Interview No Shows

[DJM]

Lately, I've had a lot of no call/no-shows for interviews. I have 3 Technician openings. I've heard the "nobody wants to work" thing, but for the most part I really haven't seen that apply to Tradesmen.
Are any of the HR or Hiring Managers here seeing the same thing? Are Tradesmen falling into the "don't want to work "category?

DJ

[curtintex]

Lately, I've had a lot of no call/no-shows for interviews. I have 3 Technician openings. I've heard the "nobody wants to work" thing, but for the most part I really haven't seen that apply to Tradesmen.
Are any of the HR or Hiring Managers here seeing the same thing? Are Tradesmen falling into the "don't want to work "category?

DJ

No sir. Likely just got another job before your interview. Tradesmen can find a job tomorrow. I've hired a couple in the last month that accepted and then called back to quit before their start date, because they got a better offer.

[GWilly]

Not HR or Hiring Manager but have been hiring for a couple positions that would be filled by a younger person only one-to-three years out of college. Have been pretty disappointed with a lot of the reactions I've gotten in interviews from candidates. People being turned off by the role requirement to come into the office atleast 4 days a week, horrible body language, acting like they need to be sold on the position from the start of the interview, etc. I always had the "I'll run through a wall and do whatever it takes to help the team" mentality and bummed I am not seeing that much.

[DJM]

No sir. Likely just got another job before your interview. Tradesmen can find a job tomorrow. I've hired a couple in the last month that accepted and then called back to quit before their start date, because they got a better offer.

I would have no problem with that. It's the ones that don't bother to call then don't show up.

DJ

[DJM]

Not HR or Hiring Manager but have been hiring for a couple positions that would be filled by a younger person only one-to-three years out of college. Have been pretty disappointed with a lot of the reactions I've gotten in interviews from candidates. People being turned off by the role requirement to come into the office atleast 4 days a week, horrible body language, acting like they need to be sold on the position from the start of the interview, etc. I always had the "I'll run through a wall and do whatever it takes to help the team" mentality and bummed I am not seeing that much.

No doubt on that. I made a few calls and set some interviews this morning. I already have a good feeling who are going to be no shows just by their tone.

DJ

[curtintex]

I would have no problem with that. It's the ones that don't bother to call then don't show up.

DJ

That's just bad manners. Probably weren't raised right and would've made bad employees. You dodged a bullet, not getting fooled into hiring them.

[HoustonHunter94]

I see it every week. People simply do not have any respect for other people's time. I am sure it happened 20-30yrs ago as well but with block functions on your phone, people just find it easier to not show up and block contact versus take 2 min to make a phone call and at least give a reason. Granted, some of the reasons I have received for not showing up for an interview or even for work will make you shake your head.

[Werk]

If youre having disappointed reactions a lot, youre probably not paying enough for the work and the person doesnt find it worth their time. The same way the person hiring might not find that person worth hiring. When jobs are plenty, but employees are not, the companies dont really have much to bargain with. You are competing for the employee, not them competing for the job.

We hire some inexperienced folks to do assembly work for our Pressure Control equipment. We hire and retain good people because we pay well and treat them well. They do give a full days work and effort, because the effort is reciprocated. They stay here as well.

If youre offering 20 percent less salary, more time commuting and the associated costs, and wanting folks to "run through a wall and do whatever it takes", youre not competing for top talent. And what used to be considered "entry level salary" doesn't look so appealing to folks anymore. Not when they can go down the road to costco and make the same money for less work and less stress.

The work environment has changed. Options are plenty. If I don't like how something it going in my job, I can have a new one in less than a week. I am not alone in that.

Bottom line. If you are having trouble hiring employees, something you are doing is not working. As far as the no call no show, that's just a product of the job market right now. We offered a job in the professional sector to a guy relocating from NJ. He accepted, did his pre employment business, and was set to go. In between all the time it took to do all that, Schlumberger offered a job doing the same thing, with 20 percent more salary. Doesn't take much to figure out which direction he went. He never let us know. We found out because of someone else let us know at SLB. Just the way it goes these days.

Also, some folks simply aren't polite. They don't consider other peoples time. It's just not a concern for them. Ive turned down jobs, but never just disappeared and left soemone wondering. Seems like you wouldn't want those folks working for you anyways. Lack of communication is a huge issue for any reasonable human being.

[CEO]

Wife has been interviewing candidates to replace one of her employees who is moving. She's had a few no shows so far, but what has really surprised her is the arrogance of some of the candidates. Mostly between 25-30 years old. She said they come in wanting you to sell them on the position, telling you what and what they will not put up with from management, and wanting 15%-20% more than the advertised salary.

[OTL91]

Please delete.

[Bayouboy]

Craftsmen are very hard to find right now. Even with the competitive pay and very good benefit packages being offered by major companies the pickings are SLIM!

We have been trying to find quality machinists, electricians, and instrument techs for quiet some time here at the refinery. It was not that long ago they would beat the door down trying to get hired in.

[GWilly]

If youre offering 20 percent less salary, more time commuting and the associated costs, and wanting folks to "run through a wall and do whatever it takes", youre not competing for top talent. And what used to be considered "entry level salary" doesn't look so appealing to folks anymore. Not when they can go down the road to costco and make the same money for less work and less stress.

The work environment has changed. Options are plenty. If I don't like how something it going in my job, I can have a new one in less than a week. I am not alone in that.

Certainly appreciate the feedback. However in the case I presented, the salary being offered isn't below market and someone certainly isn't going to costco and making the pay were talking. If you are going to be the low man on the totem pole making six figures at 25 years old, you're darn right I want you to have a run through the wall mentality and a strong worth ethic. And not all roles are created equal - when a job posting for a role has 100+ applicants it is safe to say candidates ARE competing for the role.

[OTL91]

If youre having disappointed reactions a lot, youre probably not paying enough for the work and the person doesnt find it worth their time. The same way the person hiring might not find that person worth hiring. When jobs are plenty, but employees are not, the companies dont really have much to bargain with. You are competing for the employee, not them competing for the job.

We hire some inexperienced folks to do assembly work for our Pressure Control equipment. We hire and retain good people because we pay well and treat them well. They do give a full days work and effort, because the effort is reciprocated. They stay here as well.

If youre offering 20 percent less salary, more time commuting and the associated costs, and wanting folks to "run through a wall and do whatever it takes", youre not competing for top talent. And what used to be considered "entry level salary" doesn't look so appealing to folks anymore. Not when they can go down the road to costco and make the same money for less work and less stress.

The work environment has changed. Options are plenty. If I don't like how something it going in my job, I can have a new one in less than a week. I am not alone in that.

Bottom line. If you are having trouble hiring employees, something you are doing is not working. As far as the no call no show, that's just a product of the job market right now. We offered a job in the professional sector to a guy relocating from NJ. He accepted, did his pre employment business, and was set to go. In between all the time it took to do all that, Schlumberger offered a job doing the same thing, with 20 percent more salary. Doesn't take much to figure out which direction he went. He never let us know. We found out because of someone else let us know at SLB. Just the way it goes these days.

Also, some folks simply aren't polite. They don't consider other peoples time. It's just not a concern for them. Ive turned down jobs, but never just disappeared and left soemone wondering. Seems like you wouldn't want those folks working for you anyways. Lack of communication is a huge issue for any reasonable human being.

You hit the nail on the head.

[OTL91]

Certainly appreciate the feedback. However in the case I presented, the salary being offered isn't below market and someone certainly isn't going to costco and making the pay were talking. If you are going to be the low man on the totem pole making six figures at 25 years old, your darn right I want you to have a run through the wall mentality and a strong worth ethic. And not all roles are created equal - when a job posting for a role has 100+ applicants it is safe to say candidates ARE competing for the role.

Different people view money differently. I had a good friend making 300K-400K a year at 30 years old leave a job overnight to make 25-30 percent of what he was making in more or less the same industry. I told him he was nuts, his response was he decided long ago that he would never work with clients he didn't respect or enjoy working with or work for a company that he did not have the same values as just for more money.

[GWilly]

Different people view money differently. I had a good friend making 300K-400K a year at 30 years old leave a job overnight to make 25-30 percent of what he was making in more or less the same industry. I told him he was nuts, his response was he decided long ago that he would never work with clients he didn't respect or enjoy working with or work for a company that he did not have the same values as just for more money.

Ain't that the truth. Work life balance is certainly important and has is value. I have been hiring for awhile and I am just pointing out that for me and my line of work personally, I have seen a step change in the demeanor of candidates who entered the labor force during covid and/or spent the end of their college career during covid. I'm still finding and hiring good candidates who are very happy, but I am also getting more folks who don't have the right mentality coming across my desk. Two things can be true - you gotta give the candidate a good opportunity and competitive offering, but also the covid years had their impacts on the younger labor force.