No Marine Tech's
 

Can't believe all the media hype about the jobless rate and I can't get "one" reply to my Marine Tech position want ad. I believe there are a lot of jobs out there, Seems nobody wants to work!!

I also have problem finding help. We talked to the employment commission about our openings. By State Law our employees have to have a clean criminal record. The person at the commission said that is going to knock a lot of people out. He also said he was having a hard time getting people to work since they were getting good money not working.

Same in south Jersey the marinas I call on are also trying to hire, they can not find anyone.

To bad I dont have any "tech" training! I would make the jump. Our business is sssllooowwww!

It's that way in any type of industry that requires sound technical knowledge or a skilled trade. I can't find qualified people either. I'm sure there's an over-abundance of people qualified with skills required to program computers or design websites. I'm not knocking anyone, it's just the change in our culture. It truly is sad......

OK Ted, I'll turn some wrenches and wash some boats in exchange for a certain 37 with 6's, deal?:lolhit:

Here is the other side of the same conversation!
 

A local facility was looking for a "certified" technician.

Advertised the position, contacted all sorts outlets; employment agencies, state offices, newspaper listings. You name it, the opening was listed.

A shade tree mechanic a number of us know and like suggested he apply. Wasn't even given an interview because not "certified".

The facility hired another "certified" technician. A mechanic we also all know who puts on a great front. He seldom ever finishes anything, has more jobs come back than you can imagine and always has wonderful excuses. BUT, he is certified!

The shade tree man, while not certified, can readily diagnose intake, exhaust, internal, electrical, ignition problems and has a knowledge of out drives and marine transmissions likely second to none. Gets jobs done on time and usually less than estimated! Can't get an interview!

The "certified" man is still at the facility, still has come backs, and still makes excuses. Have I mentioned he is certified!

The shade tree mechanic was hired by a commercial concern with a number of boats and he is doing nearly all their mechanical work on boats, trucks and everything else they have; single handedly! He has been there for about a year and the owner has said his repair costs are down 30% and his equipment is much more dependable.

Granted, this is not a very common set of circumstances. BUT, he is not certified, just extremely competent! And only in his late 30's.

That is where the problem comes in. He is so busy, doing such a great job, making a handsome income and bonuses; he seldom has time to work on our stuff!

There are a lot of people out there that are not "certified" and are more competent than those that are. I got most of my training in the Navy and lots of do it myself projects. Before my last trip to the sunny Persian Gulf I trained with reps from Konrad Outdrives and Hamilton Jets. No sheepskin, but I know to fix them!
I've seen plenty of guys that can read books, take tests and advance, but wouldn't know what end of the wrench to hold on to when it was necessary!

I know all about "Certified Technicians" I didnt graduate high school and have NO mechanical training or certs! I learned the old fashion way!!

Same thing happened to me, hired a guy who was an equipment operator, and was.. Was out of work for almost a year. His father knew one of the partners so we hired him. He was a good operator when he worked...but thats the problem WHEN he worked. I swore he was a narcaleptic... He seemed to always be sleeping, and the final straw was when he didnt show for work for 2 days in a row... For someone who needed a job badly sure didnt seem to want to keep the job...

Every one wants a great paying office JOB, nobody wants to WORK! Sad.

fixx
 

+1 you nailed it rite on the head.
i was certified years ago and all it did was get me a job...its just a piece of paper telling people what a can do or have done in the past...it don't mean chit because i have met some dumb azz that couldnt figure out a hot dog from their own dick! i have always been the go to guy every where i worked at or Moor or less the lead tech..I would always fix everyone'S come backs and never really got paid enough to fix someone else's mistake.....as for the owners of the copany's i have worked at..THEY ARE ALL A BUNCH OF CHEAP AZZ'S AND MOST WONT TAKE CARE OF THEIR GOOD LEAD TECH'S..

AS FOR MY CERTIFICATIONS,,I USED THEM FOR TOILET PAPER ONE NIGHT BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF PAPER TOWELS....


For the ones that cant find good help!!!!! Pay them what they are worth and quit penny pinching and crying that your not making enough money and then fill up your fuel tank on your 80' yaught from the money that took from me to feed my family...agggggg i better stop b4 i hit a nerve...

Real knowledge and ability comes from many years of learning and experiencing real on the job work, performance and success as a real technician.

"Certified" many times today is really a sales tool to convince prospective customers how your business is more qualified and worth more charges and support from customers because you are going to provide superior work and results! Sadly today this is most of the time not the case from a results standpoint.

Real quality "technicians" are experienced, reliable, dedicated, motivated, successful, productive and a real rare individuals in the service market today. If you are going to find one, you are going to have to test and verify their real knowledge and capabilities, pay them well, treat them well, respect them and their knowledge and capabilities. If you have one or some, consider yourself lucky and smart at the same time, If you don't have any, don't look just to "Certified" to get you the real prize! That's just plain stupid!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

My biggest competitor for workers is the Goverment! Extended unemployment is not doing good things for the workforce.

amen cert does not mean anything to me jest a peice of paper not worth a **** . give me a tec that knows what they are doing anyday .

amen ray

I see this problem so much. We can't find workers. Oh yea we want you to have blah blah blah certifications, work 6 days a week and holidays. Oh yeah best pay in the area $10.00/hr.

Who is going to pay 30, 40, 50k for a certification from a tech school, then go work for $10.

Don't remember who it was, but a politician was talking about the DE-valuation of the ditch digger. With out them nothing gets done. The average pay for americans has dropped 4k a year in the last three years. Yet corporate profits are through the roof.