Over the years the more guys I train, I am finding it harder for guys to get the technique.
I have more success with them than allowing other employee’s to teach mainly because I likely take more time and patience.
I also find the individuals are also very surprised that it isnt quite as simple as they intially thought.
With this, I am wondering what time frame has been found to get the common person to pickup the skill to the point they are somewhat productive.
3 mos steady glass time just to get the basic cut-in, fanning, closeout.
I too found that in training some people, they struggle more than i expected.
Many commoners tend to push the squeegee instead of pull.
I found that it depends on whether they have a background with their hands like a carpenter or mechanic or something. But yeah besides them it seems like it takes a while. Maybe 30 days of route? Before they get good.
Try this:
Switch hands for a day. It helped me put myself in their shoes.
In fact, I could stand it for only a few windows.
Wait you cnt squeegge with both hands?
Yes, I can.
Are both your hands absolutely equal?
Interesting subject.
Next week I will begin train a new girl.
How do you start with new guys/girls? Any specific windows? Specific technique?
We do 80% residential so I don’t like to bring me new employee right away. Seems not so professional in the customers eyes.
Cutting in.
Straight pulls. Vertical then horizontal.
Close out.
Detail.
Fanning.
Corner to corner.
First we have them wet for someone. Like uppers, then wet lowers. Then put them on a stretch of windows so there is alot of repetition of same size window, repeat , repeat, repeat.
Trying to keep a basic pattern and breaking it up into steps that they will combine as fluid movements develops.
After four years of learning to work like a lefty both sides are fairly equal.
Now my left arm has tendinitis 
Jhans -
It has been my experience that each person is different in their natural ability. It is definitely a skill that has to be learned and perfected over time and with practice. It would be analogous to someone being naturally athletic; they still need to be taught the sport, but excel at a faster pace and reach a higher level of success.
now, I am by no means an expert, and I definitely don’t have experience training anyone, but I do know this: I straight pulled for the first two years I was in business, but in two days of trying I had fanning down to an acceptable level, and in one day I figured out how to use my 10" liquidator effectively and what I honestly believe is the biggest factor is how much drive you have. It’s very obvious to me that most kids my age want a job that they can just stand there and be told what to do (Heck I was that way, and still am in a lot of ways), and none of them want to go home and practice fanning for two hours and not get paid for it. I think if you found someone that actually cared about window washing, actually was excited by it and didn’t find it to just be another day another job and weren’t just looking for another way to make some easy money you would find them picking it up very quickly. Think about this. Who is going to learn faster, some random stranger that you grab off of the street and throw a squeegee at and just start telling them what to do or someone who comes up to you and says “I want to learn how to squeegee like that, can you show me?” ? I think it’s all about mentality, and frankly, a lot of people have no interest in being a professional window cleaner, they just want to do what their boss says they have to get their check and go home. But of course I could be dead wrong, I am only 2 years into this profession. 
I have worked with many guys who didn’t care at all, instead of inspecting the glass after they had finished, their attitude was “What? I did my job” as they say the motion of the job more important than the results and in their minds if they did what they were told as in technique then they had completed their task.
It can be brother, old buildings, buildings under construction, don’t let me even talk about the summer sun. The independence is worth it and the pay is good if you’re motivated.
When I started window cleaning I spent a good 2 hours a day after work trying to perfect my technique. I was trained by guys who were really quick and efficient. It only took a week and a half before they gave up all the new guy talk and stopped double checking everything I did. I also studied videos and read anything I could about it. I tend to be like that though always wanting to master whatever I do, however I still haven’t hit the wall where I feel like there’s nothing left to learn or improve. That’s why I still do this, I quit for a couple years but realized it was my thing when I convinced my other job to send me around cleaning the windows at all the locations.
Haven’t met many that will dedicate themselves to anything new like that though. Most people just want the easy life it seems.
I guess it depends what they did before , if they were in construction or roofing window cleaning is easy . If they came from an office job in the ac , yes this will be hard .
My son has was on screen duty his first 2 years , finally last year he’s been doing some windows . He’s 14 , hopefully by next summer he’ll be ready to go PT
Reminds me of the book mastery by george leonard
Anybody can clean windows but not everyone can be a window cleaner! When I walk away from a window, I know it is 100% and it seems so easy, but from my experience, some people just don’t get it.
there has to be an intrinsic nature of detail and satisfaction in “clean” and “done right” wrapped up in someone who is semi outdoorsy (worked in construction etc) a finish carpenter mindset NOT rough framer mindset! I’ve observed
at the same time not a carpenter or construction guy since there’s lots of math to keep the mind busy (and power tools and noise and other “tough guy” stuff), they would be bored cleaning windows. Window cleaners keep their minds busy with other things or just enjoy the “zen therapy” of it all
window cleaners are a unique breed for sure (even though the general population may ignorantly disagree)
I had a background in construction and I really enjoy window cleaning more than construction work. I met and worked with a lot of people in construction over the years and I not many of them like there job. People complain and are negative all day. Construction are not as glamorous as they showed in tv shows.
When I started my window cleaning business I get in contact with other local wc and overall most of them like there job as a window cleaner.
