We all have to hire specialists at one time or
another for particular tasks. Either the job is too large, requires
special tools or training to do correctly, or we just don’t have
the time to do it ourselves. In some cases like preparing a Timber
Harvest Plan, laws or regulations require a specialist to perform the
work. So how do we go about choosing the best professional? This
leaflet will focus on picking the best professionals in any field,
and offer specific suggestions to help you choose resource management
specialists.
Whether we are choosing a new dentist or a logger,
a Registered Professional Forester, wildlife biologist, or roofer,
some simple steps will help you decide who is the best professional
for your circumstances.
Start your search with a list of professionals
that you think can help. The type of professional depends on your
particular situation. Your County Cooperative Extension office is a
great place to get lists of resource management professionals that
work in an area. Often staff members are familiar with the
individuals that work in a given county and can discuss the types of
background information that you should check. The county office
usually has contact information for professional organizations and
associations and regulatory authorities.
Personal recommendations are usually the best method for finding a professional
that meets your needs. Do you have a friend, neighbor or relative
that has had similar work done? Who did they use? Were they happy
with the results? What would they have done differently? Many of the
most talented and experienced professionals rely solely on word of
mouth advertising to gather new business. It has been said that a
satisfied customer tells 2 others, while a dissatisfied customer tell
2 dozen. Professional reputation can make or break a business.
Professional organizations and
associations usually will supply lists of
members that offer consulting services. They often certify which
members have experience in particular specialties or have completed
continuing education or special training. You might also contact
regulatory agencies, like the Board of Forestry. They maintain lists
of consultants that are registered with them.
The phone book is also good place to look. Many service professionals will
advertise. Those that don’t usually have at least their business
name listed. This will give you an idea of the range of service
available.
Rating Services
offer advice to consumers on the more common specialists. Found under
“Consumer Protection Organizations” in the phone book,
these are either non-profit, or for-profit organizations that rate
local providers of goods and services. Some of these services, poll
users and ask for their level of satisfaction, then review the
results. Other charge a fee for the companies to be listed. Check the
rating services policies to see if you are comfortable with their
rating system and methods.
The Internet is a great place to find out all kinds of information. An in-depth discussion of finding information of the Internet is provided in another leaflet. If you are comfortable with using news groups, web searches, and mailing list offer a number of ways to locate professional to meet many of your needs. Guides for choosing the right professionals, along with addresses and phone numbers for organizations and associations are easy to find.
Licensing: Many
professions have specific licensing requirements that they must meet.
Registered Professional Foresters are licensed by the State Board of
Forestry. The Board has set requirements for education, experience,
and comprehensive testing. Other professions, like Land Surveying,
and Pest Control, similar licensing requirements. Table 1 shows some
of the professions that you may encounter, whether a license is
required by state law, and the agency responsible for
licensing.
Check with the appropriate agency to see if the
professionals license is in good standing. Licensing agencies will
usually provide information on violations reported against that a
specific professional . Check with the specific agency as to what is
reported. Usually the number of outstanding complaints, records of
reprimands, fines and other legal actions may be
available.
Certification:
Boards, agencies and professional societies may offer certificates of
specialization, or completion of training. For example, the
California Department of Forestry offers a training course in
archeology for Registered Professional Foresters. Registered
Professional Foresters that complete the course can make preliminary
archeological checks on private property.
Every professional meets certain qualifications
based on education, experience, training, or certification.
participation in continuing education and certification programs is
indicator that the professional is keeping up with new developments
in the field.
Most professions have an organization that represents their members, often offering continuing education or some type of certification, or professional standards. These professional societies and organizations usually will confirm if an individual is a member and has met their requirement. Check with the organization as to requirements for certification. Some only require a warm body and a cleared check. Others have very strict testing and continuing education requirements
|
Profession |
License |
Regulatory Board |
Organizations |
|
Registered Professional Forester |
License required |
California Board of Forestry |
Society of American Foresters |
|
Wildlife Biologist |
No License Required |
|
The Wildlife Society |
|
Archeologist |
No License Required |
Society for Calif. Archaeology |
|
|
Licensed Timber Operator |
License for timber or logging firms and
individuals. |
Ca. Dept.Forestry & Fire
Protection |
Associated California Loggers |
|
Land Surveyor |
Education, experience and test required |
Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors |
|
|
Pest Control Advisor |
License required for any person who
recommends or applies registered pesticides |
Required Continuing Education |
|
Any professional that you are considering hiring
will provide recent references. Avoid those that promise to provide a
list, but never seem to get around to doing so. You should
check those references. People are surprisingly candid when asked their opinion.
Prepare some questions ahead of time and be ready to take notes. The
first phone call will be the most difficult.
If you are nervous about calling a stranger, you might prepare a script to help you get started. Remember that you share something with this person that you are calling. They recently went through an experience that you are preparing for. How would you feel if someone called asking similar questions about a professional that you had hired?
A suggested script follows. Add specific questions
for the type of professional that you are checking on and any other
questions that are specific to your property.
Hello my name is _____. I am considering hiring __Professional__ who provided you as a reference. Do you have a few minutes to answer a couple of questions. If not ask for a more convenient time to call. Some general questions follow. Specific questions for certain professionals are suggested later.
- Were you satisfied with the services that _Professional_ provided? Why or why not?
- Did _Professional_ respond to your questions in a timely and professional manner.
- Would you hire _Professional_ again? Why or why not?
- What would have done differently?
- Are there any questions that you should have asked but didn’t?
- Were there any surprises that I should avoid?
- If I have any more questions, would it be okay to call again?
- When is the best time to reach you?
Since you might get an answering machine, be prepared to leave a message about why you are calling and include a good time to return your call. You might also offer to accept collect calls.
One spot to check on the reputation of a professional is at the county courthouse. You can check if that person is a party to any lawsuits. If the person has a number of lawsuits pending that could be a sign of trouble. While anyone can bring a lawsuit, a professional troubled with a great deal of litigation in process might not be able to pay adequate attention to your project.
You should ask for proof of insurance. Whenever you hire someone to work on your property, unless they have liability, and workman’s compensation insurance in force, you can be held liable for any injuries or damage that they cause.
The Society of American Foresters Help Line maintains a directory of names and phone numbers for most of the agencies and professional organizations. Call
In accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, medical condition, or handicap. Inquiries regarding this policy may be directed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Drive, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612-3560. (510) 987-0096.
Publication of this series was in part funded by the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
under Contract numbers 8CA96027 and 8CA96028