Referrals, Referrals, Referrals

RCS Influencer Charles Antis says the best way to attract new workers is through building relationships with your current employees.  

Editor’s note: What follows is a transcript of a monthly podcast RoofersCoffeeShop conducts with our RCS Influencers. In this episode, you will learn how to attract and retain more people for your company. You can read the transcript below or listen to the podcast. 

Charles Antis: We're excited. This month, on Roofers Coffee Shop, the question is, what do we do in Antis to go out and grab talent? And I want to tell a story, but I know Susan wants to tell us actually something that we're doing. But one thing that we know, it's all about relationships. It's all about who are your people, and are you connected to them? And what do we do, Susan? 

Susan Degrassi: Well, thank you for letting me go first. 

Charles Antis: Sort of. 

Susan Degrassi: So the question was programs. And like all of you, we had trouble finding employees also in this market. We use Indeed, we run ads, but our strongest program is really our referral network. And we did something really cool just in the past year. We needed, in our emerging market in San Diego, an actual field technician crew. And we were so passionate about finding the right people that we offered a $2,000 incentive to the employee that referred. We needed two people, referred them in, and a $2,000 signing bonus for those field techs. And it was well-received. We got our guys. They've been with us ever since. We have referral programs for our other employees ongoing throughout the year. 

Charles Antis: Programas de referencia. Did you do that? Did you translate that? 

Susan Degrassi: I had a professional that speaks Spanish translate that, probably Adrielle. But the point is, it also is a great marketing for your company. We splashed this all over the place. Right? 

Charles Antis: Yes. 

Susan Degrassi: On our social media, we sent it to our employees. We had it at our safety meetings. And it builds that culture that you're looking for, for the ongoing referrals. And you have the most beautiful story that I think you could share now about how referrals really work. 

Charles Antis: Well, it's all about our relationships, and we know that. It reminds me of a beautiful story back in 2005, when work was really slow, and we weren't hiring. And one morning, I got to the office, and I discovered an unfamiliar truck in the parking lot. And as I opened the door, a man calls out, "Hey, jefe (boss), do you have any work for me?" And I turn, and I saw this Hispanic man dressed in roofing attire with this kind of cool smile and answered, "No," And I walked into my office. And I remember looking out through the window and feeling bad I didn't say more but wondering why he was still there. He didn't drive away. 

And the next morning, when I drove in, I saw the same truck there. As I opened my door, like the day before, I heard, "Hey, jefe, do you have any work for me?" And I, again, answered, "No." But this time, I asked, "What's your name?" And he smiled at me, looked at me in the eye, and he said, "My name is Joaquin." 

And Joaquin kept coming back every day. Until finally, on the fifth day, I remember I was looking for his truck when I pulled in. And on that day, when Joaquin, he asked, Hey [foreign language 00:02:52], do you have any work for me? I grinned, and I answered, "Yes." And ever since then, Joaquin has helped me, his jefe, for a reason, as an employee at Antis Roofing & Waterproofing. 

Charles Antis: Today, he's our field operations manager. And I think it's an important story because one thing that we've learned is it's all about the relationships and how many people do you think Joaquin has referred into our company and everyone else who's worked for us for the past 15 plus years? 

Susan Degrassi: Yep. Dozens, dozens. 

Charles Antis: Dozens. 

Susan Degrassi: Yep. 

Charles Antis: Now, what can we do that we can lift up our people? And that what we do is we build relationships with them and we ask them. And $2,000 was an important bonus for them to get at that time. And it worked for us, so thank you. 

Susan Degrassi: Awesome. 

Charles Antis is the founder and CEO of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing. See his full bio here.