The Rescue Mission
By Jacqui Cotterill | Recruitment Manager at Watts Next on 16 September 2011
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Recruitment for most business owners is something you do when you need a staff member. Recruitment for me is what I live and breathe - it’s my job to do it for all the SME’s out there. Because I do it every day, I have become an expert at seeking out talent and matching people to roles. I know how to get the right information from the client and from the candidate to see if they are compatible – the same way your accountant looks at your books and just knows when something isn’t right – but you would have been starring at it for hours and couldn’t work it out.
I recently found myself frustrated because a client of mine was taking an extremely long time to make a decision between 2 candidates. I knew they were both good and both could do the job, but I personally believed there was a standout and it was an easy choice. So I asked my client what he was finding difficult about making a decision. This was his response:
“Sally has all of the skills & commitment and she would be great in the team plus I really like her. Gemma also has the skills – she is not as advanced as Sally but she could do the job. Although I think Sally would be the best choice, I think Gemma needs this job more. She has just relocated – she has experienced some challenges in her life that have knocked her down and I want to help her back up. This is why it’s so hard.” And that’s when I realised my client was a corporate life saver.
This is someone who wants to help people for personal satisfaction. They don’t necessarily hire for the best skills but because they want to rescue people from their situation and believe that with their assistance they can make the candidate work in their business. This is always with the best intentions, but good intentions aren’t always good enough.
When you are making a hiring decision, taking into consideration someone’s personal circumstances can be tricky business. Sometimes you need to go back to square one and assess what the role is, how it supports the overall goal of your business and what skills, qualities, values and team-fit you need and base your decision from there. If you are a corporate life saver make sure that you have made your decision based on the best interests of your business and not fulfilling your personal agenda. If your decision can do both, that is great!
DISCLAIMER: This article does not constitute legal advice. If you require assistance with creating policies for your workplace, please email admin@wattsnext.com.au
