Recruiters

You wake one morning and you are a Recruitment Consultant! That’s how easy it is to break into the industry. You start your first day in the agency and you are told by management that you are “an expert” in your field and to assume that persona.

So last week you were flipping burgers at Maccas, selling gym memberships, in the real estate game, or perhaps you’re some nice eye candy tucked away in behind some reception desk somewhere. As long as you have the gift of the gab and effectively able to manipulate people, then you are perfect for the recruitment agency industry.

Oh, I might add, you’ve got to be attractive and very flirtatious, after all recruitment companies believe what you lack in industry knowledge and skills can be compensated by nice perky breasts, gorgeous hair and make up and sharp corporate attire…. Oh and don’t forget the compendium! My first manager at major Recruitment Agency once said to me “sex sells” when I was starting out. One prominent recruitment entrepreneur and woman business leader (who shall remain unnamed), encourages her “girls” to put on a bit of lippy, don the stilettos and raise that skirt up (the closer to the crotch the better).

Modern society would label these young ladies as “business women,” I affectionately refer to them as “corporate whores”. And for the right (sometimes small) price, some of them will sleep with clients and candidates just to close that deal.

I have been in the recruitment game for over 10 years and I have made a successful career from behaving in the opposite manner to my peers and competition. In fact, I believe 90% of the industry is marred by incompetent, unethical, smooth talking, aggressive, greedy “salespeople”. That’s effectively what they are “salespeople” and they are not interested as you the “candidate” or “client”, rather the commission and KPI targets they need to achieve in order to keep their job.

This mindset is not the fault of the individual. It is the way they are trained and educated by the management of these agencies. Recruitment Agencies are highly competitive and stressful work environments, and unsurprisingly the reason for ridiculously high staff turnover.

The Recruitment industry in Australia problem stems from English based recruitment firms setting up business and bringing their people here to conduct business as they do in the UK. Although, it is a successful model for being profitable, recruitment agents not only have a poor reputation in the UK, but have a worse one here in Australia. The only difference is, is that the Brits are more tolerable to being blatantly lied too and crap service. Here in Australia, we call a spade a spade and we want quality and truthful service.

I am now an Internal Recruitment Manager for a major international manufacturing company. As a business rule, I will not do any business with any English people or English based firms. In my time, I have met hundreds of these fast talking English people, and knowing them personally, I know for a fact they don’t care two hoots about you…. It’s all about them. They are “show ponies”, flash suits, mismatched bright shirts and ties, big bling cuff links and an air of confidence bordering arrogance.

Don’t get me wrong, I love English people, I have lived in the UK for over 3 years and made some amazing friends.

I have interviewed many “experienced” agency consultants in my time. One thing that is very evident almost none of them knew how to conduct an interview or even know how to ask effective questions…. And they call themselves “Recruiters”!!!

Ask yourself this question. “When was the last time I visited an agency and was actually interviewed?”

Recruitment Consultants screen in the same way they were once screened when they applied for their jobs…. They go by “looks”. And if they “like” you, they will be inclined to help you!

I was once a recruitment consultant for a major UK based agency that boast they are the largest in the world (not necessarily good either... I might add), and here are some home truths about the way they conduct themselves in the market. This behaviour is encouraged by top management. Most English based firms conduct themselves in this manner too.

INTERNET ADVERTISING
Ninety percent of the jobs are “FAKE”!!! This is also the reason why they don't disclose the client's name over the phone (not due to confidentiality.... but rather, there is no client.... seriously think about it). The advert is designed to promote the perfect job with excessively high salaries. This obviously acts as a net for attracting candidates. You meet with the consultant, who will then reduce your salary expectations and gains your permission to “float” your resume to various organisation on their database.

Large corporate Recruitment Agencies will lead you to believe they have strong relationships with “the client” when in fact nothing could be farther from the truth. There is no relationship between client and agency, and in most instances PSA don’t mean crap (*).

(*) PSA only exist with companies with large volume needs, for example in Industrial (warehousing, pick packers, etc), and Banking and Finance (collections, etc) and Call Center type roles.

(*) I once worked as an internal recruiter for a company that had over 100 agencies on our “PSA” panel. All these agencies were out there boasting that they were doing business with us. The fact is, for a 12 month period, we did our own recruitment and spent zero dollars on permanent agency costs. The reason why we had a “PSA” panel was to eliminate recruiters from poaching our staff….. Suckers!

The truth is…. Recruitment is “TRANSACTIONAL” and it’s all about timing. The agency contacts a company and by slim chance a person with your qualifications and experience is required, an interview will be set up. This is truly a numbers game! The consultant will make between 10 – 20 calls or e-mails on your behalf and if the consultant is any good, he or she may be able to secure the 2 – 3 interviews.

Again, don’t get me wrong, this approach to finding a job is a great idea when you are unemployed and desperate with finding a new job. I would recommend you think twice about this approach when you’re in secured employment. On some occasions, you flick a resume to a client and the client contacts your boss and has a chat about you. Your boss is now aware that you are looking. A very common occurrence!

Companies are moving away from agencies. Two main reasons for this are, cost and incompetency.

Have you ever been for a job interview through an agency and it goes well and all of a sudden you hear “the client has decided not to pursue with the role”?

The reason for that is, “the client” becomes aware of the costs involved with making the placement with the agency, and they are not willing to pay the exuberant fee. These days, agencies are demanding anywhere between $10 – 20K per permanent placement fee. Organisations are waking up and realise that little work is actually being done for this service.

Seriously, an agency places an ad on the internet, that costs less than $100, meets the candidate for about an hour (with a chit chat conversation), manipulates the references in the candidate’s favour and all up spend no more than 3 hours in the process and commands a minimum ten grand! WTF? A good accountant or solicitor fetches up to $600 per hour. These people are educated and qualified in their field. Recruitment Consultants go on their “gut feel”…. Wow, what a price to pay!

The other fact is “incompetency”! These days, kids in their 20’s are dictating terms to us clients. What a joke! I am a full supporter of encouraging our future leaders in business. These young punks have no life experience and no commercial acumen when conducting themselves in business. And recruiters in their 30’s have not progressed from their 20’s in their business sense…. Sad, but true!

On numerous occasions I have heard from these recruiters, “What have you got to lose if you hire this person, we have a 3 month replacement guarantee if it doesn’t work out”

Little recruiter, “What do you think are the implications for our business when we hire incorrectly?”

More advice for when dealing with a recruiter. Never advise a consultant of other job interviews you have undertaken. As an ex-game player, this is how I made my money. Obviously after you leave our building, I am on the phone to the contact you have just given me, and I am selling in my own better candidate that will make me a fee.

Also, don’t list references until the final job offer stages. We just put their details on our database and frequently market to them our services or worse, we convert them into becoming our candidate. Yes! No surprises here, we are using you for your information to our benefit.

My advice to all job seekers is approach the company directly yourself. Organisations do not want to pay unnecessary recruitment fees. And we are becoming very familiar that the best candidates in the market place don’t register with agencies in the first instance. More and more these days, “average” candidates are the ones using these services. My director said to me the other day, “if these people are so good, why can’t they find their own job?” – a very valid point.

I met with an agency the other day and they were trying to convince me that accounts people are short in the market. We placed our own advert, and we had many strong and suitable candidates apply. Candidate short market, my foot!

Take all advice given by the consultant with a grain of salt. Of course, they represent the best employers out there! Do your own homework. I am not proud to say this, but in the early stages of my career, I knowingly persuaded candidates to accepting offers with poor reputable companies. At the end of the day, I only wanted to keep my job by hitting sales targets.

In a nutshell, if you are desperate to use an agency, then reconsider using the services of any English people. Seriously, name me one credible UK recruiter out there!

Don’t be fooled by tits and ass either! The only way “screwing” works, is when it done both ways. Recently I had a nice sexy young lass come meet with me. She invites me out for a drink, gets herself drunk, I promise her the world and then we head back to her place. This time the consultant got screwed for a change, and I never ended up doing business with her either!

A great post - Original post - http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1742710

Applicant Tracking Systems

Look at your resume. All the big companies are using software that looks at your resume for key words and criteria on each job. If your resume doesn't match up with the key words or criteria from the job description you get the reply email saying you are unsuccessful. When applying for jobs make sure you read the ad and your resume reflects the same wording to match. Might not get you the job but it gets you through the next stage and a better chance.

Advice from a miner

I am in the mining industry (coal QLD) & shudder when I read the extent some go to in order to get 'a mine job'. Paying out hard earned $'s is NOT going to help anyone but those running the various courses....just going to make them richer. From my experience a 'cleanskin' has a far greater chance of becoming a mine truckdriver (so many other positions available other than driving trucks on site) then someone who has driven a truck along the highway for years. Generic mine induction (eg S11) helps, but most companies pay for this once you have the job. First aid certificates, S123's, high risk licences, working at heights tickets, confined space tickets etc if you have them are great but once again most companies will pay for these once employed. Perseverance and patience is the key. The lure of big $'s and even time rosters is huge, but camp/village living is not for the feint hearted. I love it, work my butt off, have met some fabulous people and have had lots of opportunities opened to me through the mining industry that those in the 'real world' woudn't. My advice is to be patient, spend no money and don't become disheartened when knocked back for a position. Keep trying!!

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Company provides training skills for gas sector

LOOKING to join a new industry can be daunting, particularly if you aren't quite up to speed skills-wise.

Industries like the CSG-LNG sector are quite particular about the skills they require of their employees, a lot of which are legislative requirements enforced at the state or federal level.

Energy and mining services company Easternwell solves that problem by creating its own registered training organisation, providing the in-house capacity to support the company's operations through accredited and non-accredited training designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and ability to perform their jobs safely and efficiently.

Easternwell group recruitment coordinator Matthew Moynihan said the RTO, through its purpose-built facility in Toowoomba, allowed Easternwell to upskill employees for projects - for everything from field positions to hospitality.

"The RTO has developed and delivers a two-day 'on boarding' induction for all field-based employees, designed to be transportable and common across the scope of Easternwell," Mr Moynihan said.

"The induction provides employees the opportunity to experience a simulated worksite, where employees are instructed and assessed around the foundations of site practices, hazard identification, and manual handling techniques.

"Easternwell's RTO has also developed and implemented a comprehensive Rig Employee Development Program designed to enhance the operational capability of our field crews.

"The program is aligned with nationally accredited qualifications from the RII09 Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package and is specifically designed to provide a continuum of training for our rig employees from leasehand to rig manager."

Mr Moynihan said Easternwell Training was also offering a Certificate III in Hospitality for support roles in the company's camps.

"The course has been contextualised specifically to remote catering services of the company which educate people in the processes and practices of hospitality operations," he said.

"The program is aligned with a nationally accredited qualification from the SIT07 Tourism, Hospitality and Events Training Package.

"The provision of in-house training contributes to the health and safety of our employees and provides opportunities for our employees to progress."

Easternwell maintains a presence across Australia, with significant operations in the Surat, Bowen and Galilee Basins.

For employment opportunities, visit careers.easternwell.com.au.

http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/skills-for-gas-sector/1766192/

What is Standard 11?

Standard 11 is a safety induction for coal in QLD. It is not recognised in WA, NSW or any other state.  Some of the components are the same in the other states but each state has their own induction. Do the induction relevant to the state you are working in and save yourself a lot of $$$$$

Car mechanic to Diesel Mechanic Up-skill for Mining Positions!

Possible opportunity for site based work
Large mining companies
Earn great $$ - Paid Training

Blue Tongue have aligned themselves with some of Australia's leading mining services companies and as a result, we are actively looking for light vehicle mechanics to partake in an 8 week intensive training course (based in Sydney) which will enable you to transition into Heavy Diesel (Earthmoving). Once your training has concluded, you will commence employment based in NSW, WA, or QLD as a Mobile Plant Mechanic and put what you have just learnt into practice. At the end of our program, you will gain recognition of prior learning and receive a Heavy Diesel Mechanic Qualification (certificate 3).

If you have been trying to break into the mining industry but have been knocked back due to lack of experience then this is the opportunity for you. With great rosters and prospects of overtime your earnings could reach $80k plus.

Successful applications will need to demonstrate:
• Certificate 3 in Light Vehicle Mechanic
• Previous experience with dealer and or independent workshops
• Strong employment stability

You will need to be available for training from the 4th March and be able to pass a police check, medical and a drug and alcohol test. These positions require you to permanently move to location WA, NSW, or QLD and be flexible on placement and we will not accept applications for those looking for fly in, fly out work.

Submit your application today following the link below or call Eliza on 0424150744
http://www.seek.com.au/Job/24036307

Is there is any truth in the fact that the Australian Mining/Construction Industries are really hiring those from overseas before us Australians.

Just wanting to ask the many members of "Jobs in mining" if there is any truth in the fact that the Australian Mining/Construction Industries are really hiring those from overseas before us Australians.

I've been thinking about this quite a bit and can come up with one good answer........ 
This is a BIG F@*$ You! to the Australian Government from the Mining/Construction Industry leaders, for the incorporation of the 2 biggest taxes to hit both Industries. Being... the Mining Tax, backed up with the Carbon Tax.

I can see Industries wanting to do this to show the Australian Government that if they massively cut Mining profits, making operation and development in operation almost non existent, they will in turn increasing the Australian unemployment rate and reducing the Australian Governments profit.

What do you all think about this?

Should we formally do something about it?

Don't do dump truck training/license waste of time and money. I did one and that was before I found jim I have applied for hundreds of dumpy traineeships and not even short listed for one. It's not worth the paper it's written on

I work in recruitment for underground mines. Underground is harder to get into than open cut mining. You really need some underground experience first to get in, the best way is to contact all of the contracting companies and try to get a position with them.

We would sometimes put on young guys who had been working underground with a contractor, even if it was just set-up work, as at least they were working in that sort of environment. We did do a stint of hiring 'cleanskins' (miners with no experience) but had 2,000 people apply, so you have more chance of getting in with a contracting company and then trying to get into a mine.

If you don't have experience or know anyone the next best way in is to start with a company that provides services to the mines ie: earthmoving hiring, hydraulic hoses, diesel mechanics, lots of companies work for the mines...

What is expressions of interest ?

When a tender comes available to fill a contract, the company applying for the contract has to be able to show the bigger companies like "BMA" and "RIO" that they have the workforce to complete the work. So they advertise for expressions of interest.

Roy Hill update - (comment off the page) From the rail side of things, my understanding is that, tenders are in from certain companies, and a company will be chosen at the end of this month. Earthworks for the rail will start around October and construction of rail will fully ramp up in May 2014.

Just For Laughs - First date conversation….. and probably the last date.

Men's logic...
Lady: Do you drink?
Man: Yes
Lady: How much a day?
Man: 3 6 packs
Lady: How much per 6 pack
Man: about $10.00
Lady: And how long have you been drinking?
Man: 15 years
Lady: So 1 6 pack cost $10.00 and you have 3 packs a day which puts your
spending each month at $900. In one year, it would be $10,800 correct?
Man: Correct
Lady: If in 1 year you spend $10,800 not accounting for inflation, the past
15 years puts your spending at $162,000 correct?
Man: Correct
Lady: Do you know that if you hadn't drank, that money could have been put
in a step-up interest savings account and after accounting for compound
interest for the past 15 years, you could have now bought a Ferrari?
Man: Do you drink?
Lady: No
Man: So where's your Ferrari?

The term clean skin is a QLD coal mining term for someone with no experience. In Hardrock mining they call inexperienced people, green.

Mining is a VERY small industry, never burn your bridges!!

If you sign a contract with (big contractor) mid January but they've delayed your mobilisation date by 6-8 weeks... Should you be paid for that time?

If contractual agreement for start date then yes but check fine print to see if there is a clause for dates to be changed without notice ets to cover their butt. If no contractual agreement and only a verbal then don't like chances

Yes if you signed a contract to mobilise on a specific date and they push it back they should pay you stand down pay think its about 7.2 hours a day 5 days I know a guy on my site who was payed this for 3 months for doing nothing in Perth because there wasn't enough accommodation on site

Is it normal to get stuffed around with start dates?

Accommodation is a big industry issue with so many people working in small remote places, it happens all the time, especially if accommodation is in short supply on site.There are flights, accommodation and rosters to contend with on every job. If you have signed an EBA or a contract you are entitled to be paid from the date it was signed. Don't panic, it is standard industry practice and you may as well get used to it. Welcome to the mineral life.

"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." Doug Firebaugh