So our New Guy started today. Officially.
He’s actually been coming in to the office for a couple of weeks now, completely voluntarily, to learn, learn, learn!! And I don’t think he even has a car – he’s been braving the shitty Cape Town weather, using public transport and walking …
Man oh man – I just dig this chap’s attitude so fricken much!
Here’s someone who has ZERO web experience and could only understand *very* basic HTML when he arrived for his interview in the middle of last month. But sheesh, since he’s been coming in every day he has learned an amazing amount and improved SO much. He has made staggering progress because he is just plain HUNGRY!
He is ridiculously enthusiastic about being here, about being given the opportunity to do something he’s interested in, about working in our rather intimate and casual environment and I’m crazy happy to accommodate him. I love doing that for people – giving them a leg up, a foot in the door and a chance to do what they are talented at 🙂
Anyway, so I haven’t *really* had a chance to chat to him much yet (my bad) – I tasked Sir G with handling his interview, practical and basic training (which he’s done just brilliantly, BTW) – and today was the first time I really got to spend a bit of time with our New Guy. I went into the office to welcome him … blah blah blah … and said to him: “You seem to be very comfortable here already, I hope you’re happy with us”, to which he replied: “Yes, I am VERY happy! I would walk through SNOW to get here!!”
I mean *really* now!!! What more could I ask for 😀
Stoked. The team is growing and things are moving. At last!
Bonus: he’s a trained fire fighter, so if I accidentally toss another live smoke-end into the bin, help is at hand waha!
It certainly is! And although I am more than willing to give people a chance, I have to be incredibly picky and selective – the company is very small and we obviously can’t afford to carry anyone who’s not 100% dedicated to doing their best, both for themselves AND as a spin-off, for the business.
Sure, I’ve had some duds in the past, especially as I was finding my feet as an employer and getting used to managing people, but overall, almost everyone who’s worked for me in the last 9 nine years has been rather special. I’m very lucky 😀
That’s totally awesome, not only growing the team, but having someone who shows such dedication, it’s hard to hire staff like that these days!
Yip, he has indeedy. But he’s not been “working” as such because he’s not productive yet. That voluntary time was purely to train and skill up as much as possible. It was not required but my arrangement with new juniors is that they work for relatively little money until they are productive – it’s incentive for them to get up to speed as quickly as possible. Once they can start adding value to the business (and continue to do so), then increases begin to happen, more skills are transferred and work scope expands … he just chose to make that happen a whole lot faster than others have in the past.
He has been coming in to work for weeks now, without actually being paid?
Am I the only one who finds this suspicious?
Yeah, but I said “if I was in the market” !!! 🙂
PS. There are “papers” for S&M????
interesting…
… expect stalkers after that statement..lol
@B Hahahaha!! If I was in the market … why not?
Soooooooo…..
Just to clarify a little bit… you mean that if a dude pitches up at your spot.. says he is EAGER to learn the fine art of S&M.. Is passionate about it.. curious like hell… and he displays determination that could bend steel.. has no papers and just ooozes RAW talent..
You would give him a go?
@Ches … you are SO right – these I’ve-got-such-and-such-a-degree-therefore-I-know-everything types just piss me off. Big time.
Perhaps it’s because I’m NOT one of those people – I have no formal training, no pieces of paper behind my name. I’ve made it this far just through passion, curiosity and sheer determination. And it continues … ongoing learning, never-ending curiosity, a burning desire to play, explore and grow.
I will ALWAYS hire on raw talent and passion over qualifications. Any day.
JB, sadly, you’re one of the few who will give that foot a chance through the door…
Something I remind people and staff all the time…”I don’t give a rats what you studied or what experience you have, if you’re willing to learn, I’ll teach you!”
You get so many know-it-all-out-of-varsity tossers that I just wanna kick!