Business Advice Hire employees with the right answers By Matthew Mohr uccessful entrepreneurs are generally hardworking individuals, and often put in many hours at their place of business, and with customers. Most business owners understand the idea of long hours and hard work. It is not unusual for business owners to work seven days a week often putting in 80 to 100 hours during the week, especially when building the enterprise. A 40-hour work week can pretty much be forgotten by a successful entrepreneur. Our region continues to face a shortage of skilled labor and good workers. Schools today take pride in teaching interview skills to students in an effort to help the students get jobs. Most qualified human resource officers can spot a scripted interview response. Unfortunately, what we are teaching is how to get a job, not how to work or provide valuable employment services. One successful individual I know services an area S that has experienced economic turmoil and business losses over the past few decades. This person puts competitors to shame simply through hard work. As I inquired about this man’s continuing success, I wondered how he developed his work ethic. He told me, “Growing up my dad taught me to look for work, not just to try to find a job.” Finding individuals willing to work extra hard is worth the effort. Few people or businesses succeed without hard work. Most business owners will be happy to employ and will pay more for someone who works hard and puts in extra effort on the job. Having the right skill set is important, but a willingness to work hard is a bigger key to success. When looking for employees, pay attention to those with the right answers compared with those who will make the extra effort necessary to be able to work. PB Engineering, Surveying, Surv rveying, and Consulting Services $2<' +;<0 .2-5 *&&'%= 2 &:33 %2-$' *& (%*):+<= 2-) ='%7;+'= 1 @9#>??< ,&44 3!%";4%% 0$4:A";/ 1 6?? :$4:A";/ :!%#9=4&% :>; :!/ 968 2<1 ,4" &%''# 6!#9=>#": ,44 +42!;7%) 2/ @49=2* +-0-=.>@& 1 3!%";4%% *>B";/% -?>;% (";:?!7";/ 0.% >;7 59;4< 5>&A4# *>B";/%' 1 3!%";4%% 89>;% Member FDIC EMPLOYEE-OWNED C=D '>AA>#% >A ?# 3F ?@F !54$F ! )@FDF !F#!5F )4%? $#'!4%& ?# )#D7 4%" 3F ?@F $#'! !4%& ?@4? !F#!5F )4%? ?# #=D !=D!#AF 4A 4 3=A>%FAA @>DF9 #=D '>AA>#% "F*%FA # AFF7>%B 4%" @F5!A B=>"F =A >% AFF F7>%B ?@F :FD& 3FA? $4%">"4?FA+ 2F #EEFD 4% #!!#D?=%>?& ?# BD#) 4%" "F:F5#! F($F5 !D#EFAA>#%455&- "F:F F5#! A?D#%B DF54?>#%A@>!A?#)4D" 4%" )#D7 ?#BF?@FD ?#)4D D" '=?=45 B#45A+ career To learn more about a ca areer at Ulteig, www.ulteig.com. please visit www.ulteig.co om. www.ulteig.com '( 51$63" !5 "3%A3 :5B, ) #A'4D$7 6 .F"4D ;4!>" ;4!>"A >"A 6 ,F%:FD 6 ,F?D#>? 147FA <4DB# 6 0>%%F4!#5>A 0>%%F4!#5>5>A 6 8>#=( <455A 6 2>55>A?#%

Prairie Business June 2012