My next door neighbor recently bought some rental property. I told him "you don't advertise for tenants...you recruit! And when you have a vacancy, you make them a pitch as to why they should move into your place!"
Most of us have met folks over time who made a good impression on us; there is no reason you can't track them down and ask them what they're up to these days.
One must also be a bit open-minded as to the work to be done, hours to be kept, etc. An awful lot of an electrical contractors' work has little to do with "electrical work." A man who can patch drywall, then match the texture, is a real asset. Carpentry, set-up, clean-up, parts running, and roof repair are all things we do that aren't part of the apprentice electrician curriculum.
