This was a little scary...

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spiritwoodturner

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Nothing to do with penturning, but thought I'd share it anyway.

We own several investment properties, one of them being an apartment building. I'ts not huge, 6 units. I've renovated 3 of the 6 myself, basically from the hardwood floor up. But having just had knee surgery a month ago, a guy that's been there 15 years took a nosedive health-wise, and has to go. The place is the last wreck the building had when I bought it.

I thought about it for a few days, and thought, why not put a little ad on Craigslist for some short-term semi-skilled help: tiling, plumbing, counters, flooring, handyman stuff. I put it in last night around 5:00 our time last night, thinking I wouldn't expect much, heck it was free, why not. I was offering 20 bucks an hour for all-around verifiable handyman services.

It's now 11 in the a.m. the next morning, and I've gotten over 250 responses. TWO-HUNDRED-and FIFTY!!! Many basically begging for work, some with small kids, some on the verge of losing their homes. I had responses from homebuilders with websites that have built luxury homes, that are happy to work for this, some even offered to take less to get it. I'm holding an open house for applicants this Thursday and wonder if I need Police help!

Look, I am a bit young to have lived through the Depression. I don't think we're in one now. But the level of desperation really stunned me to the core. And Denver and Colorado in general is a relatively well-off State, if you believe the numbers. I know some of you live in Michigan, where unemployment is over 10%. We have it pretty good here. I thought.

PLEASE READ: This is not intended to set off a firestorm, so please don't start one. This is apolitical. I just know several of our members are out of work, and I guess it hit home for me just how hard this must be for a whole lot of people. System Analysts responded to my ad!!! It sure makes me appreciate being able to even have this craft/hobby/art/lifestyle we call penturning, because a whole lot of people have probably had to sell their tools to eat.

ANYWAY, sorry for such a sunny post but it got to me. I guess this would be as good a place as any for people in IAP to seek support for what they're going through, because it ain't funny. I know I'm saying affirmations for anyone touched by these times, because we all need them.

Be Well and Prosperous,

Dale
 
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Dale, there are a lot of skilled workers and Professionals with out jobs, I'm surprised if you don't get 2 or 3 times that many respondents.
Not to be cruel but I would venture that you could get skilled hands at less money and let them live there while fixing the place up for you, Denver has to be hard hit.
I think we are showing signs of life in our economy around here, there have been less lay offs the past month, Not many rehires, but let's hope.
 
Ken, you aren't being cruel when you say that, people have offered. But I feel a bit like a vulture taking it. I'm good with the 20 bucks, and I have a guy in there now in the efficiency unit that is supposed to work for some rent, and it hasn't gone swimmingly, so I'm a little gunshy. But I need to at least consider it.

I think you're right on when you say there may be 3 times that applying before I'm done. I wasn't really kidding about Police protection. There's only so much parking space...

What's it like where you live?

Dale
 
Dale,

You may have TWO apts> If the guy "is not going swimmingly", you may want to introduce him to half a dozen of the people who would LOVE to have HIS gig. No threatening required - he MIGHT get the hint.

I also did not live through the depression and I sincerely HOPE we are not going to LIVE through one. But, I do watch a LOT of financial TV. The people with cash seem to be pretty certain they can do well in this economy. Yes, you may be paying LESS than you think they deserve. But the 401K's did not DESERVE to be cut in half, either. This MAY be the beginning of "revaluing" all our talents.

And, I agree this is Apolitical - NO president can control the economy. His policies MAY help or hurt, but, in the long run the pendulum WILL swing back to BETTER times. How fast or slow is the only variable.
 
I am skilled labor and make $2 less than what you are offering, so consider me in! You help me with the commute, I'll fix up the place. At $18/hr I'm not doing bad though...there's thousands of truckers that would "kill" for my job. I heard on the trucker show this morning that there's a ton of freight now moving at 70 cents per mile. At that rate, after buying fuel a driver is lucky if he makes 10 cents a mile which if traffic and weather are great, means basically $6 an hour! There is a surplus of trucks and drivers and not enough freight so everyone is battling for the freight just to cover their truck payment. If the truck breaks down, I guess you are walking, because at that price you can't hardly afford to eat let alone repair the truck.
 
This is a very uncertain time for all. I sympathize with anyone losing or unsure of their job situation. We are trying to sell our house in Big Bear, Ca. just because it's an added expense we feel we could do without. Hubby is #1 Foreman for one of the biggest farming operations here in our valley and has worked for them about 30 years. We don't feel threatened at this point but no one knows what the future holds. Good Luck and Blessings to all in these unsure times!

BTW, I applied for a job at Walmart to be a Greeter, no luck. You know when Walmart isn't hiring, things are bad!
 
Reading this post hit home with me.My wife has'nt worked since the week before Thanksgiving.She is out every day,putting in apps,sending resumes on the internet,everything you can think of to find a job.She has tried everywhere we can think of and no luck.Bad thing is,when we got married she worked in collections.They should be hiring.No luck.This has been really stressful for her.She has tried everything and she is getting frustrated.I don't really know what to do other than support her as best I can and help her through.Luckily,we don't rely a whole bunch on her income.But for the past 4 months,mine has been less than stellar.This is a bad time to be in the automotive industry.But better times are on the horizon.I can feel it!
 
Dale,

Two suggestions:
1) set appointments for small groups at a time to minimize the parking problems
2) make sure whoever you choose has calluses that prove they, at least, work with their hands.

My husband put in an app for a building maintenance position at a local hospital and was told, during the interview, that over 800 apps had been received. I haven't even gotten one call back for an interview.

I can't get a call back for an interview in the payroll industry, even with 20 years experience.
 
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Ron, all we can do is send good thoughts your way. These are definitely times that try men's (and women's) souls. Support for her IS the best you can do, so keep doing it. Hope is a powerful thing.

Same with you, Nancy. It must be so very hard and frustrating. Affirmations to you. Good thoughts about making appointments, but after doing this awhile, you learn a few things. One, never make an appointment and drive an hour to meet either a renter or a workman. If I had a nickle for every time I've done that to find no one there, well, I might not have to rent it at all! Now, I try to combine these things with work I already have to do. If no one shows (although I doubt that in this case) I still get some work done. I think because my time frame is 10-3 it will naturally spread out the appearances. In the meantime, I'll have a date with a crowbar and some incredibly nasty carpet. But you hang tough, something will pop up for you.

I think Ed's post about each of us kind of taking a fresh look where we are and where we're going is right on. At least in the short run, we probably all need to change or modify our thinking to adapt to this. And things WILL get better, we've been through worse.

Jeff, dude, if you have a truck and are driving through Denver anyway...bring your crowbar and hammer. And tile saw. And laminate cutter. And airless sprayer. And rubber float. And floor sander. And put a new stove and fridge in the back before you leave, we'll need that too. Oh, and a new toilet, commode, faucets, lights, countertops, sinks, lights, a boatload of tile and about 10 gallons of urethane. Don't forget beer, we'll need beer. See ya next week.

Dale
 
Hmm... seems to me that you should 'audition' these workmen.

Let's see .. 250 skilled craftsmen all showing up on the same day. I think if they
each show you a little of what they can do, you should have the apartment renovated
by a little after lunchtime..
 
NewLondon88 said:
Hmm... seems to me that you should 'audition' these workmen.

Let's see .. 250 skilled craftsmen all showing up on the same day. I think if they
each show you a little of what they can do, you should have the apartment renovated
by a little after lunchtime..
Click to expand...

Great idea!
 
Charlie, you're my new Project Manager!!! Brilliant, simply brilliant. I might not even have to get my hands dirty!

Dale
 
NewLondon88 said:
Hmm... seems to me that you should 'audition' these workmen.

Let's see .. 250 skilled craftsmen all showing up on the same day. I think if they
each show you a little of what they can do, you should have the apartment renovated
by a little after lunchtime..
Click to expand...
Thats the tidcket!!!

spiritwoodturner said:
Charlie, you're my new Project Manager!!! Brilliant, simply brilliant. I might not even have to get my hands dirty!

Dale
Click to expand...
isn't it great when warped minds think alike LOL
 
My wife has been trying to get a job now for over 2 years. She can't even get one of the retail places to call her for an interview and she has a lot of experience in retail. I am semi-lucky that I work for the state but we just passed our new contract and I will be taking a pay cut as well as losing a lot of benefits that I probably will never get back and they are talking about laying off more people. I thought I had high job security since they lock so many people up for anything but I could still lose my job in the next few years.
 
I found this website tonight.

http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html

I've 'revised' my resume so many times, I'm not sure I know what I know how to do anymore.

Starting tomorrow (or today, as it's already tomorrow) I'm going to use this 'formula for an effective resume' to see if I can, at least, generate some calls for interviews.

I feel like, if I can get in the door to meet a real live person, I have half a chance of impressing them. My husband is going to revise his, as well.

So many companies now only take resumes submitted online, or apps via online, that you don't even get to the door.

A lot of the time, they don't even publish the company name because they don't want to deal with every Tom, Dick or Harriet dropping in when they're not remotely qualified for the position.
 
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