What I look for is basic health, discipline and punctuality, ability to comprehend directions and a fever to accumulate skills. I only pay my workers minimum wage, and warn them in advance that they will never reach beyond $6.00 per hour. But I do promise they will have the opportunity to develop skills that will eventually get them beyond $6.00 per hour with another employer. They must dress for the occasion (gloves, boots, appropriate warm- or cool-weather clothing), and work consistently and wear safety-oriented appointments when required (goggles, harnesses, etc.). They must keep track of their own time, round off to the nearest 15 minutes and turn in the time card in a timely manner. They must complete the standard paper work, W-4 and INS form I-9. Some things will get them fired for drugs, alcohol, pilfering or cheating.

While not everyone in the world who meets the above qualifications will become a master carpenter, there is usually something in the building process that will capture their interest and concentration. Some people measure, cut and nail well; others tile; and still others are good painters. Somewhere in the process is a niche for almost anyone.

If an applicant is willing to go along with the above concept, I hire him.

Whether it is cutting a board, digging a hole, or nailing shingles, construction activity is through and through repetitive. If you explain to a new worker how to cut a board at 43 inches, and then tell him to do the same thing 85 more times, by the time he finishes, he will have pieced together a number of things, all useful in other areas. As repetitive activity accumulates, conceptual understanding accumulates. Taking time to explain concepts, from something as simple as reading a tape measure, to the slightly more complicated notion of the Pythagorean theorem, will yield a savvy and reliable worker. Perhaps he will continue to become a builder in his own right, which has happened to my workers in the past. But, take the time to explain, and connect the explanation to the REAL world.

Workers will do what you tell them to do. If you give them an exceptionally hard job digging a trench for a sewerpipe arrive with cold drinks half way through the project. If they get in trouble financially, give them an advance, but deduct it from their next paycheck. At the end of a large, difficult segment of the project pouring concrete, for instance again, buy them a cold drink or a beer.

I have offered to two of my workers that for every hour they spend at the local educational service center getting a GED, I will give them half pay. While they haven't taken me up on it, the offer is still there and encourages them to trust me as an employer. If they take me up on it, we both win.

People respond to kindness and will return it with loyalty. There simply is no substitute for showing that you care about the welfare of your workers. Listen to their domestic problems. Tell them about the tire sale when they need tires. Provide bandaids. Provide drinking water. Let them take breaks. Ask them to listen to the noise in your engine. Let them poke fun at your own mistakes. Compliment them when it is warranted. In short, treat them well, and they will reciprocate.

I only hire unskilled workers. That also means they are naïve about safety strategies and the inherent dangers of equipment. The issues of safety are made very clear on a daily basis, and training on dangerous equipment is paramount.

In Texas it is possible to substitute an accident insurance policy for subscription to Worker's Compensation, which makes the accident insurance bill cheaper. I also deduct $5 per pay period to help with the premiums. I make sure they understand that is what I do, and get their permission. There are other states that allow this. In any case, it is sheer lunacy to allow unskilled workers to work without accident insurance coverage. It is possible, but risky.

I outfit the crew withall safety features that I know of - goggles, rigging, routines, and training. For the splinters and small cuts, I have a first aid kit available, and stocked. The insurance is for the larger disasters that require treatment at the emergency room. If the bill is under $500, I pay for it out of my own pocket, which keeps my premiums low. The insurance is the safety net for major injuries. It yields peace of mind and a cushion for workers who have no resources for managing a return to full health. It is money well spent.

My building sites attract considerable interest. Materials piled on the job site are most definitely an "attractive nuisance" to the curious - especially children, who love to climb around on the bundles. I take out a basic builders' liability policy, which covers many things, but includes covering strangers who wander onto the job site and get hurt. It is not expensive, and well worth the peace of mind. Simply ask your insurance agent about a basic builders’ liability policy. Shopping around never hurts.