As we have been growing we have started to look at the possibility of hiring a part time technician or two to take up some of the tasks that we require on an ongoing basis.
As a potential employer we are considering to request a sealed envelope be mailed direct to us from the local credit checking agency. This would be a mandatory part of being considered for hire.
Don’t get us wrong, it’s not the be all end all for our hiring process as everyone has the right to defend their record to us, but one’s credit history and score can really indicate a problem.
Some additional criteria that we consider:
- How many physical and virtual systems at home/apt?
- Server/Client or peer-to-peer?
- Windows, Linux, *BSD, other?
- Active Directory, Group Policy, network security, user security, etc.
- Have you actually _worked_ with the products in your CV or just run through Q&A scripts in a PSA?
You’d be surprised how many support folks fall under the final bullet point with very few falling under the previous ones.
A PSA will guide the phone jockey through a flow chart of questions and “Try This” steps until there is either a resolution or a need to escalate.
However, the folks we are looking for that may fall under the last one are the ones that have taken the products home so to speak and built them up and broke them over and over to get to know them.
It’s all about initiative!
It is also about taking ownership of one’s contribution to the company and the principle on which they represent us.
This last point may take some time for a new tech to learn, but it is one of the key signs that an employee is a step above the rest.
Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book
*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.
you might want to listen to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=132652499
ReplyDeletethough it looks as though you're in Canada. ONe thought to ponder is why it's okay for business owners like Donald Trump to go bankrupt 4 times but make the poor sap applying for your $15/hr. job jump through hoops to add to your bottome line? Credit history, seriously?
There are all sorts of funky ways folks and organizations can unjustly discriminate against each other.
ReplyDeleteThere is no end to allegations of unjust discrimination in pretty much every field. Sometimes the accusation of being unjustly discriminated against can be used as a weapon as well.
This argument can go both ways.
As was indicated, we request a credit report.
We do so because one's credit history can indicate whether a person is fiscally responsible or not.
If the candidate's Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter suggest that they may be good match for us then we will be more than willing to hear the story.
Life is full of good and bad choices. We believe that most folks deserve an opportunity to present themselves.
Ultimately though, we as the employer reserve the right to make that choice. That is just discrimination. We have the right to make choices that will be the best for our company.
Livelihoods depend on that.
Thanks for the comments,
Philip