Trying to Help a Contractor Friend...

Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

My best friend is a skilled carpenter, age 52, that really needs to find a full time job with benefits. He has worked his entire life in the trade, relying on his wife's health and retirement benefits. Now that he is divorced, he is kidding himself that he can somehow go month to month on what he earns without any benefits. He can do what he does on the side, but he needs regular work.

He resists the idea of working Home Depot or Lowes because of bad experiences as a shopper. However, I think he would do well there, being a hard worker, kind, articulate, and very knowledgeable about building products, lumber, materials, tools, construction, etc.

This man needs a place he can eventually retire from, make a decent wage, and receive good benefits in return. He rarely takes vacations and needs to. He might want to retire in another state, and it would seem logical to work for a large company where he might be able to transfer to a different store.

Is Lowe's a good choice at his age? Someone told me they hire a lot of former contractors, or was that Home Depot? I appreciate any advice anyone can offer. He's not much of a computer user and is presently working, so I thought I would ask for him.

Thanks!

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 4:16 am Post subject:

Here is the only problem i have seen with retired or semi-retired people going to work for Lowes. They are use to a set schedule, no nights, no weekends and pretty much working on a project and not being bothered. That doesnt happen at Lowes.
You work for 5 minutes then spend the next 20 helping customers. Then back to the desk. Then stock. Then calls, etc.. That doenst happen on a job site.

Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 1 Location: east coast

I work for home depot and they are affiliated with AARP...
So i know for a fact that they are encouraging our "older' generation to work for them... let me know if you have any question that i can anser for you

Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 12

I think its always great having an older person working for the company. They are usually more paitent and offer more insight. Lets face it, the've seen it all when it comes to common mistakes, and customers are more likely to listen to them. The only downside is the hours and the demands that they are not used to. I also hate it when they want special hours and previlages (like not working on weekends or at nights) we have had a few that couldn't work at night because they say they can't "see" driving home. Lets face it we all have a life and no body likes working at night all the time. When someone wants a special scedule it just means that someone else has to work the extra nights. Thats just not fair to the team. But if the person wants to be a team player then go for it!!!!

Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

Thanks for the responses. I will pass along the suggestions to my friend.

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