I Can Just Buy a Bigger Wrench

It has been said by many great minds throughout history: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got.” Nothing can be truer when hiring. If you continue to hire the same type of person, you will always have the same result.

Awhile back, I had my first experience hiring a woman operator. We were going through interviews and had our usual choices of men; young and middle aged. We also had a woman who had a good reputation in the water and wastewater community. The challenge I was faced with is that she is five foot nothing, and a stiff northwestern Minnesota wind could knock her over. I was asked by my supervisor, “Is she big enough to do the job?” My answer to him simply was, “I can just buy her a bigger wrench, but I cannot buy her motivation and effort.”

I am regularly posed the question from other supervisors around our community; “How is your hiring going?” My answer to them every time is “it is going great!” I explain to them that when I am looking for candidates, I am looking for individuals that are motivated and want to do a great job. Someone who takes pride in their work and in a job well done. Since starting in my current position, I have hired eight different individuals, and only one of them was working at a different city. We hire for fit, and we train motivated people to get the job done. Our public works crew is a young bunch that shows up every day, works hard, and is committed to the organization. When we hire, we like to say that we don’t just want people on the bus: we want the right people on the bus.

One of the keys to successful longevity in business is to diversify. The same goes for employees.

So, the next time you are going through the hiring process, take a chance; break it up a bit. Hire that mechanic to be a water operator. Hire the furniture salesman to be a maintenance worker. Provide the tools and provide the training to build yourself a team of amazing employees. •