search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Testing 123

By Al Levi
March 23, 2010
Be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to recruiting, hiring, orienting, training and retaining employees.

Before my brothers and I became enlightened (meaning we got our teeth kicked in so many times we eventually woke up), we used to hire people using the “Mirror Test.”

That was my brother, Marty’s, name for this intricate hiring process. Simply put, we waited till someone quit or we got disgusted enough to finally suck it up and fire him or her, which left us desperate. Hence, we’d hire pretty much anyone who walked through the door, breathed in the mirror and could fog it up!

Fortunately, we dedicated ourselves to getting out in front of the Staffing Parade instead of continually getting run over by it. Let me tell you, constantly getting run over really hurts.

That’s why we became proactive rather than reactive when it came to recruiting, hiring, orienting, training and retaining employees. We actually adopted the attitude that we’re always in the recruiting, hiring, orienting, training and retaining of employees business.

OK, I know some of you are thinking you have dedicated staff that would lie down in the middle of the road for you. And if so, you’re truly blessed. But for the rest of us (and that probably means you if you’re honest with yourself), staffing is a never-ending process. That’s because your staff is always getting on and getting off the train (a metaphor for your company) and a train doesn’t stand still.

What? Right staffing is a moving target because:

  • People quit.

  • People get fired.

  • People get promoted.

  • People get hurt.

  • People get sick.

  • People move.

  • People die.


You might be thinking, “I don’t need any more staff. I need more calls to make money.” To that, I say, “Great staff always makes you money. They find ways to help you maximize every opportunity to make money.”

The thing that a lot of folks miss is that just because you are always recruiting doesn’t mean you have to hire anyone. But suppose a great candidate came in. Do you mean to tell me there aren’t a couple of knuckleheads you’ve been dying to get rid of but lack the guts to let them go because you thought you didn’t have anyone to replace them?

Once you’ve accepted that you always need to be recruiting willing people to join your team, the next step is to follow a solid and repeatable hiring process. One key step is creating the testing you’re going to put each candidate through.

My company didn’t have any kind of testing years ago when the “Mirror Test” was still in vogue. But that changed when we decided to get proactive about staffing. We used to get sick to our stomachs when we found out what the new employees couldn’t do when they got into the field or to their desks, but it was too late.

With our heads up, we created a simple set of tests for each position at our company. And we gave a special focus to testing for techs on the trades we did (oil heating, gas heating, cooling and plumbing). The written test for each was not designed to be a doctorate final but rather a way to see what the applicant knew about those specific trade skills. It was mostly multiple choice; we had our own “weakest” techs take the test just to see how they’d do before we ever asked a new recruit to do it.

We also made it a timed test.

Why? Many people struggle with reading today and they really struggle when they’re put under pressure. Also, if applicants were going to fall apart because we put a deadline on the test, we knew they were likely to have an even bigger meltdown when they got in front of our understanding and warm clients from New York who could be a little demanding at times.

The written test was something we pulled right out of our own manual and anyone who paid attention in trade school or actually worked in the field could have passed it.

This one step elevated our recruiting and hiring process and the staff got better. But we did much more when it came to testing. I’ll have more to share about the secrets and the science of recruiting, hiring, orienting, training and retaining, so stay tuned.

Announcement

The Step by Step Success program solves the “contractor overwhelm” issue by offering one simple, powerful business building a step at a time. Through interactive teleseminars and one-to-one coaching in office hours, Al Levi and Ellen Rohr will help contractors implement one action each month that will help them make more money and start living a better life. 

One simple step, one problem solved every month. Topics include:

  • Firefighting 101 teaches you how to handle any problem.
  •  
  • Establishing yourself as someone worth playing with, following and fighting for.
  •  
  • Launching laser-focused direct marketing to get massive results on a shoestring budget.


Learn more at www.StepByStepBusinessBuilding.com. 

Links

  • Give Me 60 Minutes And I'll Show You The Secrets To Running A Profitable Service Business ... Even During A Recession!

Share This Story

Al Levi has been helping plumbing, HVAC, roofing, remodeling, electrical and carpentry businesses solve problems, turn greater profits, and help owners get their lives and free time back for over 7 years. This is all based on his 25-year career at his family-owned and operated contracting business. For more information, visit www.60minuterecessionsolution.com.
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Damato of the Day

Guest Blog

Recent Comments

Foundation Bolts Manufacturer and Supplier

Scratch Games

CDSCO Certification

Justin Bieber’s purple hoodie is an iconic piece...

It's fascinating to see how virtual trade shows...

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Undocumented workers make up 36% of the U.S. roofing workforce, leaving contractors and workers alike especially vulnerable.

Roofing is Left Exposed by Trump’s Deportation Flip-Flop

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing