Rebuilding business – Post Covid shutdown

Let’s get back to work – now!

We are faced with the massive task of restarting our economy and our businesses.

After Customers – the next big factor is quality staff who bring smarts and good attitude to your business.

In my 30 years of recruitment – it still disappoints me to see how often good employers end up with employees who cost them money – rather than making them money.

Here are some practical tips to recognise a good employee – when you meet them.

• Good personal presentation for a positive first impression – is everything. Candidates who present themselves in dowdy, slightly grubby attire – will present the same way in your business. Unruly hair, unkempt beards and casual clothes – may be cool in the world of advertising – not so much in a mainstream business environment. Look for good personal grooming and smart attire – at all times

• Don’t waste your time with candidates who are not team players. They will quite often make a good first impression in terms of personal presentation – but scratch the surface and the mask will slip. Quite often these candidates will glibly tell you they are team players – yet when you probe and ask for specific examples – the responses are generic and lightweight.

• Speaking of generic – don’t accept vague responses to specific questions. I have seen this happen so many times as to be alarming. Keep asking specific questions until you get the answers you are looking for. If you don’t get a clear understanding of a candidates’ situation – walk away! If the candidate cannot explain where they are in their life truthfully and clearly – they will continue to behave this way in your business. Poor communicators – you don’t want.

• Underpinning all of the above is “smarts” that suit your vacancy. Everyone is smart – in different ways. The kind of cleverness you need for an Accountant – is very different from the type of smarts needed by an engineer. I have seen employers hire Accounting staff with no accounting experience – but were great sales support people?? Needless to say within 3 months – it ended badly. Make sure the candidate has the smarts and experience to do the job properly.

• Most of all……check the references of the candidate. Always insist on speaking to the most recent past employer. Take note – good quality candidates will provide the names and contact details of past employers at the drop of a hat. Candidates with something to hide – never produce credible referees. They make comments like… ”I’m no longer in contact with this Manager – but I can give you the name of a senior in my team.” It would be unwise to accept such a referee.

Click the link to see our post Covid list of great candidates ready to start the re-build now. https://oneilspersonnel.co.nz/employers-info/hot-candidates/

Keep well – work hard – be strong
Annette Sleep