Hiring new carpet cleaner

I need to add another carpet cleaner to my staff.

My main concerns are that the person is reliable (rarely misses work), presents well to the customer and is smart enough to learn the technical details.

I am torn, do I put an add in the paper and interview?  If yes, do I look for experience or do I train? If no, do I steal from my competition?

What do you all think?  Where would you look?

Get the new one the same way as you got the others.................you're not in business and business is definately not in you...............go sell socks door to door.......while you get an education

                               Nightrider

You have to make your own good employees.

Hi Adwa, yes to clarify, I am a woman. 

Some cynics here. I guess I shouldn't be surprised!

Steamer, yea lots of risks, people definately aren't that loyal but then again, I guess I quit once to "open my own" too!

I guess you have to get the most you can from people for as long as possible and then start again... hopefully you don't lose too many clients in the process.

I thought I would throw it out there and see what you all think.  I am sure that if their are any great sources for finding people that some of you would surely know what they are.

Yea, I definatley agree with you.    I am paying quite well now and let me say that it has sure upset some applecarts that the carpet cleaners make more than the managers on the other side of the business.

BUT the work is harder, longer hours and way more demanding.  I just tell them they can change jobs if they want... so far no takers. lol

I couldn't agree more.  First, the carpet cleaner is who the customer sees and knows and is who represents my business.  If he/she is unhappy or feels disgruntled and leaves odds are a bunch of my residential client base will go too.

Also, my current tech works till midnight some nights when we get on-call stuff.  I may take the phone call but I doubt very much that I am going to haul out and do it.  I have to respect that and pay for it. The work is physical and technical.  If you don't pay enough to have smarts and the dedication to the job I guess you'll pay more in wrecked furniture and carpets!