How much emphasis is placed on the professional development of your management team and what impact do you think it has on staff, clients and candidates?

James Hone
Managing Director and Founder, Bluefi n Resources

It is critical to Bluefin’s business to continuously develop our management team and equip them with the tools to contribute to their effectiveness and success. We believe each person requires a slightly different approach to realise their full potential and therefore we do not have a “one size fits all” model to professional development.

We believe in operational excellence and a key component is having a highly effective management team with a chest of tools which is continuously growing and evolving in order to manage people in the most effective way. These development mediums include annual 360° performance appraisals, quarterly development reviews, external training, annual development and performance review, external coaching and on the job training.

Our professional development program offers career paths for all staff, not just our management team as it is important for nonmanagers to see their growth potential. By offering frequent reviews and continuous training to all employees, the knowledge and skillsets of our managers are transferred across the business. Providing a continuous development program throughout Bluefin allows our management team, and in turn, their team members to be true consultants to their clients and candidates.

We have seen excellent results in terms of the impact internally and externally to our clients and candidates alike. Bluefin is proud of our low staff turnover which we attribute to our dedication and execution of professional development. An effective manager will ensure continuity of service to our clients and candidates.

James Hone started his recruitment career in London in the late 1990s. He served for five years as Manager for Hays IT in London before moving to Sydney in 2003. In 2003, James left Hays IT to establish Bluefin Resources. Bluefin has ranked 23rd on BRW’s prestigious Best Places to Work list 2011, a catalogue of the 50 best employers nationally. James encourages a fun working environment, with a work/life balance and no tie policy, ensuring that his business focuses on quality rather than quantity.
Bluefin now has over 50 employees based out of Sydney and Melbourne recruiting across Australia and Singapore, with further growth planned. Visit www.bluefi nresources.com.au for further information about the company.

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Lynne Fox Senior Consultant, Finite

Training is a big part of what Finite is about. All staff have individual training and development programs which are tailored to their knowledge and experience. Though our management team has their own ongoing professional development programs, Finite has made it a high priority to ensure that our consultants, resourcers and support staff are appropriately developed. The agency invests heavily in its client facing staff to ensure that we are able to provide the best possible services to candidates and clients. It goes without saying that as the face of the agency, this is essential.

Senior Consultants and Account Managers are encouraged to hold current industry accreditations and certifications. Several of Finite’s consultants are certified ITCRA Recruitment Professionals as well as being active members of ITCRA and participate in AIIA events. Our GM currently holds a position on the ITCRA Board of Directors and has held this position since 2005.

It would appear that accolades, awards and industry acknowledgements have a greater impact on clients, candidates and staff as they are a direct measure of the success of the agency.

Last year Finite was voted Favourite Large IT Recruiter in the SEEK S.A.R.A. awards, which is a fabulous pat on the back from our candidates and clients alike. In the 2011 BRW Best Places to Work in Australia, our staff voted us into the top 50 placements, which is a great vote of confidence.

If the standards and the professionalism of an agency are not upheld, this directly impacts on future work opportunities for that agency. Ongoing professional development for all staff is therefore a vital part in ensuring ongoing success and achieving satisfied customers.

Lynne Fox is one of Finite’s Senior Consultants. Having been employed with the company for more than 10 years, she has had a successful track record within both corporate and government accounts.
Lynne provides IT resources for contract assignments as well as for permanent appointments. The scope of IT positions she has placed, on behalf of her clients, has been from CIO to level 1 Help Desk. Lynne is an ITCRA-certified IT Professional Recruitment Consultant.

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Dominic Roberts
Founder and Managing Director, Inspire Recruitment

One of the main things that I learned from working for other companies was what not to do and one of those lessons was to always ensure that any managers in the business were at the sharp end of all relevant training available. I personally never benefitted from any formal training when I was younger and as a developing manager I craved more professional development!

When I started Inspire back in 2006 one of the main areas of focus was the development of our management staff, knowing that any business is only as good as the people working in it. The hard task is trying to identify what type of training is needed, and when to fit it in, as it’s easy to get sidetracked with the day to day goings on of a busy recruitment firm. One of the problems that stands out with most recruitment firms is that owners feel strong performing recruiters will automatically make good managers and this just isn’t the case.

They bill half a million and then are coerced into a Principal or team leader role often with little or no training. These companies find that revenue decreases dramatically and these previously high performing recruiters are deflated and demotivated with all the extra pressure put on them.

At Inspire we recognise talent aside from financial performance and our structure allows us to support up and coming Principal Consultants (who are still performing well) to develop into well rounded, mature managers and mentors to younger and less experienced staff. This positive environment flows onto our client base who then reap the rewards of well-trained and motivated recruiters!

Dominic Roberts has 15 years of experience within the IT, Telecommunications and Recruitment sectors, both in the UK and in Australia. Prior to arriving in Australia, his successful career path included Senior Sales, Managerial and Director roles covering the UK and European regions.
In 2004, after selling his previous company he decided a seachange was needed and travelled to Australia to begin a new life! Dominic started Inspire Recruitment Group in 2006 and the success was phenomenal, achieving on average 250% growth within the first three years.
Post GFC Dominic is now rolling out plans to expand the company’s operations interstate with presence in two locations in QLD already and WA and SA to follow. Dominic is still very much a hands on recruiter and prides himself on quality and delivery, he covers senior and C level roles within the IT, Telco, Mining and Oil & Gas markets.

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