Here are 5 reasons you should never cut your prices:

1. You set the standard for future rates. People don't remember specials, they remember what they paid and the amount they paid is what they tell their friends.

2. Existing customers may think that if you can lower your price now, you must have been over charging them before

3. You have no room for error so when a mistake happens you have no buffer to cover it and you lose money

4. You have no room for the unexpected. When the unexpected occurs, like flat tires, accidents, traffic, customers that change their mind, or unexpected damage or surprises, you also have no buffer and lose money.

5. You start a price war with your competitors and there will always be some ignorant individual that would rather do it for nothing and go out of business than let someone else have the job.

Look at this clip from the Nashville business Journal:

"Cracker Barrel made $14.4 million in last quarter, up more than 20 percent from a year earlier. By comparison, Nashville-based O'Charley's lost $4.3 million, blaming its troubles in part on its recession-inspired value menu. O'Charley's CEO Jeff Warne resigned a few weeks later."

The primary reason for their success? Not cutting prices!

by: Debbie Panell

If you think a professional resume is only for Office Managers, Accountants and CEO’s, you are dead wrong. If you have been sending out your resume for weeks or months on end, and have not had much of a response, chances are your resume is to blame. Even though you may have read, re-read, written and re-written your resume and had friends and relatives look it over as well. But still no calls. Most people don't realize their resume is either mediocre or far worse. Why is that? Really, the answer is simple. Just as I could not wire a new light in my kitchen, most people are not resume writers. I don’t have the skills to play with electricity, and you and your friends don’t have the skills and experience necessary to differentiate a bad resume from a great one.

This is exactly why there are professional resume writers.

Every week you are unemployed, another $500 to $1000 (or more!) in take home pay is lost. So if the normal job hunt length is 3 months, the financial loss is $6,000 to $12,000. Keep in mind that right now, the average search time can be 6 months to a year! The longer you are unemployed, the more money you lose- from your earnings, to your savings account and to your credit card debt!

A high quality professionally written resume and cover letter can change all that. Even if you have already experienced financial loss, it can start to be reversed by getting you back to work ASAP. Getting interviews is difficult right now. If your resume and cover letter do not fit the position to a 'T', the Hiring Manager will not look at it for more than 7 seconds. That’s right-7 SECONDS. Then it goes to the trash can. It stands to reason if you want to dramatically improve your chances of getting hired, your resume must provide a positive first impression to employers. Your resume MUST catch their eye and distinguish you from the competition!

A Professional Resume Writer knows how to format your resume style and appearance (yes, appearance is important- no matter your industry!) and content to emphasize your positive attributes and qualifications and minimize your weaknesses! They can tailor the resume to your desired job descriptions and industry and know how to make you shine! They can capture the attention of the hiring manager and keep them reading past the average 7 second resume scan! They will ask questions, whether over the phone or in a questionnaire, that get past your 'job duties' and focus on your VALUE to employers.

You can have all the skills, talents and abilities in the world but if you don't get the interviews you are stuck. When you compare the average cost of a professional resume at $150 to the cost of your lost wages for 3 months, hiring a professional to write your resume and cover letter makes sense. It is an investment in your career and in your future. Just as you pay for licensing and continuing education for your career, hiring a professional resume writer is also an investment in your career. The sooner you hire a professional resume writer, the quicker you will go back to work! Do not waste precious time (remember time is money) and wait 3-6 months before you discover that you are not getting a response from your resume!

As a special offer to ElectricSmart.com members, FishBowlResume is offering a discount. ElectricSmart members will receive $45 off a resume or a resume/ cover letter package. This makes your investment $75 for a resume or $105 for a resume AND cover letter- all tailored to your job history, your career ambitions and the job positions you are interested in applying for. Simply enter the coupon code ‘ELECTRIC’ when you checkout on the website. www.fishbowlresume.com

I arrived on time, rang the bell and knocked on the door but no one answered. As instructed I opened the door but instead of walking in, I just put my head in an yelled "Hello" Still no answer, But.... I heard talking coming from the kitchen. I walked in closer to the kitchen and yelled hello a little louder, She came out from the kitchen pantry, welcomed me and showed me the switch. I replaced it, collected our fee and was on my way.

Three days later I had a sheriff show up at my office asking me questions. It seems that this woman was missing her silverware and said the it must have been me since I just walked right in.

After giving my statement, being interviewed for an hour and then having to go back to sign my statement, I finally said enough already, Give me a lie detector test or arrest me. I am the owner of the company and make a very good living and have no need for a few hundred dollars worth of silverware.

They let it go

I will now NEVER go into a home without someone being there, nor will I send an employee into an empty home. Had it been one of my men instead of me, I might have been looking at the suspiciously from that day forward and so would the police.

My policy is that if I have to be there, a homeowner needs to be there as well.

Anyone else have similar stories?

Answer the phone. Probably the most destructive thing a service contractor can do to their business is have their phone go to voicemail. When people have an electrical problem they don’t want to wonder when or if someone will get back to them. If you don’t have a receptionist, call forward your phone to your cell phone. If you are in the middle of something and the call MUST go to voicemail, call the number back immediately, even of they didn’t leave a message. Most people simply call the next contractor in line and will hire the first live person they speak to.

Have any more suggestions? Leave them in them comment section below.

When looking for employment, especially in today’s market you have to understand that most employers have dozens if not hundreds of applicants vying for 1 position. This also means that they have just as many resumes to go through. If it was like American Idol and they were getting paid to interview applicants I am sure they would sit down and speak with every single candidate but we know it’s not; and they don’t.  After weeding out the obvious resumes that don’t qualify for the position, employers with an abundance of applicants are still left with the task of deciding who to call in for an interview and whose resume gets filed (or tossed).  This process leaves many applicants chances of getting that call up to chance.

From my experience, most qualified electricians don’t get interviewed for 3 primary reasons.

1. They don’t have the skills to write a resume that stands out, nor are they willing to pay someone to do it for them. Your resume is speaking on your behalf to a possible employer. What it says, and how it reads is the only thing that will convince an employer to give you a call. It is your personal sell sheet; your head shot and your infomercial all in one. Does it stand out and grab your attention or does it look like every other applicants?  Will it cost you to have a professional write a powerful resume? Sure it will, but what’s it costing you to be unemployed? Find a good resume writer, ask for references and see if they have any experience in writing resumes for the construction industry. If you can’t get an interview, you will never get the job.
2. They are so eager to get a job that they rush through the process and skip important details.  Be detailed and customize a cover letter for EVERY business you apply to. Don’t get so lazy where you just blast every job opening with the same thing. I get at least 15-20 resumes a week that are nothing more than an attachment to a generic email. Many job seekers don’t even have the decency to write anything in the body of the email! Yup! They simply send me a blank email with their resume attached. When I get 10-15 well prepared resumes a day do you think I even take the time to open this type? I’ll let you answer that but I’ll give you a hint. “X” marks the spot. A simple but well written and detailed cover letter stating why you would make a good employee could make all the difference. Use words like dedicated, committed, trustworthy, productive and having the ability to make their firm more profitable will catch an employers eye.
3. They think like every other applicant. If you want to get recognized you have to do something that will make an employer notice you. You can choose the conventional road that every other applicant takes or you can try being a little unconventional. Will the following suggestions work for you? I don’t know but let me ask you this; How is what you are doing now working?

• Go to the most professional looking shops in your area early one morning before they open (Whether they are hiring or not). Be waiting with a coffee for the owner and a dozen donuts. When the owner arrives, introduce yourself and tell them that you noticed how professional their company presented itself in the community and you were wondering if you could buy them a cup of coffee and interview them for about 5 minutes?  When they ask you what the interview is about tell them that you are seeking employment in the electrical field and wanted to get some advice from one of the most successful looking contractors before sending out your resume.  Then ask him or her if they could tell you what qualities they look for when they decide to interview someone.  Ask them questions like; what catches their eye on a resume that makes them want to call them in for an interview or what could a candidate say that would make it a shoe in for them to get the job? After the 5 minutes are up (Stick to YOUR time schedule) stand up and tell them that your time is up and you want to thank them for their time and information.  The next day send your resume along with a thank you card attached in the mail to them thanking them for taking the time out of their schedule to share their hiring tips with you. Ask them to please keep you in mind when they have an opening and tell them that they impressed you and that you would like to one day have an opportunity to work with them.
• Attach a Guarantee or a Free one week trial certificate to your resume! This tactic speaks volumes about your confidence in your abilities. In the Free Week Trial you can simply state that you are willing to give them 1 week; 40 hours of labor at absolutely no cost to them as a pre-employment tryout to prove that you are the right the person for the job. If you opt for a guarantee then tell them that if they are not 100% satisfied with your abilities after 40 hours, they don’t have to pay you a dime. Make sure you only present these offers to reputable owners that will not take advantage of you and… make sure you ARE indeed qualified for the position they are looking to fill. This tactic has worked for me when I sought employment at a firm that wasn’t even hiring and, they also paid me for the week anyway!
• Send a creative fax, email or flyer to every contractor in your area advertising that you are willing to fill in, part time, full time, half day or even for a few hours if they need a hand or have someone out sick.  As long as your foot is in the door and the owner knows your name and abilities, when a full time position opens up you will be the first one they call.
• Go to the one of the larger contractors in your area and find out if they are hiring. If they say no, ask them if there is anything you can do anyway, for free. Tell them that you don’t like sitting at home and wouldn’t mind helping them out when you are able just to stay busy. (It shows drive) Show up every single morning when they open asking the same question? “Do you need any help today?” I promise you that if you do this often enough someone will eventually call in sick and they will need help or they will put you to work. If they tell you not to come back, ask them who the next large contractor is and go there.

Note: not every idea will work with every contractor but… doing nothing will give you nothing every time. Tweak them to work for you, be respectful of the employer’s time and never give up.

Lastly: Make it your job to get a job. Work at it 8 hours a day every day. Not just 30 minutes cruising through online job postings and then going back to playing games or watching court shows! Get out of the house early, knock on doors, talk to people, visit job sites, stop by the permit and planning office to see who was awarded new permits and go see them.  Why you are unemployed may not be your fault, but... why you are not working somewhere, doing something, is. 

If anyone has any other unorthodox way of getting an interview, help us out by leaving it in the comment section below.

1. Have a policy that limits the type of jobs employees are allowed to do on the side. Some firms don't allow any moonlighting to take place, while others limit work to family members only. I know this doesn't sit well with many electricians, especially when work is scarce. But what they need to remember is that the more work their employer gets, the less likelihood they will be affected by a layoff.


2. Create a “Sell Sheet” or flyer for potential clients that list all the reasons a customer should use your firm and what to look for when selecting an electrician. Be sure to include such items as insurance, license, warranty. Point out that electricians that charge substantially less than you may not only be breaking the law by operating a business illegally or without a license, they also may be cutting important overhead expenses such as licensing, continuing education and liability insurance. Remind them that using such an individual or firm is putting their home and safety at risk.


3. If non-licensed and cut rate electricians are really cutting into your work, consider going to a flat rate billing system. Instead of working by the hour give them a flat price instead. Reinforce the benefits by explaining to the customer that hourly contractors have no incentive to work faster (they make less money) and often surprise their clients with large bills at the end.  If they still seem unsure you can always give them a worse case price, telling them that no matter what you run into, it will not cost more than what you quote. However if things go smoothly the bill may come in less.


4. Never try to compete by lowering your price to their level. If you do you will go out of business fast.  Instead concentrate more on marketing to clients that know the benefits of hiring a reputable, licensed and insured contractor. You may have to specialize and become creative, especially in hard economic times like these but it can be done. There are still some untapped niche’s most electrical contractors are missing out on. Installing load shedding devices for utilities, Solar Installations, Stimulus money for energy saving retrofits and installing Electric Car Charging Stations are all still very much alive to name just a few.


5. Become a master at closing the sale, especially on the phone. By improving your sales and communication skills you can often close the sale and set the date right on the phone before they have a chance to call someone else.


6. Increase the time you spend networking. This is by far the best use of your down time. Join as many local business network groups as you can and attend as many meetings as possible. If there are no network groups in your area, START ONE! Referrals are the best way to avoid competition. Always has been and always will be.


7. Turn in anyone you find that is doing work without a license or the proper business permits to the local inspection agency and or state licensing board. They are harming the industry that puts food on your table and trust me; they don’t feel bad about doing it either. Level the playing field by making them abide by the same rules as every other legitimate contractor or by making them get out of the game.

Anyone have any other tips for dealing with non-licensed or low priced contractors? Leave your comments here.

Many electricians and blue collar workers that I have met seem to have the belief that their profession is not as valuable as one that requires a college education, therefore they think they shouldn't earn as much. This limited mindset holds them back from being as successful as the can be.

If this is the way you think maybe this comparison will help you change your thoughts

What it takes to obtain a typical 4 year professional degree:

Average hours in classroom instruction per week: 18

Average Academic Term: 30 weeks

30 weeks x 18 hours = 540 hours of class time per year

540 x 4 years = 2160 hours of class time for a 4 year degree.

Average investment for a 4 year degree at a state university: $39,000.00 (most of which comes from grants and scholarships, not the students.)

What it takes to become a Professional Licensed Electrical Contractor:

Number of working hours needed before being allowed to take an electrical license exam: 2000 (In NC)

2000 hours of employment is equivalent to having 3. 7 years of college class time!

Cost of a truck stocked with material, tools and equipment, office supplies, business cards, letterhead, furniture, computer/printer, liability  & Workman’s Compensation Insurance and 1^st year of basic advertising: $20,000-$50,000 or an average of $35,000.00 (This is NOT covered by scholarships and rarely by grants)

So you tell me..... Do you still think a licensed electrical contractor should earn less than a college graduate?

1. Meet contractors face to face as often as possible. Employees want to take the easy way out and send an email or just make a phone call. While many employers don't want to be blind sided, a confident professional looking applicant showing up at their office will be remembered long after a phone call or email.

2. If you are confident in your skills, give your employer a guarantee. Tell them that if you are not one of the most qualified and efficient electricians they have ever seen after 1 week, they don't have to pay you. (Just make sure you can back it up!)

3. Make your resume POP! Send photos and include a "Why I am The one for the Job" section. If you are not creative, hire someone that is. It may cost you a bit, but how much are you losing by sitting at home?  Employers sometimes have to go through dozens of resumes and unfortunately many don't have a scoring system. That means the ones that stand out the most will get the call.

4. Employers like to make and save money. Tell them how you can do both for them and you will be head and shoulders above the rest. Have you learned how to up-sell a job, get referrals from customers and bring in new clients? If so, let the employer know that. If not; learn.

5. Unless you have a reputation of being the best electrician in town, Don't walk in the door with a list of demands. Saying things like " I don't work weekends, I need to take a truck home, or I need such and such benefits at the first meeting is a sure way to get bumped. What you need is a job first. Prove yourself first, then start with requests.

6. NEVER be late for an interview. In my eyes, if you come in late and unprepared and haven't even got the job yet, what are you going to do after you become comfortable with me? If you are going to be late for whatever reason, call WELL before your appointment time and ask to reschedule. A no show and no call is an automatic no hire for me.

7. If you have people that will give you a good reference, have the write a short blurb saying so and INCLUDE THEM with your resume! Give references from people you have done work for not just past employers and friends.

8. Don't just look for companies that are hiring. Go to the largest and most successful contractors and leave your name and OUTSTANDING resume with them. They may not be hiring today, but a job may break or an employee may quit next week.

9. Show some drive and determination. Don't be a nag but keep checking back with companies that seem like a decent place to work.

10. Be flexible. When the economy is bad, employees need to be flexible in the working hours they are seeking. Letting a contractor know that you are willing to work on an "On Call" or "Per Job" basis will help get your foot in the door.

11. Learn Spanish or let the employer know you can speak it if you can. With such a growing Spanish speaking population, having someone on staff that can communicate easily with them is a great asset for any business.

Have any more tips that may help? Leave them in the comment section below

Does some of the following describe your business?

Honest, Great Service, Caring, Knowledgeable, Friendly, Quality, Fair

If so that’s great! But… show me a business that doesn’t make those claims.

Each of us probably encounters dozens of businesses every week and for those of us that are active in network meetings, the number can be in excess of a hundred. Think about your week and how many businesses you encountered. Now; how many people did you tell about your encounters or shopping experience? If you are like me you can probably count them on........ no hands.

The quickest way to get people talking positively about your service or business is to give them something positive to talk about and the more WOW! you can put into their experiences the faster they will share them.

Wow! is different, it’s not typical and it’s unexpected!

It’s the fast food restaurant that on one day the managers wash your windows at the drive up and the next, the window clerk tells you a joke.

It’s the diner that doesn’t serve Coke Products but has a manager that runs across the street to get you one.

It’s the cashier that doesn’t have change for a hundred when you purchase a $3.00 item and tells you to go ahead she will pay for it so you don’t have to wait.

It’s the store that tells you take it anyway and stop back when you can after they find out you forgot your wallet at home.

It’s the mechanic that tells you that they noticed you didn’t have time to get your car washed so they detailed it for you at no charge.

It’s the service technician that calls you to see if you need any milk or bread because he is at the store and will be at your place next.

What are you doing that will cause your clients to tell their friends and associates about?

Make it a WOW! filled week!

Bob