How to hire only the best

lF YOUR company's track record lfor hiring reliable, competent, trustworthy employees is not too good, this article is for you. Training cannot turn misfits into star salespeople.

According to employment counselors, the present labor market is creating problems for those seeking to hire qualified workers who are stable, competent and have clean employment records. Background investigations of each job applicant are recommended as the best way to guarantee that your company will hire only capable, productive people.

Many employers iue content to ask a few questions on a standard employment form, make a couple of telephone calls and chat with a prospective employee for a few minutes. Using this information, they make a decision, often placing a new employee in a position with many temptations as well as a need for specialized skills.

Security experts recommend a professional background investigation for past criminal convictions, military service history, education record and previous work history for up to five or more years. They stress the importance of careful checking of character references.

Since most employees in retail situations have access to merchandise or money, a thorough background investigation is recommended for even the lowest positions. Such check-ups hre mandatory for any high level position.

The astute, conscientious personnel director follows proper procedure carefully. He is aware that any temptation to ignore or slight the essential steps of checking references and background can be expensive. The time spent verifying statements made by the applicant will save the company dollars later. Evaluations given by those contacted should be weighed carefully in making the decision to hire or not hire-

The advantages of hiring a person who has been carefully screened are many. Histories of theft, pilferage and other abuses are often uncovered by pre-hiring investigations. The company spending the time, effort and money to learn this type of information will gain in the long run by hiring the best employee available.

Pinkerton, Inc. recommends the following iueas as being vital to an effective background check.

(1) Verification of claimed education and degrees.

Story at a Glance

Ways to screen job applicants... prevention of theft, pilfering, abuses...background check pro cedures...steps to assurc crcdibility ol applicants.

(2) Confirmation of financial status, including credit history, indebtedness and possible civil suits.

(3) Where permitted by law, a check on litigation records and criminal convictions.

(4) Review of personal references to determine reputation, family status and other relevant personal activities.

(5) Past employment record to verify job record, stability, work attitudes and peer opinion.

(6) Neighborhood and community history to confirm stated activities, reputation and accomplishments.

Background investigations also are recommended for any employees being considered for promotion or added responsibilities. In addition, such check-ups are advisable if a store or department begins to experience losses of merchandise or cash register shortages.

Records show that many internal crimes are committed by "faithful," long time employees who appear to have perfect records. Because they have established the reputation of being exemplary employees, they are never suspected.

Background checks can unearth personal problems, such as gambling, large debts or standards of living beyond the salary of the person involved. These can all be signs of trouble for an employer.

Keep in mind that an operation usually can be no better than its employees. Make sure your new hires are tops.

Wickes Cos. Inc. is purchasing the Homeowners Do-It-Yourself Centers stores in West Los Angeles. Torrance. Gardena and Montebello, Ca., for an undisclosed sum...Wickes also has announced it intends to spend up to ,9/ billion to make a major acquisition within the next year...Bonds for construction of an 80,000 sq. ft. Honte Depot have been ok'd by the Chula Vista, Ca., cily gov....

Homecrafters has opened a third store in the Denver, Co., market, its lfth warehouse operation...Pa.v 'N Pak, Kent, Wa., intends to open two new stores in the San Francisco (Ca.)Bay Area this fall...

Handyman, San Diego, Ca., anticipating mid-June approval by stockholders for its spinoflf from Edison Brothers Stores plans to open l0 to 12 new stores in Ca., Az. and Or. in the next 18 months... O'Malley Building Materiols, Yuma, Az., is in the midst of a $l million remodeling with store size doubled to 13,000 sq. ft. plus a new 13,000 sq. ft. warehouse; full operations have been maintained...grand re-opening set for early fall...

Turner Lumber, Vernal, Ut., Elouise and Robert Turner, owners, has acquired the Boise-Cascade Building Materials Center, Moab, ljt., Kenneth Turner will be mgr....Barr Lumber, Los Alamitos, Ca., has added a lawn and garden center...

Copeland's Lumber, Albany, Or., has demolished its old Yard to builda new 11,000 sq. ft. warehouse and 4,000 sq. ft. sales area: grand opening will take Place in late summer with business as usual during the renovation...

Knoll Lumber is operating from a temporary office serving com- mercial accounts and builders in Woodinville, Wa., while their new store is being built...Jerry's Building Material, Inc., Eugene, Or., plans an early move to their newly purchased former Boise Cascade Building Material facilty...

Spenard Builders Supply had a grand opening for its new Fairbanks, Ak., facility...Arnerican Building Supply Inc. is a new business in Crants Pass, Or.; David Watts owner...Joseph Nepote, Sr. has come out of retirement to reopen J&F Building Supply in Oakland, Ca....

Ole's Home Center. South Pasadena, Ca., destroyed by fire last Oct., is rebuilding to open in late summer....Framco Home Center, Yucaipa, Ca., is building its third store in Riverside, Ca....

Simpson Buitcting Suppty Co. sold its Cerritos, Ca., warehouse for an undisclosed amount to Welterhaeuser, which describes the acquisition as "part of our strategy to be a broader-base distributor of building materials;n' Mike Couey continues as branch mgr....

Wesco Millwork, Glendale, Ca., has liquidated its assets at auction ...Kalbpell Wood Produtts is a new resaw firm in Kalispell, Mt., Curt Rice and Bill Hand, owners... Creenwood Forest Products is doing business as Essex Lumber Service in Roseville (Sacramento), Ca., as a custom re-saw firm; coowners Jody Sanders, gen. mgr., and Garry Dovenberg...

The Cherry Hitl Div. of Robert S. Osgood, Inc'., Los Angeles, Ca., has opened a new 30,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Nerv Jersey, stocking 2 million b.f. of imported hardwood, plyrruood and western red cedar for eastern markets...

Snavely Forest Products has acquired 6 acres in Chandler (Phoenix), Az.; 4 acres will be developed with a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse and 3,000 sq. ft. of offices...Sierra Casrude Timber Products is a new Redding, Ca., sawmill...

Mc'Nory Lumber Co4p. is a new wholesaler started in Albuquerque, N.M., by G. R. and Curtis NicNary ...Haunen-Prqtt Forest Products has opened a wholesale office in Eugene, Or....Simon, Crabtree & Ryan, Inc'., has moved to 412 S.W. Jefferson Parkway, Lake Oswego, Or....

Roseburg Lutnber Co., Roseburg, Or., has changed its corporate structure (see pg. 60 of this issue for detuls)...Henry Combs Lumber Co. is a new Arcata, Ca., sawmill set to begin full production next rno....

Willarnette Industries Inc., Portland, Or., subject of recent takeover speculation, has rejected an offer by Onex Capital Corp., Toronto. Canada. to assist in a leveraged buyout...Crown Zellerba& and Sir James Coldsmith, the British financier attempting a takeover of CZ, have reached a truce to work together on restructuring CZ with Coldsmith being elected to the board...

B. R. Garcia Traffic Service has moved from its longtime San Francisco, Ca., location to Walnut Creek, Ca....Union Pacific is acquiring the Missouri-Kansas{exas Railroad lrom Katy Industries for about $108 million...

Louisiana- Pacific, neaing completion of construction on its sawmill facility in Standard, Ca., is negotiating selection of a No. Ca. site for a Waferwood plant...Elkhart Door, Inc., is expanding its West Div. mfg. and warehouse operation in Anaheim. Ca....

Ganahl Lumber Co. is refurbishing its Corona, Ca., store...Mar Vista Lumber, Los Angeles, Ca., lost $125,000 in lumber during a recent fire in its storage area...Ole's Home Center, North Hollylvood, Ca., was evacuated without injury when fire broke out in its sales area during business hours recently... (Please tur)t t0 ltage 6E)