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TheRealJenkins's avatar
TheRealJenkins
New Member
1 day ago

New Generation Problems: How do you train and manage younger employees in the trades?

How are you guys dealing with the newest generation coming into the trades.

I feel like these guys have intelligence, they ask very good questions but my answers leave them looking like a deer in the headlights. No information seems the be retained, and it seems like they are unable to work independently without continuous instructions. 

have not found a good way to get through to them, seems they are only here for the paycheck and no one considers acquiring knowledge and skill as an asset anymore.

What have you been experiencing?

2 Replies

  • HUGEHomePros's avatar
    HUGEHomePros
    Jobber Ambassador

    I've actually had some pretty good luck finding some "old souls". I look for a few specific things on their resume or when I first talk to them:
    - Started working really early in life. If their pops was in the trades, it's a huge plus

    • I create a lot of barriers to get to the interview. They need to send pictures with a resume and answer questions that require more than one sentence. What is it about this trade that you enjoy? Tell me about a bad day and how you handled it?
    • There's a skills form we ask guys to fill out that shows all the different things we do and asks them to rate themselves. This probably takes 15 minutes. 

    The short attention span people fall off or stop responding. 

  • I’ve noticed the same thing. There’s just not many people from the new generation that have intuition or can think ahead and figure out what they need to do next. 
    I have found that some tough love and just pushing them a bit helps make them more independent on the job. But it definitely takes time to teach them and get it to stick.