For anyone that has ever golfed, they know that the ultimate goal is to hit a hole in one. Last fall, while playing a course in Upper Michigan, I hit a shot onto a green with a sand trap that hid the hole. When our foursome neared the green, we could see 3 balls there but mine was missing...until we looked in the hole. I had my hole in one.
I think a lot about golf. I started playing in high school and in the last 15 years I played with regularity. I also think a lot about work and recently, mostly about hiring the next generation of Ralph’s employees. More often than you might think, golf and hiring make sense together.
There is no such thing as natural touch. Touch is something you create by hitting millions of golf balls. -- Lee Trevino
Golf is a very technical game and installing / finishing floors can be technical too. Some people think that maybe because my Dad was a hardwood guy that I inherited some magical skills but I learned to install hardwood the same way we teach new installers. We take them out on the road, show them the ropes and ultimately let them learn by trying.
The team atmosphere, hanging in the team room, messing around with the guys. That's the fun stuff. -- Gary Woodland
When I think about one of the best reasons for working at Ralph’s, I think about the team. Our group genuinely enjoys each other’s company and it makes everything better. Whether you are on the showroom floor helping someone find the perfect product or in their living room making sure the finish turns out right, we find ways to make it fun and that comes down to the people.
If people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club they’d starve to death. -- Sam Snead
Some workplaces have a pretty tight grip. At Ralph’s we are looking for people who are looking for something different. Like anywhere you need to be accountable but Ralph’s isn’t a factory or a call centre. We want our employees to be comfortable in a dynamic environment where they are allowed to call the shots, set the pace and ultimately make sure customers are happy.
Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character. -- Arnold Palmer
People tend to think installing hardwood is just manual labor, but it's so much more than that. It includes cutting, gluing, nailing, sanding, staining, and finishing hardwood floors. A Ralph’s installer is a trained artisan that needs to work both sides of their brain. One day you might need to develop a creative idea for a custom floor and the next be highly analytical to install specialty products with specific instructions.
My three keys to success: One, work hard. Two, be your own person. And three, have a passion for what you’re doing. -- Juli Inkster
No one wants to spend half their life at a job they hate. I believe wholeheartedly the trick to a good job is passion. Not everyone is as passionate about flooring (or golf) as I am but most of our team is passionate about what they do - from customer service to craftsmanship to problem solving.
One of golf's ultimate goals is to get a hole in one and one of life's ultimate goals is to get a great job you can love with other great people. I like to think a job a Ralph's is pretty close to a hole in one in life - why not join us and find out?
Do you think you or someone you know might be a good fit for our team?
If so, we would love to talk to them. You can find out more on our careers page. Oh and being a golfer is not required.
