This document provides a business capstone report for Mosquito Joe of Buffalo that examines the business and provides recommendations for expansion. It recommends that Mosquito Joe focus on targeting daycares, restaurants with outdoor patios, and wedding/event venues. It also suggests increasing brand awareness through improved marketing, developing a commercial client section of the website, using targeted slogans, leveraging local chambers of commerce, and utilizing social media and interns more effectively.

1. Business Capstone Report
For Mosquito Joe of Buffalo
Prepared by:
Sarah Bond
Sharell Cottrell
Jayvonna Kincannon
Nichelle Thornton.

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During the spring 2016 semester, our Capstone class has examined the business of Mosquito Joe.
After a rigorous analysis, we make the following recommendations about how the company can
expand its commercial services and ways to evolve the hiring processes. First, we offer an
overview of our understanding of the business.
Mosquito Joe is an organization that views itself as providing a service that gives customers an
opportunity to make outside fun again. It offers mosquito control services - repelling and killing
outdoor pests such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. The technicians are trained mosquito control
experts who come to residential homes and commercial businesses to apply barrier spray
solutions to keep areas mosquito-free. The company also delivers services for special events to
keep hosts and guests comfortable and free from pests. Mosquito Joe backs each service with a
satisfaction guarantee.
Its marketing activities are focused on reaching residential customers in the Northtowns of WNY
targeting homeowners with an income of at least $75,000 that have children or pets. Mosquito
Joe is expanding its marketing efforts to attract business in need of its services. In our
assessment, the appropriate commercial market would find themselves spending significant time
and money fixing an issue that Mosquito Joe is already trained to do.
Competitors faced are other companies focusing on mosquito exterminating. The following
competitors are located in Buffalo. The top contenders are Mosquito Man, Mosquito Squad, and
Mosquito Authority. Others to be concerned about are Pest Control of Buffalo, Buffalo
Exterminating, and Terminix. Mosquito Squad is viewed as the top competitor because it focuses
strictly on mosquitoes and ticks, as Mosquito Joe does. The other competitors concentrate on
other pests as well, but mosquitos are not their primary focus. These other businesses could be
stronger competitors because they can provide more services to customers at once (example:
eliminating bee and mosquito infestation at the same time). These competitors also offer some of
the same services to commercial and residential clients, which include misting systems, and
barrier sprays.
A SWOT analysis is located below. A SWOT analysis consists of Strengths, Weaknesses,
Threats, and Opportunities related to a specific business and a specific industry. A SWOT
analysis gives a business a visual of where they currently stand related to challenges it faces and
possibilities still untapped. This tool analyzes all aspects of business. Strengths (internal)
determine what the company does best, weaknesses (internal) are what the company should
improve upon, threats (external) are industry factors that affect the business negatively, and
opportunities (externals) are industry factors that provide chances to enhance the business. After
a full evaluation of this industry tool, the company should know what to work on and what
opportunities are available to it. From our research, we have created a SWOT analysis providing
a starting point for Mosquito Joe’s owners to enhance and revise to gain a thorough understand
of their business and the industry it operates in. The IBIS World industry report for the Pest
Control Industry in the US is provided with this report for further study.

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The following is a listing of recommendation to improve Mosquito Joe’s Commercial Business.
Recommendation # 1 - Focus on the target market
We are recommending that Mosquito Joe concentrates on daycare centers, restaurants with
outdoor patios and wedding/event venues with outdoor spaces. We chose these three industries
based on the urgent necessity of pest-free regions.
Our top commercial client recommendations are daycare centers. Children playing outside at
daycare are susceptible to insect bites and viruses associated with them. It is the responsibility of
the daycare centers to keep these kids safe and happy while in their care. It is our belief that the
concern for safety and well-being of the children will make an obvious identifiable need for
Mosquito Joe’s services. Daycare centers will want this service to prevent any allergic reactions
or discomfort to the children in their care. The Zika virus is the newest known illness from
mosquitos. Expecting moms and women in childbearing ages are at the most significant risk.
MosquitoJoe of Buffalo
Strengths of the
business  Family owned
 In-depth knowledge on mosquitos, ticks, and fleas
 Two sprays (adult and lava)
 Affordable
 Specializes in residential & commercial services
 Customer satisfaction guarantee
 Competitive pricing
 Flexible scheduling of spraying upon request
 Part of a successful franchise
 Chemical-free product
Weaknesses of the
business  Only in 3 territories
 Not social media oriented for marketing
 Only spray for 3 pests
 Currently only residential focused
 No physical product to sell until licensed to do so
 Marketing is mostly residentially orientated
 Other businesses can get rid of more than one pest
 Many competitors that have better-established brand
recognition.
 Limited resources to reach commercial markets that can be
difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to reach.
Commercial market segmentation is usually about 22% of the
sales compared to single-family residential being 68%.

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Most of the females customers in a daycare setting will be in this age category; therefore,
daycares utilizing Mosquito Joe services will make women feel safer knowing that the daycare is
attempting to protect them from a variety of illnesses. Pregnant mothers may especially want
documentation of their own and their children’s safety. Daycare centers should promote the fact
that they use a pest control service by displaying Mosquito Joe signs. These signs will give
Mosquito Joe extra advertising.
Additionally, we are focusing on outdoor wedding and outdoor event venues. We understand that
the companies providing these services must supply benefits that their competitors cannot. We
are suggesting to give these companies an edge in their marketing by offering pest-free venues
for these occasions, setting them apart from others in their industry. It is our recommendation
that Mosquito Joe suggests that outdoor venues advertise the use of its service giving the end
customer one less thing to worry about. Mosquito Joe should provide a small sign for these
locations to display to promote its business and that the services were used at that site.
We believe that Mosquito Joe could, also, benefit from building a relationship with veterinarians
because these doctors have direct contact with the end user of Mosquito Joe services. Often pet
Opportunities for the
industry  Zika virus and Lyme disease and the threats they present to
society.
 Heightened concerned by women of child bearing ages and
pregnant women on the effects of being bit by mosquitos.
 Society is becoming more aware of problems specifically
because of the rise in bed bugs and the media coverage that
issue receives.
 Disposable income on the rise. With increased income,
businesses and consumers will be less likely to opt for cheap
home products and go to professionals.
 Buffalo residents have limited opportunities to enjoy nice
weather outside so place a higher emphasis on enjoying the
time they have outside.
 IBIS database projects a 2.7% annual growth 2016-2021 for
pest control.
 In the next 5 years, consumer expectations will drive
businesses for regular pest inspections.
Threats to the industry
 Perception or reality that the spray contains chemicals that are
unhealthy for individuals.
 Do-it-yourself methods are as affordable and effective.
 In WNY, months that mosquitos are disruptive to people is
more limited compared to the southern United States.
 Lack of disposable income for this problem.

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owners look towards their veterinarian to provide further direction on how to keep their pets free
from diseases associated with mosquitos and ticks. By networking with this audience, the firm
can start to develop mutually beneficial relationships. We suggest that the business connects
with this group via e-mail or LinkedIn and offer a free business or residential barrier spraying
service. An authentic endorsement can be given from veterinarian to pet owner only after the
doctor has personally experienced the great benefits of a barrier spray. Mosquito Joe has to take
the first step in the B2B connection by networking with these business professionals. Further
suggestions on how to accomplish this task are described in the remainder of this report.
Recommendation #2 - Increase Brand Awareness
We believe that Mosquito Joe should increase its marketing activity during their off-season to
gain name recognition before their active seasons arrives. After surveying some clients in
Mosquito Joe’s target market, we determined that the firm could benefit from better brand
awareness. We want more people to become familiar with the family run franchise because it is
fairly new to the WNY area. Suggestions listed below will help increase WNY consumers of the
availability of the pest control services.
Recommendation # 3 – E-mailing potential and existing customers
Mosquito Joe should consistently e-mail their new & existing target market(s) because it is a
professional way to keep its name in front of clients. It is difficult to visit personally and
expensive to market to every potential commercial client. E-mails are an easy, inexpensive, and
effective way to disperse information. Many employees check their e-mails several times on a
daily basis. Sending out a polished e-mail containing benefits, incentives, and ideas of how
Mosquito Joes services could be used will get the "bug" into readers' ears about the business.
Because some commercial clients may not see the value of the use for Mosquito Joe's services,
the first e-mail should be a virtual handshake containing highlights about what the organization
can provide. Next, a professional follow-up message holding promotions and coupons will entice
readers to contemplate Mosquito Joe’s services. Initiating that relationship is significant, and
Mosquito Joe's should aim to further establish their e-mail platform. When done effectively, e-
mails can boost the readers' awareness of services provided by Mosquito Joes that will
eventually translate into increase sales.
Recommendation # 4- Commercial Customers Tab
Mosquito Joe should include a new tab on their website, labeled “Commercial Clients.” This tab
allows for a consolidated section full of information solely relevant to corporate clients. The
current website appears to target mainly residential customers, leaving commercial prospects to
feel overlooked. This separate tab would create an opportunity for the firm to promote its
services better through pictures, words, taglines and information to businesses only. Commercial

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clients could then feel more confident that Mosquito Joe’s is prepared to assist with satisfying
business needs and not just residential.
In the commercial tab section, we offer the following recommendations:
 Add a tagline solely pertaining to commercial customers
 Provide more pictures pertaining to commercial businesses
 List benefits of Mosquito Joe services to commercial businesses
 Provides info about the Zika/ West Nile/ other viruses and how these viruses can impact
different types of businesses
 Add a Commercial Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
 Add a book an appointment tab directly on the website
 Add special business promotions and discounts
 Add online referral incentives
 Add more testimonials from commercial businesses as those clients build
 Add demonstration videos
Recommendation # 5 - Use a business slogan to attract a business customer
Mosquito Joe’s current slogan “Making the Outdoors Fun Again” is promoting solely to
residential clients. When it comes to commercial clients, it may not be so fitting. Business
customers view their outdoor space as a functional area to improve the service they provide to
clients. By using a different slogan such as “Itching for a Solution”, Mosquito Joes can better
catch the attention of business professionals who are often working to solve their businesses
problems.
Recommendation # 6 – Increase interaction with local Chamber of Commences to promote brand
awareness and increase sales.
It is our understanding that Mosquito Joe is currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce of
the Tonawandas. We believe that this organization can benefit by becoming more active in this
location of the Chamber plus add membership to other local Chamber of Commerces. Ken-Ton
and Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce would be the next chapters we suggest to join. The
Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization that provides support and networking for
businesses and industries in the Chamber's local area. It is their mission to promote business and
economic development to enhance the quality of life of the local citizens and business members.
This is the type of organization that can help the firm grow with their networking opportunities
and free options to advertise and promote the firm's services and current deals.
Although Mosquito Joe is already a member of The Chamber of Commerce, we feel there are
more benefits that can be extracted from its use. The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas
provides every new business, and new residents welcome bags, which contains free gifts such as

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pens, discounts, etc. from local businesses active in the Chamber. We recommend that Mosquito
Joe provides an FAQ sheet and a small donation, possibly corn-on-the-cob holders with
Mosquito Joe logo on it to be included in all these bags! Businesses also receive exposure
through Twitter, Facebook, and Chamber post. This can help the firm with advertising when
providing Chamber with ad promotions and important information to share with Twitter and
Facebook followers.
Other benefits include:
 Monthly newsletters to all Chamber members that can highlight the services of Mosquito
Joe.
 The organization included in the Visitor's Guide read by visitors and town citizens.
 Six major events including the Women's Expo and Boutique held every other year that
helps Mosquito Joe network with other local business people and builds brand exposure.
 B2B advertising, through e-mail blasts, to help with business branding and advertising of
specials and member-to-member discounts.
 Business Cards and Brochure Displays
Recommendation # 7- Effectively use Social Media
There is no doubt that today social media is a game changer. For advancement, a business needs
to participate actively in social media marketing. There are many benefits for businesses who
uses social media such as: development of loyal customers, increased exposure, higher website
traffic and improved sales. Social media can also be complicated and time-consuming for
businesses to do well. It is important for Mosquito Joe to know exactly what social media
platform(s) their target market resides on and how to operate efficiently in it. Since it can be a
time-consuming task and is an ever-changing event, it is recommended for Mosquito Joe to
consider using college interns, on a regular basis. These interns can teach the full-time staff
current social media marketing trends while keeping costs down and increase the brand
awareness of Mosquito Joes of Buffalo. We are aware of a few local businesses that use a
continual supply of college interns to help run their businesses. This idea saves money but also
involves time and personnel commitment to investing in students' education. The longer a
company uses interns, the better they streamline the process and understand what to request from
the colleges. We find that the Mosquito Joes non-busy season will correlate well with an
abundance of local college students wanting to gain real-life marketing experiences. To provide
a context, Villa Maria College students are required to complete 130 hours at an internship site to
receive college credit for an internship experience, before graduating.
Mosquito Joe should consider perfecting a few platforms instead of engaging in several social
media sites that are ineffective. We are recommending using Facebook and LinkedIn as the
primary platforms for social media marketing. Facebook will be employed mainly for B2C
relationship. This is where this firm will be able to connect with consumers. Using LinkedIn will
develop more B2B relationships. It is more professional and easier to connect with clients such
as daycare centers, restaurants, and veterinarians.

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To keep the attention of the clients on Facebook and LinkedIn, the readers should feel they are
receiving something before actually giving something. In Mosquito Joe's case, the most
inexpensive thing they can give to their customers is knowledge and information. Mosquito Joe
already has some key articles on their blog site that would be beneficial to add to their social
media platforms. These articles are "Zika Update with Help from Google" by Julie Green, "What
if We Got Rid of All the Mosquitos?" and "White House Requests Billions in Zika Virus Aid" by
Tracey Willmott. Zika is such a popular topic today that people will recognize the headline, and
be intrigued to gain more knowledge. Americans are focused on their health issues, and these
headlines should grab readers' attentions. Other potential topics that Mosquito Joe could touch
upon are: "Three inexpensive ways businesses can reduce mosquitos around their patios?" and
"Three ways homeowners can keep their patios bug free?" Giving away knowledge that can be
beneficial to residential or commercial clients will build trust and gain respect from consumers
before the organization has asked for a potential customer to purchase a service.
Besides giving away knowledge, Mosquito Joe should consider giving away gifts such as
Citronella candles, corn-on-the-cob holders, lighters, or bug spray. These items are associated
with their service and would be helpful to engage potential customers. They could be distributed
when someone ‘likes’ the Mosquito Joe of Buffalo Facebook page, as a ‘Thank You.’ This
technique will also be another way to aid in the collection of their customer database.
Additionally, to make a stronger impact on Facebook, Mosquito Joe should have Facebook only
specials. This will also help track how many customers are coming from this platform and the
effectiveness of its marketing. To track the effective of different marketing spaces, it is possible
to have different business phone numbers attached to various marketing platforms. All phone
calls are routed to the same phone number, but the firm would be able to see what source
generated the most phone calls so it will know where to spend best future marketing budgets.
It is suggested that advertising on Facebook should be boosted two months ahead of spraying
season. It is recommended to pay to be placed on the page of targeted customers directly before
spraying season. This will provide potential clients- veterinarians, relators and restaurant owners-
with information on the company and to help build brand recognition before spring arrives. All
of the information such as billing, ad placement, etc. can be found on Facebook.com/business.
Facebook is an excellent platform for this business and the target market it is trying to attain with
LinkedIn not far behind. Since the company is interested in expanding to commercial clientele,
LinkedIn will provide exposure to professionals willing to use their services. This platform
allows Mosquito Joe's to not only share articles but also show what they stand for as a business.
LinkedIn contains a placement for the companies/individuals skill base. From there, other
members on LinkedIn can "sponsor" those skills mentioned. Therefore, the more talents
sponsored will help increase activity on their page and more exposure to new potential clients.
Mosquito Joe’s should make sure to search/connect with daycare centers, outdoor event centers,
and restaurant professionals/groups to stay in contact with these clients. After connecting, a
polished e-mail can also be sent about the benefits of Mosquito Joe for these new connections to
read. Altogether, this will help develop a relationship between these potential customers and
Mosquito Joe.

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Recommendation # 8 – Increase Yelp reviews
After completing a spraying service, we recommend that Mosquito Joe requests the customer to
complete an online review using the Yelp app or site. Yelp is a free and popular site that lets its
users compose a review, good or bad, about an experience they have had with a business. Seeing
that Yelp contains over 60 million users, providing 20 million reviews, this platform can also act
as another form of word-of-mouth marketing. Additionally, Mosquito Joe can use this site to
respond to any questions and concerns that customers may have, and to improve its service by
fixing issues highlighted by clients. The firm can request the completion of a review directly
after completing a service or by making a follow-up phone call or delivering a follow-up e-mail.
Today, online reviews can make or break the decision of whether a person or business uses a
product or a service. As of April 20, 2016, Mosquito Joe only had one review on Yelp, and it
was unfavorable. It appeared that Mosquito Joe of Buffalo resolved the issue quickly and
effectively. However, if this firm promotes customers to complete Yelp feedback, there is a
potential that more negative reviews will arise. In these cases, we want to reiterate that the best
course of action to take is to resolve the complaint immediately and privately. Any conflict
should be taken offline by asking for the complaining parties contact information so that the
business can communicate with the consumer over e-mail or the phone. After fixing the problem,
it is appropriate to request a follow-up review from the customer.
Recommendation # 9- Press Releases
We are encouraging Mosquito Joe to issue occasionally press releases. A press release is a public
relations announcement issued to the media and other targeted publications for the purpose of
publicizing a business. Mosquito Joe should write their press releases because they are in the best
position to explain and excite the public about their organization. A well-written press release is
important to get media outlets to use the material. This announcement should not be more than
two pages long, and answer the questions "who, what, where, when and how." Background
information could include that the business is family owned, how long the organization has been
operating and why its services are critical to the community. Furthermore, Mosquito Joe can give
information about problems associated with mosquitos, explain its customer satisfaction
guarantee, or provide tips on how to keep businesses/residents pest-free. The release format
should be eye-catching and include a call to action to the readers where the company can sell its
services. Unfortunately, newspapers only include 80% of all of the information companies
submit.
It would be best for Mosquito Joe to give this information to local radio stations, The Buffalo
News, town newspapers, local Pennysavers, AM Buffalo, and WNY Living. By providing press

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release to these media outlets, we can conclude that Mosquito Joe’s information will be selected
by a few of these sources. These articles or potential television appearances will help the firm
build building brand awareness and drive up sales with no financial cost to be included in these
papers or programming. Contact details for various media outlets are included with this report.
Recommendation # 10 – Promotional events
Mosquito Joe is known to be present at promotional events (WNY Home & Garden show, for
example) where many potential customers are present. It could benefit the company to have
giveaways at these events. Therefore, any person interested in their services must provide contact
information before winning a gift. These gifts could include a free residential or commercial
barrier spray or a citronella candle. This contact information would help aid in the building of a
customer database.
Recommendation # 11 – Direct marketing
Direct marketing to potential customers can force these customers to give your business the
attention desired. For a few, select, potentially high revenue customers, Mosquito Joe can entice
interest by personally approaching the companies. One recommendation is for a Mosquito Joe's
salesperson to give a gift of a cake (just a suggestion), decorated in Mosquito Joe's colors with
the slogan – Itching for a Solution - iced on top. The salesperson should request to speak with
the manager of the targeted business. If the manager is unavailable, leave the cake, a FAQ sheet
about Mosquito Joe, a business card and a request for the manager to call back at their
convenience. A cake is a strong statement to force attention from a potential client. There may be
times the salesperson might like a softer approach. In these instances, we recommend giving a
citronella candle with the FAQ sheet and a coupon. Hopefully, the right employee would be
available to discuss Mosquito Joes services with the salesperson at that time. If not, Mosquito
Joe's contact information should be left with a request for someone to contact the businesses so
more details could be provided.
Recommendation # 12 – Elevator Speech
An elevator speech is a prepared statement that helps a business person convey an accurate and
pertinent synopsis of their business in approximately 30 seconds. Below are two elevator speech
prepared for your review. These speeches can be tweaked until the perfect combination of words
are established.
Elevator speech # A –

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"Have you ever needed a solution to be pest-free for an upcoming event?" If you are itching for a
solution, Mosquito Joe of Buffalo can help you out. It is a family-owned franchise with the
expertise of spraying common areas where mosquitos or pests may arise. With our cost-effective,
convenient and chemical free products, our services will leave you satisfied guaranteed!
Elevator speech # B –
Tired of worrying about mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas when servicing your customers? Are you
itching for a solution? Well, Mosquito Joe of Buffalo can fix that itch. Mosquito Joe provides
excellent, reliable, mosquito exterminating services to ensure exceptional customer service. We
offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and never lock you into a contract. Our staff is trained to
determine the best mosquito control solution for your business enabling your outdoor space to be
a mosquito-free zone.
The following section of this reports relates to the recruitment of employees.
Recruitment of Employees
Due to the season nature of the pest control industry, the firm will always be looking for new
applicants for the spraying season. New technicians are needed from May through September, as
this is the busiest season for the company. Below are some suggestions on how to run a
successful recruitment effort.
Usually, techniques will vary depending on the company’s staff and resources; however, all
businesses should include a preliminary screening, phone interview, and face-to-face meeting.
The owner or Human Resource Manager will then help make the final decision about the right
candidate.
To get applicants, an ad will need to be placed. This announcement will include a job
description. To write an effective and professional job description, the following should be
included:

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• Job Title
• Job Summary
• Working Environment
• Work Activities
• Performance Expectations
• Compensation & Benefits
• Job Competencies
After review Mosquito Joe’s current job summary, the company seems to hit all the points
required. Although, with just a few adjustments, the job description could be even stronger.
Mosquito Joe should consider adding more working environment and activity information since
it is a labor-intensive position. This would make sure that the candidates are aware of the
physical nature of the job. Emphasize on the physical demands of the job will only benefit the
firm because candidates that have expected job conditions matching actual job conditions are
more likely to be satisfied and stay employed at the organization.
The three online recruitment sites that we are advising Mosquito Joe to use are WNYJOBS.com,
indeed.com, and Monster.com. These are all very popular websites among college students who
are looking for full time, part time and temporary and permanent job positions. Mosquito Joe
will benefit greatly from posting their job openings on these sites as they can provide assistance
in finding employees.
Advertising on the website indeed.com has one significant perk. You can post content about
hiring positions while receiving results risk-free and make changes at any time with no contracts
or long-term commitments. Pay per click is a feature on the site that helps regulate the amount
the user pays based upon how many times someone clicks to view a job. Most clicks on Indeed
cost between $0.25-$1.50. The cost of your ad can never exceed your intended budget. For
example, if the maximum CPC is $1.00 and the job budget is $150.00, at least 150 people can
click on the job before the budget runs out. This can be changed at any time, and you will never
be charged more than this amount per job.
Advertising on the website Monster.com is also recommended for use. Small business solutions
can be customized to your hiring needs to find one, ten, or several employees. Recruiting
services include employer job postings, resume search, and customized e-mail recruitment
campaigns. Microbusinesses (very small family-owned business with 1-2 employees) are billed
$99 monthly for one reusable job slot, one Twitter card for social recruiting, and 50 targeted
candidate e-mails. For a small growing business, they are billed $250 a month for three reusable
job slots, three Twitter cards for social recruiting, and 100 candidate target e-mails. If you decide
to advertise yearly, a microbusiness will be charged only $89 and a small business will be
charged $199, with the same benefits as monthly advertising.

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Advertising on WNYJOBS.com is also recommended for use of Mosquito Joe. If Mosquito Joe
posts its banner on the homepage of WNYJOBS.com, the site will create the banner and it will
provide a direct link to Mosquito Joe’s website. For one month it will cost $250, three months
$450, and six months $750. Newspaper ads will appear for one week, and online ads will appear
for three weeks. Here is a look at the page dimensions and costs:
1/32 - $65 for 1 week online & up to 50 words
1/16 - $95 for 3 weeks online & up to 100 words
1/8 - $165 for 3 weeks online and up to 200 words
1/4 - $295 for 3 weeks online and up to 400 words
3/8 - $395 for 3 weeks online and up to 600 words
½ - $495 for 3 weeks and up to 800 words
Full- $795 for 3 weeks online and up to 1600 words
Advertising on the web only will appear for three weeks with the following costs:
Maximum of 100 words: $75
101-200 words: $115
201-400 words: $205
To search for potential employees, we are suggesting for Mosquito Joe’s to advertise at local
gyms due to the physical job requirements. Some gym members are very muscular and can
withstand carrying and lifting heavy equipment. Many of these fitness gurus will enjoy working
in an environment that allows them to be physically active during working hours.
Niagara Community College also can be used as a potential recruitment resource. This college
has an annual job fair open to all area employers and a job board available to students which
resides both online and at a physical located on campus. To receive more information about
possible postings, please contact Stephanie Toohey at (716) 614-6865 and
sgugino@niagaracc.suny.edu.
Once potential employees have submitted an application for consideration, review of the
applications should result in a list of candidates to be contacted for the initial screening phone
interview. There are a number of questions that can be asked to access the applicants’
qualifications. The questions posed should help determine if the applicant meets the firm’s
criteria and if the prospective employee will be a satisfied worker.
Below are some suggested questions to obtain a well-rounded interview:
a) Why do you want this job?

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b) What is important to you in a job?
c) What applicable attributes and experience do you have?
d) Is there anything I have not told you about the job or company that you would like to know?
e) How many hours are you looking for?
f) What kind of work environment are you looking for/want/ work best in?
g) Can you tell me about a time where you had to deal with an angry or upset customer? How
did you handle it or come to a resolution?
h) Have you worked in this field of labor before?
i) Where did you hear of Mosquito Joe from and what makes you interested?
j) Would you have any issues such as allergies as you come into contact with pests and
chemicals?
Based on the responses to the above questions, the organization should determine which
candidates it wants to call in for more in-depth interviewing. When it comes to a face-to-face
interview, the questions should become more comprehensive. This will allow the business to
understand whether or not the candidates are capable of standing up to the company’s standards.
These questions should include their past and personal experiences as well their work ethic and
learning techniques. On top of getting to know the candidates, the benefits of working for this
company should be presented. Mosquito Joe wants to attract the best employees so it is
important for potential employees to understand the benefits they will receive from the company
not just what the candidate can provide the firm.
When conducting the in-person interview, we are recommending for Mosquito Joe to select some
of the following questions to help access fit and qualifications of an applicant:
a) Tell me about yourself.
b) Tell me about your experience, starting with your most recent or previous position.
c) Do you have a NYS Driver’s License?
d) How well do you work with others?
e) Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? If so, how do you resolve it?
f) Give an example of a time where you found it necessary to make an exception to the rules to
get the job done.
g) Have you ever found an error in your work? How did it happen? What did you do to correct
it?
h) Have you ever had to deal with a co-worker who was not pulling their weight? What did you
do about it?

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i) Have you ever had trouble learning a new machine or procedure? How did deal with that
situation?
j) How do you handle breaks in routine, interruptions and last minute changes?
k) How does your boss get you to do your best work?
l) How would your professors describe you?
m) If you were going to evaluate your performance, what factors would you consider most
important?
n) It is possible, to be loyal to your employer, but still to disagree with some rules and policies.
Can you cite an example from your own experience?
o) This job requires you to (insert job duties), are you able to fully perform these duties with or
without reasonable accommodations? How would you accomplish the task?
p) Under what kinds of conditions do you do your best work?
q) What did you like the most/least about your previous job?
r) What is your greatest strength?
s) What is your greatest weakness? What skills do you want to develop?
t) What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
u) What motivates you the most?
v) Why should we hire you?
w) You might be asked to work later than 5 pm on occasion. Would that be a problem?
Included in the packet is a Candidate Interview Evaluation Form to be used during the
interviewing process. This form is to be completed by the interviewer and eventually used to
rank the candidates overall qualifications for the position. The candidates will be scored on a
scale from 1 to 5 on professionalism impressions, qualifying skills from previous jobs, physical
ability to perform the job, communications skills, enthusiasm and an overall impression.
After offering a candidate a position, we encourage Mosquito Joe to requests a pre-employment
background check, drug tests, and physical examinations. The background reports can provide a
variety of information on the applicant such as: driving records, criminal records, and education
records. It is important for Mosquito Joe to request a series of checks to ensure that the best and
appropriate candidates are selected. These positions mandate employees to work at customer’s
homes and place of businesses, so it is necessary that employees have a clean record and are
known to be trustworthy. A drug test screening for illegal drugs and high level of alcohol use is
also imperative. Drug abuse is associated with increased tardiness, absenteeism, and poor
performance in the workplace. Additionally, a physical examination ensures that a potential

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employee is in good health to perform the job duties that are required. When an employee has
been medically cleared to carry out their functions, there is less of a chance of physical injury
occurring during work time. All of these tests are done to make sure candidates can perform to a
high level, and satisfaction occurs for the customer. It is, therefore, appropriate to inform clients
that these checks are being conducted.
After employees are hired, it is important to consider if the employees are satisfied with what the
business is offering them. Happy employees are more likely to recommend to their family,
friends, and acquaintances to apply and are more likely themselves to want to return the
following season. To help ensure that employees are content with the business, we are
suggesting the following:
A. Give a bonus to employees who work in May and September. Many college students end the
semester in May and return to classes in late August/early September. These students can be
motivated to work in May and September by receiving a bonus for committing to and satisfying
that commitment to start their employment in May and not stop before the end of the spraying
season. This bonus will be received at the end of September if the employee completes this
pledge.
B. Ask employees the number of work hours they are looking for during the summer. Commit to
giving the employee this number of hours if they commit to remaining with Mosquito Joe the
entire spraying season.
C. Ask employees if the flexibility of days worked or the number of hours worked is a better
preference for them. By attempting to meet employee’s needs, workers will be more devoted to
the business.
D. Pay overtime when employees work outside their scheduled hours. Employees show
dedication and reliability when they work overtime when their employer needs them; therefore,
it’s best to reward employees with overtime pay to keep them motivated to provide extra help.
E. Give out an award to employees for excellent work. Since these positions are temporary, all
employees will be searching for new work shortly. These awards can be placed on their
resumes, help highlight their talents, and assist them in finding new jobs. Examples of awards
include:
 When employees go above and beyond in the service they give to
customers, reward them with a customer-service based employee
recognition award.
 Award for positive attitudes, excellent attendance, and superior
performance.
 Reward your top sellers with employee recognition awards that indicate
the total sales they achieved in a given period.
 Recognize an employee who is willing to share innovative ideas to help
improve the business as the “most innovative” employee.
F. Financial recognition is always appreciated. A few small tokens that can be utilized are:

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 Give a gift card to a local gas station for the employee to fill-up their car
for free as a reward for a job well done.
 Pay for an employee’s lunch with a gift certificate to Tim Hortons or
Subway for going “Above and Beyond” what was required for the job.
In conclusion, we are confident that if Mosquito Joe uses our recommendations, it will be on the
right track on building new relationships with commercial clients. After reviewing, analyzing
and getting to know Mosquito Joe of Buffalo, we are hopeful that the suggestions we have
presented will enhance their franchise. We thank the owners for the opportunity to develop and
utilize our business knowledge on this project. We wish Mosquito Joe years of business success.