what should I look for in an employer?

sawsong · 10th May 2008, 08:03 AM

right guys, Ive just finished my 3rd and final year of uni and now have 2 prospective employers inviting me to come and chat with them with a view to a long term career.

both about the same distance from home. so travelling to and from work theres nothing in it. I like the area that employer A is in, and thought about looking for somewhere to live near there. less so with employer B.

employer A is a larger company with at least a dosen guys. It has a lot of fairly large contracts and provides a whole lot of services. I contacted these guys and they seem eager to meet me.

employer B is a one man operation who has an untrained labourer but has now need for expansion, needs a second climber and has got in touch with me via word of mouth.

now, I can appreciate that there are pros and cons to both scenarios. I havent had a phone conversation with B but have with A and he was very encouraging and made it clear that he always has work for the right guys.

with a larger company I can see myself perhaps feeling a bit like a lowly peon whereas employer B has expressed an interest in me working 'with' him rather than 'for' him.

I suppose a large thing to enquire will be which is likely to invest in training the most for its employees. So far Ive put myself through everything and paid for all my gear with little yet to show for it. That is of no consequence as long as it doesnt continue to be the pattern by which my career progresses. I dont necessarily 'expect' things paid for me, but I would appreciate an employer who invests in his loyal workforce.

what are the other fundamental things that I need to be asking them?

A has contracts in site clearance, ROW work, commercial and domestic work and even some carving and craft work. B, im not sure yet

all suggestions and insights gratefully recieved.

Jim

newguy18 · 10th May 2008, 06:28 PM

besides reputation what kind of work do they do?you don't wanna get caught up with hacks.By row clearance do you mean line clearance?Its good to keep a healthy fear of those lines if so.

sawsong · 11th May 2008, 02:30 AM

company A are sizeable with a good rep etc etc but only about a decade old

company B has only been goin maybe 4 or 5 years. the guy isnt a whole lot older than me, and I shall go look at a tree he's done next week and take photos for you guys to critique. Only problem being its a mate of mine's willow and ive got a horrible feeling he might have cut off a lot of large diameter stuff that I wouldnt touch. heres hoping it's not the case. mate says the tree looks very well.

Im going to try and get a days work with both. see how they pan out.

problem with A is, being such a large company with several crews, theres going to be a steep pecking order where I'll be grounded for some time to come, with B, the climb time is guaranteed to be larger

Done it · 11th May 2008, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawsong

company A are sizeable with a good rep etc etc but only about a decade old

company B has only been goin maybe 4 or 5 years. the guy isnt a whole lot older than me,

problem with A is, being such a large company with several crews, theres going to be a steep pecking order where I'll be grounded for some time to come, with B, the climb time is guaranteed to be larger

I'd go with A if I were you, you'll learn more, [maybe not the right things but the more you see the more you know] B will always be looking for a good worker, believe me, so you can go there later if things don't work out.

newguy18 · 11th May 2008, 07:54 AM

Its hard for me to really say,i was offered positions with 2 large companies here but turned them down since niether one do decent work.

hoot gibson · 11th May 2008, 08:21 AM

you can always sighn on with an agrement that its a trial period . then if you dont like it . move on . just have that understandment with the company. nobody can be upset with that deal , if they do , then you dont want to work for somebody like that anyways . h

sawsong · 12th May 2008, 12:56 AM

one main consideration I still have is I MUST find out if the smaller co has enough work on. I found out about the guy because he was doing a tree for my mate on saturday. Most guys round here if theyre chocca monday to friday, wont work weekends.

I suppose there could be something in working for A monday to friday and B on saturdays or something similar. But it all very much depends. Gonna have to try before I buy

10th May 2008, 08:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
sawsong Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 74	what should I look for in an employer? right guys, Ive just finished my 3rd and final year of uni and now have 2 prospective employers inviting me to come and chat with them with a view to a long term career. both about the same distance from home. so travelling to and from work theres nothing in it. I like the area that employer A is in, and thought about looking for somewhere to live near there. less so with employer B. employer A is a larger company with at least a dosen guys. It has a lot of fairly large contracts and provides a whole lot of services. I contacted these guys and they seem eager to meet me. employer B is a one man operation who has an untrained labourer but has now need for expansion, needs a second climber and has got in touch with me via word of mouth. now, I can appreciate that there are pros and cons to both scenarios. I havent had a phone conversation with B but have with A and he was very encouraging and made it clear that he always has work for the right guys. with a larger company I can see myself perhaps feeling a bit like a lowly peon whereas employer B has expressed an interest in me working 'with' him rather than 'for' him. I suppose a large thing to enquire will be which is likely to invest in training the most for its employees. So far Ive put myself through everything and paid for all my gear with little yet to show for it. That is of no consequence as long as it doesnt continue to be the pattern by which my career progresses. I dont necessarily 'expect' things paid for me, but I would appreciate an employer who invests in his loyal workforce. what are the other fundamental things that I need to be asking them? A has contracts in site clearance, ROW work, commercial and domestic work and even some carving and craft work. B, im not sure yet all suggestions and insights gratefully recieved. Jim

10th May 2008, 06:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,683	Re: what should I look for in an employer? besides reputation what kind of work do they do?you don't wanna get caught up with hacks.By row clearance do you mean line clearance?Its good to keep a healthy fear of those lines if so. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

11th May 2008, 02:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
sawsong Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 74	Re: what should I look for in an employer? company A are sizeable with a good rep etc etc but only about a decade old company B has only been goin maybe 4 or 5 years. the guy isnt a whole lot older than me, and I shall go look at a tree he's done next week and take photos for you guys to critique. Only problem being its a mate of mine's willow and ive got a horrible feeling he might have cut off a lot of large diameter stuff that I wouldnt touch. heres hoping it's not the case. mate says the tree looks very well. Im going to try and get a days work with both. see how they pan out. problem with A is, being such a large company with several crews, theres going to be a steep pecking order where I'll be grounded for some time to come, with B, the climb time is guaranteed to be larger

11th May 2008, 07:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,683	Re: what should I look for in an employer? Its hard for me to really say,i was offered positions with 2 large companies here but turned them down since niether one do decent work. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

11th May 2008, 08:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
hoot gibson Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central ohio Posts: 71	Re: what should I look for in an employer? you can always sighn on with an agrement that its a trial period . then if you dont like it . move on . just have that understandment with the company. nobody can be upset with that deal , if they do , then you dont want to work for somebody like that anyways . h __________________ i had a friend one, but he died .

12th May 2008, 12:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
sawsong Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lincs/Leeds England Posts: 74	Re: what should I look for in an employer? one main consideration I still have is I MUST find out if the smaller co has enough work on. I found out about the guy because he was doing a tree for my mate on saturday. Most guys round here if theyre chocca monday to friday, wont work weekends. I suppose there could be something in working for A monday to friday and B on saturdays or something similar. But it all very much depends. Gonna have to try before I buy

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