How to hire good employees

r!ODAY many employers, because I they are anxious to sell their company to a prospective employee and fill a vacancy quickly, fail to analyze the job to be filled and determine the qualifications of education, experience and personal characteristics needed by the best possible person for the position. Then when the new employee fails to meet expectations or progress as anticipated, they wonder what's wrong and long for "the good old days when you could depend on the people you hired."

Really, nothing has changed except jobs have become more complicated and specialized, requiring particular skills and often a lot of on-the-job training. Our mobile and complex society also has essentially eliminated the possibility of hiring people identified with the community or referred by associates.

The first step for a company searching for a new employee, according to John T. Cole, John T. Cole and Associates, Inc., a forest products executive search and placement firm, is to identify the position to be filled, writing a job description. The level of experience required by the position should be determined.

This means deciding if the position is best filled by a trainee (someone with little or no experience), a person with three to five years experience or a seasoned professional. These qualifications also to some extent determine the age and maturity of the applicant sought.

In addition, the person who will do the interviewing and hiring should determine the type of person who will be compatible with the company and other employees. The image the hiring company wants to present to its customers and associates also should be considered, Cole says.

With these items pre-determined, the screening of those applying will go more smoothly and efficiently. References for those who seem qualified should be checked out thoroughly, Cole emphasizes.

Work habits, personal habits and the energy level of the applicants should be questioned as well as the usual queries about reliability, punctuality and ability to do the job. It is helpful for the person checking on references to have a written lisi of questions which he checks off for each applicant being considered.

Seasoned interviewers report that it is useful when checking references to use specific rather than general questions. For example, "How often was he late?" rather than "Was he punctual?". The specific question seems to trigger memories and make it easier to get a true picture of the person being considered.

The company's job is not over when the applicant has been selected and the details of hiring accomplished. In reality, the hard part is still ahead. A company must train a new employee to do things the company way, helping him to absorb the habits of the company while eliminating any false preconceptions of how and what he will do. The person responsible for training must help the employee to feel comfortable, accepted and a part of the company in addition to directing him in doing the best job possible.

"Tiaining is probably neglected more often than any other program," Cole believes. "How often have we seen or heard about the employer who tells the new employee that he will have a six month training period to learn the procedures and products and then after two weeks has other

Story at a Glance

Job description aids in selecting right employee for job proper screening of candidates .helping the new employee to adjust...developing capable, diligent, loyal workers.

crises in the business and forgets or fails to follow up on the training?" Cole asks. Then, he says, this same company will say, "We don't know why he didn't stay or why he isn't making it. We screened him carefully ! "

Training is important. Again, a basic outline of the material which must be covered should be written down. An employee handbook is a definite plus in training a new employee as well as maintaining high standards for those who are not neophytes.

Company policies, products and service to customers should be clearly outlined. One person should be responsible for monitoring the training program. A definite time period should be established. Constant evaluation of the employee should be maintained with praise as well as suggestions for improvement.

The trainer should encourage questions after he has explained a procedure. His attitude should be friendly and relaxed when he reviews procedures. Problems should be solved as they arise, not months later when they are really causing trouble.

The trainer should encourage suggestions from the employee and be flexible in accepting a better way to do the job. He also should expect mistakes, accept them calmly and do whatever is necessary to prevent a reoccurrence.

When problems come up, the trainer should alert the employee in a tactful, friendly way. He should work with the employee in setting guidelines for performance and behavior, allowing the employee to share in the decisions and feel a part of the responsibility. This will develop more loyalty and desire to do the job right than negative criticism.

Equally important is the necessity of keeping the employee informed. Tell him if he's doing a good job. Tell him where you would like to see improvement. Show the employee that you are interested in him as well as the job he is doing.

New Virginia Association Exec

Thomas R. Hartley, new executive director and secretary of the Virginia Building Material Association, was introduced to the membership at the annual Management Conference at the Ramada Inn On The Beach. Virginia Beach, Va., Aug. 9-12. He replaces John Allison who has resigned to pursue other interests.

Samuel Hill, president of the Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association, kicked off the opening session with a discussion of mortgage market changes. Donald Ritenour, director of the Single Family Division of the Virginia Housing Development Authority, discussed subsidized housing; Roie Godsey, state director of the Farmers Home Administration. reviewed the single family dwelling program for low and very low income families in rural areas; Roger Gray, field tax representative for the Virginia Employment Commission, advised on unemployment insurance costs.

John Martin, executive vice president of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, reviewed the convention plans as well as what lies ahead for the national association. Jody Luck, VBMA first vice president, gave a long range planning report covering that committee's action to date. During a meeting of the board of directors, Dick Ferguson, treasurer, presented an up-dated budget. August 15-18, 1985, was set for the next management conference.

Hartley, according to Robert B. Taylor, VBMA president, has had over 12 years experience in association work. A resident of the RichmondPetersburg area, he has served as executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Southside Virginia and executive director of the Virginia Rural Rental Association.

The VBMA offices will remain in Richmond with Cindy Ryan continuing as assistant director.

Hardwood Installation School

Some 60 students have enrolled from 22 states and Canada for the l2th consecutive Hardwood Flooring Installation School to be held Sept. 23-28 at Cook Convention Center, Memphis, Tn.

The five-day session includes the manufacture and all phases of installing strip and parquet flooring with instructors from within the industry.

The school is sponsored by the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association, Memphis; the American Parquet Association, Little Rock, Ar., and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association, Chicago, Il. Charles "Mickey" Moore is the director.

Kentucky Dealer's Seminar

Kentucky Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association is sponsoring a seminar, "How To Compete

With The Chains and Win!," on Sept. 20 at the Executive Inn in Louisville, Ky.

Fred Sautel, Fred Sautel & Associates, who specializes in working with independent businesses whose primary products are lumber and related building materials, will be the leader, according to Billy S. Thompson, executive vice president of the dealer association. Co-sponsor of the program is the National Lumbermens Service Corporation.

The session will include a discussion of the challenges of today's market, ways to evaluate stores and competition, understanding what the customer expects and getting the most out of a store's team.

EPA Formaldehyde Hunt

Lumber and home center dealers will undoubtedly feel the effect of the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to regulate formaldehyde off-gassing from construction materials used in both stick and manufactured homes.

In a reversal of policy set in 1982 when they concluded that formaldehyde exposure offered no health hazard, the EPA will investigate exposure to and health problems of persons living in homes where fiberboard, particleboard, plywood, laminates, paneling, urea formaldehyde foams and moulding compounds containing formaldehyde-based resins have been used.

Ihilklhrt -- I'ror[r< t.s

K nrurt witlt t{otttc ('cttters tll' Arncrica will opclt 30 slorcs ttexl ycar ttttclcr tltc tlatttc Iluiltler.s Stluure, all part ot'a 40 ttl 6O storcs a ycelr schcdule. . . l!/orrrt's w'ill hold a grartd opclting I'ttr its 4llt warchottsc storc in ('hitrlcsltltt, S.C., this month u'ith itttotltcr warchousc ttttit tlltcning in Virgirlia IJcach, Va., latcr this ycar.

Hotnecru.f'lers ll'urafutust' I ttc. plans to add 30 warcltousc rctitil stores within thc ncxt thrcc Ycars rvith a Nashvillc,'frt., klcatiort opening tltis month and two opcnings in Louisville, Ky., bel'ore tlte end of the year ..

Monroe Hurclv,ure Cr.r., Monroe, N.C., has acquired MitchellPowers Co., Bristol, Tn. .Plca' sants Hurdwure Co., Richmond, Va., has added office and warehouse space next door to its present facility . . . Ply-World Corp., Orlando, Fl., has changed its name to FLM Buildins Produds, Inc....

HomeOwners Warehouse which just opened a 70,000 sq. ft. warehouse with 10,000 sq. ft. garden center in Augusta, Ca., will move into new Melbourne and Thmpa, Fl., Virginia Beach and Hampton, Va., and Oklahoma City, Ok., locations as well as the previously acquired sites in Jacksonville, Fl., and Nashville, Tn., in the next few months. .

Weisbrodt Lumber Co., Inc., Foster, Ky., closed early in July .. Dr. Ike's Economy Center, Laredo, Tx., will add a 32,000 sq. ft. drive-through warehouse .. Jordan's Ti,ustworthy Home Cen/er, Columbus, Ga., had D,000 to 15,000 customers at a recent grand opening

Vaughan & Sons has closed its Builder's Mart retail hardware subsidiary in San Antonio, Tx.; the other Vaughan facilities are n()t itf'l'cctccl . I lotttt' I)t1tol, Atlanta. (iit., ltits attttottttcctl plirns lirr rttovirtg irtto So. ('a. nrlrrkcts ncwly rcntoclclecl shtlra rootrt llas bccrr l'lrokcn inlo iutcl varttlltlizccl, causiltg crlertsive claln:tgc to tltc liort I)icrcc. l;1.. rctail storc

()atarulll:otxl [)rc.scrvirtg ('o., Irc'. lras ptrrclrascd lltc LJurke Pur' sort.s I*lrlb.r, ('rtrlt. plartt in [.clancl, N.('. . .l lechitt.u,er rvill o;lcn its lsl warchouse ltott.tc cctltcr in Ralcigh, N.C., trcrt tnontlt . .lkn+,uler has sccured sitcs lbr additional storcs in West lrort Worth and Farmcrs Branch/('arrollton (Dallas), Tx.

Shunrutn Croult, Dallas, 'fx., has acquired the American Crcosote Worksplant in LoLrisville, Ms., adding new cquipntent including penta and CCA capability; new name lbr thc facility is Superior Wbod Tieutinx, Inc'.

Balfinr Luntlrcr Co., Thomasville, Ga., has added a computerized mill system housed in four new metal buildings to its operation Gorclo Lutrtber Co., Tuscaloosa, Al., is installing an energy-conserving drying unit as part of a $154.000 expansion . .

Plttnkett-Webster, Inc. has purchased 8 acres with two warehouses and an office building for its new DC in Apex, N.C., Jerry Huber, gen. mgr. . Winton Sales Co., Minneapolis, Mn., has moved to new offices at 800 MarquetteAve....

Alsco is constructing a 125,000 sq. ft. vinyl siding plant in Olive Branch, Ms . Jeld-Wen Inc. will open a 100,000 sq. ft. door assembly and distribution facility in Bardstown, Ky., laterthis year and a 60,000 sq. ft. window and door plant in Corsicana, Tx,, in Nov....

I ltc('tcrt ('or7r. ltits bcerttttc iI rrlrollv ttrrnctl strbsirliltrr tll lt I)erv lroltlirrg crr., ( ito lrttltrsuit's, lrrt'. . I lslrlr'rll/ is rrrlu tltc lu.ttttc of tlrc I ltrrvrrtct Ar e ltitce tttntl l'roclrrcls l)ir. ol llrrtlcl Nlitttttl'ltct tttittg ( o., Icrrcll, 'l'r.; l'acilitics irt I lotrston, I'r. itrtcl Allittttit,(ilt., arc opcrittirtg ttttdcr tltc llcw lliullc.

()utrXiu'l)uci.lic (or1t. rs btrildirrg a spral'-drictl rcsitt pllrttl (lirr rr'irl'crlttlarcl) at ('rossctt, Ar. . . I ttttisiurtu-l\tt'i.l ic has ltctlttirccl a Irarclrvoocl ancl lline sltw'tttill cttrtt;rlcr irr Way'ttcsboro, (iit. ll'illutttt'ltt' Itttltt.slric.s, /rtc'., luts acqtrirccl lhc lirrrncr Mitnvillc litlrcst l)rorlrrcts 1'rarticlcboarcl ltlartt in l.illic, La.

I)olr ('lrctrtittrl C\t. has purclrascd 50%r ol' Irt.strltrelt', Ittt'.'s availablc stock (-ultitol [)xdruc't.s Coryt. rvill build a rttulti-tnillion $ alurninurn bLrilding products plant irr Ennis, Tx., W. A. "Bill" Ilnrnot, operatiorts mgr

Spac'e 'Ibt'h Building Systetns, lrt'., Strrart, ll., is opcratirtg a nov 7.2 acrc procluction tacility at Okcechobec, Fl. Great Lakes W''indow, C'rtryt., Walbridge, Oh., has brokcn ground for a new 56,000 sq. l't. mtg. facility . .

The Cektlex Corp. has received a Good Housekeeping Seal for their ceiling prodlrcts and roofing shirrgles .Ouku,ood Hornes Corp., Greensboro, N.C., has renamed its mfg. units in Richfield, N.C., Homes by Oakwood . . Schlage LockCo. received a 20 year award at the Construction Specification Institute convention in Dallas, Tx. ..

The Port of Charleston is opening a trade development office in the Omni Complex, Atlanta, Ga., Richard M. Stover, regional mgr....

Housing srarls for July were down 6.690 from the previous mo. to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,761,000 . . . singlefamily starts fell l09o from June and apartment construction declined l.9Vo .. the South had a l9o drop in total starts . . .permits were dorvn 1290 from June to an adjusted rate of 1,562,000 . .

Handling Rules for PT Wood

Although EPA rules on the use of wood preservative chemicals containing inorganic arsenicals, pentachlorophenol and creosote mainly concern wood preservers and chemical companies, retailers should be aware that they will have a role in enforcement of these regulations.

In addition to being prohibited from selling some substances, retailers will be expected to cooperate in displaying signs or placards to inform consumers of the existence of consumer information sheets which the manufacturers must supply with treated wood.

They also will be expected to see that these sheets are available to consumers who purchase pressure treated wood.

Retailers also might be wise to post the cautions on handling and ask employees working with pressure treated wood to observe them. Most of the rules make sense. Wearing gloves when handling wood, washing after contact, separating sawdust saturated clothing from regular laundry, wearing goggles when power-sawing or machining and wearing a mask when sawing and machining treated wood are suggested.

If the rules are not challenged, the effective date for regulations and new labels on chemicals will be Nov. l, 1984. Deadline for new labels on existing chemical stocks already on the market is Feb. l, 1985.

Dealers Meet In New Orleans

Louisiana is gearing up for its role as host to the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association's annual meeting, Oct. 3l - Nov. 4, at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans.

Governor Edwin Edwards has been invited to address an opening session. J. P. Bolduc. c.o.o. of the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control and senior vice president of W. R. Grace Co.; Robert J. Day, president and c.o.o. of U.S. Gypsum Co., and Ben Blackburn, former congressman from Atlanta, Ga., will be among those addressing the Focus 85 sessions.

Executive sessions, business and educational meetings are planned including election of officers. The

Southern Forest Products Association Retail Dealer Advisory Council and the American Plywood Association Dealer Advisory Council will meet the first day of the convention.

Louisiana Building Materials Dealers Association members plan a "Crescent City Cajun Country Creole Carnival" for those attending. The Worlds Fair in New Orleans is an aded attraction.

Dutch Take Over CMI

Canadian Millwork, Inc., Freeport, Tx., is now completely owned by its parent company, Deli-Maatschappij, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with Charles Vignal, founder of CMI, leaving to pursue personal interests.

A publicly held international trading company dealing in commodity timber, tobacco, coffee, tea and rubber, "Deli-Mij" plans a major thrust in the U.S. millwork and moulding market. Mark Marquardt, president of CMI, has outlined plans including increased customer service, plant improvement and beefed up field support.

Berger & Company, an international commodities trading organization with 14 offlces in ten countries, is proud to announce the opening of a new office in Sacramento, California to deal in

Western Softwoods,Ag$cultural Wood Products, Pl5nrood Partlcleboard

Bill Hanrahan, Jim Haas, Bob Glatt, division mgr.

We are also pleased to be a West Coast area distributor for CF&I steel products as well.