Hiring Help...where to start?

[Mindy H]

I am at a point where I need to hire some help....mainly to keep up with office work and eventually to do sales too. I always have photography students and photographers that are just starting out email me asking about jobs...some of them even volunteering to work for free. Which sounds like one of those individuals would be my perfect solution, right??? I really want to bring one of them in, but....I overthink things too much and there are a few other 'groups' I might be better off to consider hiring from. Here are my thoughts about each group:

Beginning photographer/College Student: Yes, they have the passion for the art, but am I going to just be training what will eventually be my competition....and, do I actually care that they will be my competition?

High School Student: Most are very goal oriented in this area, so I don't think I would have a problem finding a hard worker. A plus would be a link into the senior market. A minus would be that they are probably short term as they leave out for college.

A Mom: Would 'connect' with my customers since 60% of what I shoot is children and families. Probably on the same schedule as myself since I have to work around school hours. A downfault would probably be lack of availability due to sick kids, sports, etc.

A little background on me: Primarily Children, Families, High School Seniors and Commercial work. I'm not wanting anyone to shoot or process for me. Needing office, accounting, scheduling, packaging, customer contact sort of help....and, eventually sales help as I move to in-person proofing.

What are your thoughts???? Any guidance you guys can give me from past experience???

[carrbowl]

Mindy, I have seen a thread on this before. Don Barnes had some good advice...

[Cajungaltx]

I think I'd focus on the administrative part honestly.

Usually, at least in my experience, if you hire for sales... you don't always get someone who is good at 'detail' stuff, which based on what I know about you, is going to be a requirement.

You can teach sales.

Some folks might disagree with me on that - but you can.

My company, at this point, no longer hires sales folks - they promote admin staff. Cause admin staff knows the 'nuts & bolts' of the company... and if they 'believe' in what they are doing (KEY KEY KEY ISSUE)... selling it will be a natural extension of their ability.

It's worked wonderfully for us, and once I get to that point, will be my focus on staff.

[Mindy H]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

Mindy, I have seen a thread on this before. Don Barnes had some good advice...

Renae...thanks for letting me know. I just did a search and the only thing I could come up with is 2nd Shooter thread. Is that what you were referring to?

Mindy H added 2 Minutes and 5 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by Cajungaltx

I think I'd focus on the administrative part honestly.

Usually, at least in my experience, if you hire for sales... you don't always get someone who is good at 'detail' stuff, which based on what I know about you, is going to be a requirement.

You can teach sales.

Some folks might disagree with me on that - but you can.

My company, at this point, no longer hires sales folks - they promote admin staff. Cause admin staff knows the 'nuts & bolts' of the company... and if they 'believe' in what they are doing (KEY KEY KEY ISSUE)... selling it will be a natural extension of their ability.

It's worked wonderfully for us, and once I get to that point, will be my focus on staff.

Thanks Dee....good stuff to think about. So where do you think I should focus my search...mom's, photographers, students??? Of course, I am open to whomever...I would just like somewhere to focus my search to start off with.

[bondarnes]

I have found good employees to take care of the tasks you mentioned through the distributive education (DE) classes at my local high school. These are the kids that get out of school after lunch to go to their job. They have to have a job to stay in DE so if you get someone finishing their sophomore year, you can get three summers and two full years from them. Girls usually work out better than guys if you can put up with all the drama. My best one stayed with me for her first two years of college.

[Jeff Lane]

I couldn't help but form two inconsistent answers in my pointy little head. (Typical lawyer, right?)

You started by saying that you need someone for "office work" and maybe sales eventually. That sounds to me like you really want someone to take the mundane stuff off your hands while your creativity soars to new heights. If that's the case, you don't want to take advantage of the bevy of artsy types, even though they are willing to work for cheap or even free, because what you want from them is inconsistent with what they really want from you (a chance to break into the exciting world of the big-time photo biz). If I'm reading you right, what you want is to hire a nice, pleasant, task-oriented person who can talk warmly with your customers and can appreciate (but not necessarily analyze) a "pretty picture" but who has no artistic aspirations at all. That person will do a thorough job of what you really seem to want now, and probably stick around longer because their deeper motivations are not being constantly frustrated. An aspiring photographer will just get frustrated after a few months or weeks unless they start getting their hands on a camera and start getting to create their own body of work. He won't stick around, and you'll be wasting time retraining someone else before the end of the summer. Even if the guy works for "free" your time is too valuable to be retraining a new warm body every six months.

On the other hand, I really do bemoan the death of the "apprentice" system. New lawyers should have an opportunity to learn the ropes from more experienced lawyers. Sometimes the new kid works out, and develops all the way into a new partner for the long term. New photographers need a mentor, too, and if business grows well enough, there may be a good reason to try to grow your own partner-talent.

However, I'm a mediocre (at best) photographer, who is taking advantage of opportunities to hang around some really good ones and try to pick up vicarious learning, and the "budding young artists" can do that, too, to learn the photo craft. After you've got your "Man/Woman Friday" to get the business mundanities down pat, then you may well be willing to take on a "beginning photographer/college student" to expand output. Just don't rely on him to run your front desk.

Bottom line -- I'd start with the non-photographer "Mom" (or better yet, recent empty-nester hoping to augment Hubby's income and get out of the house some).

Good luck.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by Mindy H

Renae...thanks for letting me know. I just did a search and the only thing I could come up with is 2nd Shooter thread. Is that what you were referring to?

Mindy H added 2 Minutes and 5 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below




Thanks Dee....good stuff to think about. So where do you think I should focus my search...mom's, photographers, students??? Of course, I am open to whomever...I would just like somewhere to focus my search to start off with.

I know you'll think I'm nuts, lol, but my best administrative assistant thus far was a 73 year old retired grandmother. I didn't 'know' she was 73 when I hired her, I figured early 60's... lol.

I have hired them young, and I've hired them old, and I MUCH, MUCH prefer older folks.

They are more dependable. They are more reliable. And to be blunt, you don't have to 'teach' them most of what you will need. A younger person, who doesn't have the experience will be 'brand new' to what you are looking for.

I'd place an ad in Craigslist - and be specific - I'd almost be blunt to the point of 'rude' - because I've found it leaves no room for 'misunderstanding'.

Example:
Seeking administrative support for growing photography studio. Part time position with possible move to full time later.

Applicant must have the following skills:

Attention to detail
50 wpm Typing Speed (typing test will be adminstered -- you can do this for free on your pc when they interview).
Professional demeanor (specify what - business casual, no blue jeans whatever. If you are comfortable with them in shorts & a tshirt, make sure that you are okay with someone that is a size 8 or a size 28 in the same outfit - you do NOT want to get into that conversation...TRUST me!).
Good Speaking Voice (if you want bilingual, specifiy it)

And whatever else you want. I'd put something about a 'SAHM or retired individual would be a perfect for this position'.

Don't rule out guys either - some guys make awesome assistants.

Be blunt. Be honest.

When I was looking for help at the house (house cleaning) I posted that I was looking for a 'wife'. I got one... lol. I also had some idiot offer to clean my house naked... I told him that I was looking for household help, not a comedy routine. *sheesh*

[SevenAndMe]

You could start off with a temp, from a temp agency.

That would let you see how the position develops, without a long-term commitment, and very often a good temp will turn into a regular employee.

Good luck.

[Mindy H]

I got busy this weekend and didn't get to post my thank! I just wanted to let everyone know that I appreciate the response! I've got someone coming in to discuss a position tomorrow. I went the mom route...or, I guess considering it since I haven't actually hired her yet. She is a good customer that I know conducts herself well...and, she loves my work so I know she'll be able to gush about it during sales. ;o) Hopefully she'll have no problem with the administrative part, we'll see tomorrow I guess.

Thanks again!

[Aric C. Hoek]

Keep your overhead low. Start with a part timer and work your way up. Don't put yourself in a position that you have to lay someone off because you bit off more than you can chew, or because you were to ambitious. It's no fun having to let go of someone for that reason.

[Mindy H]

Thanks for the advice Aric...and, that's pretty much exactly what I am doing.

[Tom]

My assistant is expensive, but worth every dime.

At first, she worked for pedicures and the occasional massage.

Then I had to buy her a big diamond and then she wants a big party at church with a nice dress and all our friends. Seems like an overkill for a photo assistant contract, but I get her for life, so I guess it isn't too bad comparatively.

[Jeff Lane]

My assistant is expensive, but worth every dime.

At first, she worked for pedicures and the occasional massage.

Then I had to buy her a big diamond and then she wants a big party at church with a nice dress and all our friends. Seems like an overkill for a photo assistant contract, but I get her for life, so I guess it isn't too bad comparatively.

Thomas, I hate to be a wet blanket, but ...

Have you THOUGHT about what kind of retirement plan she thinks you're contributing to? (And don't even get me started on the severance package if she doesn't work out!)