When a cleaning or janitorial service provider is hiring new people, there are generally two broad options: hiring someone with experience or training someone on the job.
The question of which is the better approach is not a simple one and depends on your particular company or facility’s circumstances and goals.
Janitorial Manager writes for CleanLink that, like any major business decision, there is a balance in determining which one is better for you as an employer.
Pros of hiring someone with experience
For a start, you can expect less time for the new hires to get up to speed. This means more productivity and less stress for other employees who don’t have to worry about covering for them. Any training you do can most likely be quick — just enough so they understand your approach to commercial cleaning and customer service.
Another pro is that new hires with experience may also bring fresh ideas or skills to your team and often come with a wealth of knowledge around equipment maintenance and repair. It can also be a great way to expand your service as new hires may have certifications or additional skills like carpet cleaning and hardwood floor cleaning that your current and previous staff did not.
Cons of hiring someone with experience
With experience often comes cost and it’s important to weigh up the effect on your bottom line. If everyone on your team is certified in carpet care, you might not need another person with that skill. There is a time and a place to pay for experience and skills, but choose carefully.
Additionally, employees with experience may be stubborn and opposed to learning new tasks and procedures, following your in-house best practices, or providing the level of customer service expected by your clients.
Pros of hiring someone without experience
On the flipside, when you hire someone without experience, you are starting fresh with someone you can train to do the job to your standards. From customer service to how you use supplies to the best way to handle difficult stains, you can train them to do things the way you want them done, advises Janitorial Manager.
Plus, a new hire may give you the chance to get your more experienced employees to help out with the training, thus providing them with the chance to learn management skills.
Cons of hiring someone without experience
However, the key drawback of choosing to hire someone without experience is the cost, time, and resources required to train them in your company’s work, procedures, and best practices across the board. Training takes time and attention away from the day job, and means the rest of your team may need to temporarily expand their workload until your new hire is up to speed
The bottom line
Ultimately, the bottom line is that regardless of whether a new hire has experience or not, they should strengthen your company and add something to the team. Make sure that whoever you hire, they are a good fit for your company culture and bring a positive attitude to the team.
Source: Janitorial Manager via CleanLink
