276 - The #1 Mistake Contractors Make When Hiring (and How to Build a Team That Stays) with Ryan Englin

Discover why your hiring struggles might be a marketing problem, not an HR issue. Ryan Englin of Core Matters shares how treating recruitment as a marketing activity transforms your ability to attract and retain quality talent. Learn practical strategies to build a team that stays without constantly fighting the revolving door of employees that plagues many contractors.What You’ll LearnWhy recruitment is a marketing activity, not an HR functionHow to build a "bench" of quality candidates before you need themThe true cost of a bad hire beyond just wagesWhy measuring behaviors instead of just hours leads to better team performanceHow to create systems that deliver on the promises you make to potential employeesTime Stamps01:00 - Episode & Guest Intro02:26 - Core Matters: Marketing for Recruitment04:20 - Building a Recruitment Funnel06:59 - Retention and Training Challenges11:27 - Creating a Positive Work Environment14:24 - The Importance of Growth and Reputation24:27 - Measuring Behaviors, Not Hours26:59 - Defining and Tracking Core Behaviors28:04 - Behavioral Core Values28:43 - Tracking Punctuality and Learning30:55 - One-on-One Meetings and AI Assistance33:10 - Immediate Feedback and Tough Conversations38:23 - The Cost of a Bad Hire42:08 - Profit Per Employee43:33 - Owner's Role and Return on Investment45:34 - Communicating Profitability to Employees47:49 - Using Analogies for Better Understanding49:32 - Establishing Daily or Weekly HuddlesSnippets from the Episode"Recruiting is not an HR activity. When you're looking to recruit people, you need to think of it as a marketing activity. It's putting your opportunity to work in front of the right people when they're ready to make a decision about who they want to work for."— Ryan Englin, Core Matters"Construction has five times the national average suicide rate. Why? Because they get beat up at home. They get beat up on the job site. Nobody values them. Nobody appreciates them. They have no one to turn to."— Ryan Englin, Core Matters"We do not have a labor shortage in the trades. What we have is a retention problem and a lack of training problem."— Ryan Englin, Core Matters"Why is it we always have time to do it over, but we never have the time to do it right?"— Ryan Englin, Core Matters"People should never be surprised at what you think of their performance. Ever."— Ryan Englin, Core MattersKey TakeawaysTreat recruiting as marketing, not HRBuild an email list of prospective candidatesFocus on retention before recruitmentCreate systems that deliver on your employment promisesMeasure and reinforce key behaviors, not just hours workedProvide immediate feedback instead of waiting for reviewsEstablish daily or weekly team huddlesResources24 Things Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire & Train an Executive AssistantSchedule a 15-Minute Roadblock CallCheck out OpenPhoneBuild a Business that Runs without you. Explore our GrowthKits Need Marketing Help? We Recommend BenaliNeed Help with podcast production? We recommend DemandcastMore from Ryan EnglinCore Matters websiteTitans of the Trades podcastRyan Englin on LinkedInMore from Martin Hollandtheprofitproblem.comannealbc.com Email MartinMeet With MartinLinkedInFacebookInstagramMore from Khalilbenali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagramMore from The Cash Flow ContractorSubscribe to our YouTube channelSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X(formerly Twitter)Visit our websiteEmail The Cashflow ContractorConnect With UsSubscribe to The Cashflow Contractor podcast for more insights on building a profitable contractor business. Leave a review if this episode helped you rethink your hiring approach. Visit cashflowcontractor.com for more resources and past episodes.