I think I am a bad boss......& I also think I am bad at interviews.....please help?

[Katymac]

OK so far I have gone through 3 youngsters and and older (my age) helper for my part-time job

The youngsters

first one I sacked cos she didn't come to work
second one decided she would rather have F/T work than 30 hrs & be trained (proper NVQ training)
Third one has another job at a supermarket and they won't honour her hours here

Mum helper - wanted 3 days and now wants to cut it down (totally understand - but a bit stuck)

Now I interviewed someone yesterday - who seemed perfectly pleasent but hasn't been back in touch and I'm about to interview someone over the phone tonite

What am I doing wrong?

How do I make better choices?

Help me please?

I recruit all the time and I hate to say it but unless you are paying well, you are only going to get monkeys...

If you are paying well for the role, then what interviewing techniques are you using ... do you use STAR etc?

30 hours seems odd to me not really totally PT but not quite a FT salary can this be adjusted?

How many people are invovlved in interviewing process? Do you use competency based techniques, any sort of job assessment? How about references -- do you take them up?

Have loads of ideas here but need to bathkids - wil check back later

it might not be you or your interview technique - people who want part tie work by definition have other commitments and if they don't fit, they don't fit.

do you feel more comfortable working with a mum helper or a youngster? if a youngster then can you stretch the job to full time or find out about day release courses? if a mum, think you just need to find out how well they've thought through the idea - ask questions like "the job will be x y and z. how do you think you'll cope with that?" (or did you do that?)

finally it sounds like you're not getting that many applicants - is there anything else you can do to make your job more attractive and get more people in to choose from? where are you advertising?

Duh???

Don't understand the question
Oh dear that's bad isn't it

Mind you I rarely have more than one person at a time interviewing....and we tend to have a bit of a chat, then I give them the job....

Actually that could be the problem

How do I fix it?

katy I assume you're talking unskilled workers?

Sorry SP that was to Mancmum....but I think it answers your questions mainly

well, are you advertising in a newspaper or do you always just interview so and so's cousi who thought it sounded good?

Yep - just to help us childminders when we are busy

It's an extra person at breakfast and at tea

my Mum helper is an NNEB (& ab fab) but only wants a few hours

All three youngsters have been in the AM and have done the cleaning too

They don't get sole charge or do nappies (until their CRB comes through for the nappies) and I'll willing to pay for an NVQ for them (if they will stay)

I'm always a question behind you

I advertise at the local shop (we are very rural)

By word of mouth (yes someones daughter/someone elses DIL to be/girl I overheard looking for work while I was having a meal)

Job centre

& the latest lady is on the Norfolk CHildcare job website thingie

I'm always a question behind you

I advertise at the local shop (we are very rural)

By word of mouth (yes someones daughter/someone elses DIL to be/girl I overheard looking for work while I was having a meal)

Job centre

& the latest lady is on the Norfolk CHildcare job website thingie

Oops

Oh OK.

LIke I say I think the real problem is too few applicants and the awkward hours.

I have to say I'm not the best at interviewing, but I am getting good at judging commitment levels and I think that is absolutely key (I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a commited slow learner than a whizz who'll want to move on in a few months). It's hard to explain, but like I said before questions about what the person will do/how they'll cope with the job are good. If you're prepared to offer the nvq then you should mention that at interview too because the commited ones will (generally, i imagine) be pleased with the idea.

finally hate to say it, but ime if you want stayers then you should be looking at employees over the age of about 24. there are exceptions though.

also, next time you have some people lined up for interview (and try to do them closish to each other so you can compare), get a friend to do a role play interview with you first. it doesn't have to be anyone who knows about business, I think you just need practice!

Thanks - unfortunatley I think I agree about the age thing

I also agree about the slow starter

Thanks for your help - I feel less insecure now

OK back for 5 mins... just wanted to be a bit clearer although I think SP has given you loads of better dvice...

I think you should interview and not just have a chat... define a very clear job description with key comptencies and role requirements and then plan plan and plan again how you interview them... use the Star technique to really push them into telling you how they meet the requirements you have off the job --use this STAR interview techniques and have the same questions for each person... make sure you note their responses or write up after each interview ASAP so you can compare...

See if you can broaden out the role and hours to atttract more applicants.. also see if there are other ways to advertise...

Thanks Mancmum - I'm looking at the job to see if I can make it better