine

As you know heat pumps are taking over and refrigeration takes no skill to install or work on.

So it'll all be fine 

One way or another.

HomerJSmith

John, what you need is an up and comer that loves the trade more than he loves his wife, then train him. When you go to a job and you and him encounter a failed situation, query him as to the problem and the solution. Then let him fix it with your guidance. He will learn more than if you fix it, yourself, or a lecture. In house training is important. Do like Ray Wohlfarth has done present it as problem/solution. It's like a game that stretches the imagination. I will remember his last problem and solution until I get alzheimer's.
That's what I like about this site. It's learning thru problem and solution even tho those posting on this site don't always post the problem accurately.

Go to the trade college in your area and offer an internship with a low compensation. If I were 20 yrs old, again, I'd jump at the chance. In fact, that's what my daughter did before she graduated from the School of Engineering at Cornell University. I guess, I'm bragging.

SlamDunk

Some of the brightest, brilliant, eager, young people at my company have major ink work and purple hair. I love working with them.

We get along well because I have silver hair, black makeup (soot) and scars.

Mad Dog_2

Some of the most honest folks with deep integrity are covered in Tats  and nose rings.  We have to get past that.  The clean cut Hollywood version of a plumber may rob your wallet and skeeve your teenage daughters out like Ted Bundy.  I have also met fine people in Bars...You're best bet is the recent immigrant groups...pick one.  The only problem I have seen with them is that after a few years, they buy a van and go out on their own...no license no insurance no taxes...no worries.. I've had personal experience here.  Poles, South Americans, Irish.  They have better cars than I do.  Mad Dog

Mad Dog_2

I forgot...my Doctor is about 60, Purple streak in her hair, arms  covered in Tattoos from her favorite band, Def Leppard....She's got numerous piercings, plays lead guitar 🎸  in a Metal band and Is straight outta Brooklyn. She gets 5 star reviews,.spends time with you and is old school.  We love  her like Fambly.  I'm over the tattoo piercing thing.  Let's get em in boots!  Mad Dog

Mad Dog_2

I got a good one for ya....Would you hire a convicted felon?   Depends, right?  I've hired Veterans that did not work out and guys that had drug arrests as a youth or a few fist fights that were real go-getters.  As long as someone is honest, they have potential to me.  Many of these guys really appreciate the second chance.  Mad 🐕 Dog

Steamhead

Mad Dog_2 said:

I got a good one for ya....Would you hire a convicted felon?   Depends, right?  I've hired Veterans that did not work out and guys that had drug arrests as a youth or a few fist fights that were real go-getters.  As long as someone is honest, they have potential to me.  Many of these guys really appreciate the second chance.  Mad 🐕 Dog

I had a boss who was burned by one of these, long before we started this company. Besides, what would the insurance company think of this? At least here, you can't (legally) work without insurance.............

Mad Dog_2

No one really cares  anymore.  I just lost a bid for a couple who couldn't understand why I wouldn't match the lowest bidder who is a Jack leg stumble bum...no lic. No ins...no taxes  no worries...guess who is doing the job?  Mad Dog

HomerJSmith

Mad Dog, you have to sell your services. Why hiring you would save them money in the long run. There are cheap quotes and reasonable quotes. You won't get all the jobs because some people are just plain cheap. I was told that there was a contractor that bid a job at 25K and when it reached 40K the owner asked why he was told it would only be 25K, the contractor said if I told you it was going to be more, I wouldn't have gotten the job. Go figure.

No one really cares anymore. I just lost a bid for a couple who couldn't understand why I wouldn't match the lowest bidder who is a Jack leg stumble bum...no lic. No ins...no taxes no worries...guess who is doing the job?

Just tell them, I don't do that kind of work.

Mad Dog_2

Thanks, Homer. You're preaching to the choir.  Struggled w this 25 yrs ago . Barely phases me anymore..the only reason I mentioned it is because the potential client WAS a 50 year friend.  I have found in my 4 decades doing this, that the worst conflicts with pricing is from people you know very well.  They obviously think you OWE them because they know you so long.. Hey...you're not my brother  dude! This person is very wealthy and charges top dollar in his field..But I need to match a super-low Unlicensed bidder...Mad Dog