I am the kind of person who doesn't like to be late for an agreed-upon meeting time/date. If I see I'm going to be late, I call to let them know and apologize profusely. I think that being late tells the other person that I am more important than they are. How ridiculous, rude and arrogant! Of course, what is worse than being late is not showing up for work at all without so much as a call. This has happened more often than I ever imagined it would; especially considering the experience and supposed wisdom of the general population of workampers. Integrity is not something you can interview for or search for on a resume. Does anyone have any tips on how to determine, during the interview process, if someone has personal integrity? (jo)

Howdy!You may start with their backgroud. I woukd like to think that Military Veterans and Law Enforcement would be high in intergrity."Happy Trails"Chiefneon

Had & I say HAD, a close friend, & a veteran. Never ever showed up on time, nor called & always had a lame excuse & when we were ever out & about, if he happened to run into someone else he knew, he'd chat them up & let you stand there for up to an hour, while his self-importance was fed.Oh & yes, whenever he was wrong about something, He NEVER apologized.

when we interviewd we used the STR process. Like "tell me about a specific time that... and 1. what did you do and 2. what was the outcome. STR is Situation - Task- Result. Here are some examples: What do you do to ensure that you are on time for meetings and appointments? Tell me about a time when you were late for an important meeting. What did you do?Follow up question could be: how many times in the last 2 years have you been late to work, what were the reasons and what did you do? Tell me about a time when you had to be absent from work. How did you arrange for the necessary coverage of your job?How many days did you miss from work in the last year? Can your last employer verify this information?

That's one of my pet peeves too....going to the doctors? They want you to arrive 30 minutes early for an appointment that the DOCTOR is going to be 30 minutes LATE for....:M:M:MI too, used the STR format and it works well for any type situation....Dennis

I wish I could say the veteran route was solid but its not a given. I still believe it's a plus but doesn't remove due diligence. Also, lots get kicked out and fail to mention that fact in a job interview while playing the veteran card.Many a time a young service member has used the excuse that there was a line at the front gate as an excuse for being late. While things happen out of the normal, a line at the gate of a military base is called normal and a planning factor, not an excuse.I would recommend scenario questions for an interview to see problem solving ability and reliability. Some issues are integrity and some are just failing to learn to plan like the young service member allowing 35 minutes for a 34 minute commute and being in extremes when something goes wrong. The latter is correctable. The former not as much.

Personal Integrity | Good Sam Community

mockturtle
Explorer II
May 06, 2015
RoyB wrote:
When you find your good ones do things to keep them around forever haha...
Important concept! I was once at a meeting where the CEO was showing off new recruitment brochures and asking for comments or questions. I asked him what steps were being taken to retain the staff we had (the turnover rate was very high). He just looked at me dumfounded.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
May 06, 2015
wepampercampers wrote:
Thanks for the STR reminder. I've done this before but get lax when campgrounds are opening and I'm in a panic to hire.

Some people accept the job then don't bother to show up at all!

I hope this is not a growing trend with the younger generation.

Very sadly it IS!

IMHO This new generation is not worth my time interviewing. They are the worst. You might find one out of a hundred that is worth hiring.
They lack education and social skills BIG time. All they care about is themselves and their iPhone.:(

And they ARE the ones most likely to accept the position and don't show up. You are left sitting there believing you have filled a position and are left holding the bag trying to run that position and again trying to find someone for it.

Hire Retired Seniors.
Educated, brought up right, have social skills to spare, and willing and able to learn new tasks. IMHO the only way to go.:C
bgum
Explorer
May 07, 2015
rockhillmanor has the right idea. Hire from the list take your chances but don't be afraid to cull.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
May 07, 2015
rockhillmanor wrote:
wepampercampers wrote:
Thanks for the STR reminder. I've done this before but get lax when campgrounds are opening and I'm in a panic to hire.

Some people accept the job then don't bother to show up at all!

I hope this is not a growing trend with the younger generation.

Very sadly it IS!

IMHO This new generation is not worth my time interviewing. They are the worst. You might find one out of a hundred that is worth hiring.
They lack education and social skills BIG time. All they care about is themselves and their iPhone.:(

And they ARE the ones most likely to accept the position and don't show up. You are left sitting there believing you have filled a position and are left holding the bag trying to run that position and again trying to find someone for it.

Hire Retired Seniors.
Educated, bught up right, have social skills to spare, and willing and able to learn new tasks. IMHO the only way to go.:C
Sorry, but I personally know of three parks where they hired retired seniors for workamping positions this fall, stayed in contact with them throughout the winter and suddenly those seniors couldn't honor their commitment a couple of weeks prior to their scheduled arrival. It really leaves those parks in a bad way. They are now scrambling to find help. On the other hand I have had young workers full of ambition and energy who were a great asset. Sadly they had to go back to college. Integrity, work ethic and the like isn't lacking in young people and isn't ingrained in the older generations.
NoVa_RT
Explorer
May 07, 2015
Check with prior employers. Doesn't guarantee that much, but it is part of your due diligence.
tracyb-oh
Explorer
May 07, 2015
NoVa RT wrote:
Check with prior employers. Doesn't guarantee that much, but it is part of your due diligence.

This may not get you much. I worked for a major national retailer for over 30 years. When someone called about an person who had previously worked there, all we could do was confirm they worked there and the length of their employment. We were not allowed by legal to say anything else about them good, bad or otherwise. Not much help for a future employer to work with sad to say.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
May 07, 2015
NoVa RT wrote:
Check with prior employers. Doesn't guarantee that much, but it is part of your due diligence.

Prior employers CANNOT give out negative information and the vast vast majority will only tell you if the person is eligible for re-hire. Many have stopped that practice as it implies a problem that may not exist.

Most now will only verify work dates.

Remember Employers and HR departments are made up of people. They can have their own set of prejudices, axes to grind and so forth. Some companies are just downright petty.

I have relied on the interview, very clear expectations set out at the very beginning and re-iterated often. I make it clear to them that being on time is non negotiable. If they are late more than once I sit them down and ask them if they like their job? If so don't be late again.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
May 07, 2015
westernrvparkowner wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
wepampercampers wrote:
Thanks for the STR reminder. I've done this before but get lax when campgrounds are opening and I'm in a panic to hire.

Some people accept the job then don't bother to show up at all!

I hope this is not a growing trend with the younger generation.

Very sadly it IS!

IMHO This new generation is not worth my time interviewing. They are the worst. You might find one out of a hundred that is worth hiring.
They lack education and social skills BIG time. All they care about is themselves and their iPhone.:(

And they ARE the ones most likely to accept the position and don't show up. You are left sitting there believing you have filled a position and are left holding the bag trying to run that position and again trying to find someone for it.

Hire Retired Seniors.
Educated, bught up right, have social skills to spare, and willing and able to learn new tasks. IMHO the only way to go.:C
Sorry, but I personally know of three parks where they hired retired seniors for workamping positions this fall, stayed in contact with them throughout the winter and suddenly those seniors couldn't honor their commitment a couple of weeks prior to their scheduled arrival. It really leaves those parks in a bad way. They are now scrambling to find help. On the other hand I have had young workers full of ambition and energy who were a great asset. Sadly they had to go back to college. Integrity, work ethic and the like isn't lacking in young people and isn't ingrained in the older generations.

Thank you for that rebuttal. Every generation has good and bad. Sure, I think too few parents are passing on a solid work ethic but it's definitely out there. I bet there are lots of hard working college students who would make great help. Of course as you stated, they won't be around for the fall season.
Mr__Camper
Explorer
May 08, 2015
OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
wepampercampers wrote:
Thanks for the STR reminder. I've done this before but get lax when campgrounds are opening and I'm in a panic to hire.

Some people accept the job then don't bother to show up at all!

I hope this is not a growing trend with the younger generation.

Very sadly it IS!

IMHO This new generation is not worth my time interviewing. They are the worst. You might find one out of a hundred that is worth hiring.
They lack education and social skills BIG time. All they care about is themselves and their iPhone.:(

And they ARE the ones most likely to accept the position and don't show up. You are left sitting there believing you have filled a position and are left holding the bag trying to run that position and again trying to find someone for it.

Hire Retired Seniors.
Educated, bught up right, have social skills to spare, and willing and able to learn new tasks. IMHO the only way to go.:C
Sorry, but I personally know of three parks where they hired retired seniors for workamping positions this fall, stayed in contact with them throughout the winter and suddenly those seniors couldn't honor their commitment a couple of weeks prior to their scheduled arrival. It really leaves those parks in a bad way. They are now scrambling to find help. On the other hand I have had young workers full of ambition and energy who were a great asset. Sadly they had to go back to college. Integrity, work ethic and the like isn't lacking in young people and isn't ingrained in the older generations.

Thank you for that rebuttal. Every generation has good and bad. Sure, I think too few parents are passing on a solid work ethic but it's definitely out there. I bet there are lots of hard working college students who would make great help. Of course as you stated, they won't be around for the fall season.

What can happen to normally reliable seniors who cancel on short notice can usually be traced to a medical problem or illness. Even with that possibility, I'd still go with a senior couple as my primary choice.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
May 08, 2015
Mr. Camper wrote:
OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
wepampercampers wrote:
Thanks for the STR reminder. I've done this before but get lax when campgrounds are opening and I'm in a panic to hire.

Some people accept the job then don't bother to show up at all!

I hope this is not a growing trend with the younger generation.

Very sadly it IS!

IMHO This new generation is not worth my time interviewing. They are the worst. You might find one out of a hundred that is worth hiring.
They lack education and social skills BIG time. All they care about is themselves and their iPhone.:(

And they ARE the ones most likely to accept the position and don't show up. You are left sitting there believing you have filled a position and are left holding the bag trying to run that position and again trying to find someone for it.

Hire Retired Seniors.
Educated, bught up right, have social skills to spare, and willing and able to learn new tasks. IMHO the only way to go.:C
Sorry, but I personally know of three parks where they hired retired seniors for workamping positions this fall, stayed in contact with them throughout the winter and suddenly those seniors couldn't honor their commitment a couple of weeks prior to their scheduled arrival. It really leaves those parks in a bad way. They are now scrambling to find help. On the other hand I have had young workers full of ambition and energy who were a great asset. Sadly they had to go back to college. Integrity, work ethic and the like isn't lacking in young people and isn't ingrained in the older generations.

Thank you for that rebuttal. Every generation has good and bad. Sure, I think too few parents are passing on a solid work ethic but it's definitely out there. I bet there are lots of hard working college students who would make great help. Of course as you stated, they won't be around for the fall season.

What can happen to normally reliable seniors who cancel on short notice can usually be traced to a medical problem or illness. Even with that possibility, I'd still go with a senior couple as my primary choice.
Or they took another position, or they just decided they didn't want a job this season. The flexibility that being retired offers can be a detriment to hiring. No skin off a retiree's teeth if they don't take a job. It won't leave a gap in their resume, it won't effect their career track, it won't leave them short on beer money for their Junior year at State U. They can opt to not take a job or can opt to go elsewhere on a whim. Good for them, not good for employers.

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