Recruiting for Hot Jobs

Posted on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 by Frank Roche

How would you go about recruiting for a hot job like this one — a high-voltage line repairman? And for you compensation pros out there, what peer group would you use?

User Comments

Ann

Jun 6th, 2007

OK, I’ll bite (as a so-called compensation pro).

First of all, wow. Not a job for me.

In terms of setting pay, I’m guessing it would be a delicately balanced judgment call, taking into account such things as the nature and size of the labor supply of people who are both capable of and willing to do the work, what their available alternatives for employment are (and the going rate for those positions), job and pay relationships inside the organization (e.g., superiors, subordinates, peers), the organization’s strategy (growth?) and pay philosophy. So … peer group, if one even existed (and my experience in situations like this would lead me to guess that a direct one probably doesn’t), and how one would set pay relative to that group, would likely depend on all these things as well as others I’m likely forgetting.

My best thoughts!
Frank Roche

Jun 6th, 2007

Ann, I couldn’t agree more…there isn’t enough money printed to get me to do that job. I have acrophobia something fierce, so the idea of sitting on a seat jutting out from a helicopter just doesn’t cut it with me.

Great answer on the pay question. I swear, I wondered if those people make a million dollars a year, or if there’s an ample supply of risk takers who are willing to put on a Faraday suit and risk death for $50K a year. I’m just not sure. What got me wondering about that job was whether it’s something akin to recruiting for a CEO…they talent pool is small and the risk is great. I’m going to do some digging and see if I can find that guy on the tape. I’m going to ask for an interview, and I think question #1 will be, “How much do they pay you?”

Thanks much for the considered comment. I really appreciate that…good reading over at Compforce, too. (http://compforce.typepad.com)