Written by Claire Schneider
Finding top people with the right attitude is a daily battle for any business owner. Our Career Move Month helps to alleviate this stress and by recruiting talented folks who embody the caring and can-do attitude required to be a part of a big business. Dan and Rene Shunk, franchisees of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Bloomington and Central Ill., know the struggles of finding quality employees. They strive to help their employees not only succeed in their roles but also to grow with the business. See how they move people forward in the following interview:
Q: What are your and Dan’s business backgrounds?
Rene: I have a B. S. in Engineering from the University of Illinois. I worked for over 10 years in research and business development within the agriculture industry. My specialty was research project management and development focused on multi-partner, multi-year research programs with an emphasis on commercialization of new technology.
Dan has a B.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois and a MBA from Washington University. He worked for over 10 years in the heavy equipment industry in sales and branch management. His focus was on selling a high quality product and then servicing that product with excellent customer service.
Q: How long have the two of you been with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?
Rene: We both started with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in 2008 and haven’t looked back.
Q: What has been your experience with hiring quality employees?
Rene: Hiring quality employees is the biggest challenge in a small business. Anyone first starting out is an unknown in terms of what type of employer they will be. Add to that the inherent difficulty of finding qualified applicants for each open position.
Q: In your eyes, what makes a good team member?
Rene: People usually answer this question with “attitude” and that is the simplest and most honest answer. Work ethic is really significant along with a willingness to work closely with others to see the company succeed. People must be motivated by helping our customers to really enjoy this type of work.
Q: Have you recently promoted someone from within the system? If so, why?
Rene: Yes, we have recently promoted several drivers into both team leader roles and assistant manager positions. They are learning new skills, are helping the business expand, and are providing leadership to new hires. We’re really excited to be able to offer more opportunities for these loyal employees to grow in their careers.
Q: How do you feel TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® allows you to promote from within?
Rene: In the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® culture there is no downside to having customer-facing experience. Each of these team members are viewed as a valuable part of the system, and cultivating a happy team is vital to our success. There are many resources available to encourage promotion including training programs and mentors who have taken those same paths from their start on the front line.
Why do you feel Career Move Month is so important to your business?
Rene: Career Move Month allows us to spotlight the many ways a person could have a terrific career with us, and the initiative allows our potential employees to see the full spectrum of opportunities beyond just viewing us as a small company at the local level. It has enhanced our recruiting efforts, generating more attention to positions which are available at our franchise.
Q: How would you describe the culture at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?
Rene: Our personal mission has always been to provide not only a great service to our customers but to provide a great place for our employees to work. We chose to join the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® system because of a culture which values our customers, employees, and community.
Apply now to be a part of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® and begin your career!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® 