Recruitment - Backing Yourself

Knowing who you are, where you are heading and what you want to create is key in the dynamic, information saturated business environment most Australians operate within. It is too easy to get caught up in the idea of success as prescribed by advertisements, social media feeds and well-meaning friends and colleagues. Understand your core drivers and you can save yourself a lot of time, money and angst.

I recently experienced the loss of an employee and turned to a trusted advisor for advice. They provided me with detailed resources and I quickly got into action, to rectify the problem of being down a staff member. I needed a Senior Bookkeeper to fill the role so that our team could keep moving along, as we were. After three months of false starts I realized a rethink was necessary, as the job position remained open. Allow me to jump back to the start of my recruitment journey, which I have broken down into three steps that look simple now, but at the time I found difficult as I was covering client work and managing the recruitment process.

First, I got clear with what the role entailed and prepared a job description that was shared using online job search platforms, recognized professional associations and online groups where Bookkeeper jobs are advertised and shared. I then vetted all candidates by reviewing their application and having a phone conversation to qualify their expertise.

Second, I met the candidates in-person for an interview and a skills test.

Third, I prepared a contract of employment and started the onboarding process.

To some this may seem evident, to me this process was more involved than my previous experience of engaging employees. The first candidate pulled out at the last moment for another job in a different sector, one they had only ever dreamed of being offered. The second candidate started and after two days experienced a medical emergency and resigned. By this stage I was deep into a busy period with no back-up and many hours used in the recruitment process. Feeling defeated and unsure how to proceed, I decided to put the recruiting on hold. Something wasn’t quite right, I needed space to get our client’s work complete and make time to rethink the role.

We got through our client work, and I realised some important facts about QiBalance Bookkeeping during this time.

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Value The Clients You Have

I realised all the clients we have are ‘A’ listers. They are kind, considerate, easy to communicate with and well organised ‘most’ of the time. With that in mind, I closed our books off to any new business and focused instead on the valuable clients we already have during our staff shortage.

This not only allows us to schedule our time clearly and stick to it, but it also sends a signal to our clients that we are prioritising their business. Another value that emerged was that business owners who had been thinking about engaging our services put their details on a waitlist as we had inadvertently created a call to action.

Value The Employees You Have

On review of the QiBalance Bookkeeping Contract of Employment, I noticed that there was little in the way of commitment between the employer and the employee.

The first thing I did was review my existing contracts, by discussing the commitment and current goals with employees and increasing remuneration. Casual employment was transformed into permanent part-time employment, which includes paid annual and personal leave. We also locked in dates for annual leave so that the team has a break to look forward to. Offering permanency, regular well-being, performance and goal reviews, along with pay rate increases, demonstrated clearly how much I value my team.

Trust That The Right Person Will Arrive

There may be a time when you think you can’t have it all in a single employee; however, if you need certain attributes, spell them out, be clear, and you will be surprised how the perfect candidate arrives. If you need an employee with technical skills, who is tech-savvy and can assist you with creative writing, then ask for it in the job description.

Whatever you need in an employee, be sure to list the qualities and hold true to what you want. It may take time, however, the wait is worth it and makes receiving the right person all the sweeter.

Be True To Your Values

If you want to attract the right person for your team, be honest and forthright about your values. There is no point in spruiking ambition, money, and a fast-paced environment if you are like QiBalance Bookkeeping, where we value people over profit. From my experience, career advancement and pay increases come organically for our team when embracing these values. What is of most importance are the relationships we foster not only with our clients but with each other and our loved ones. If you need some inspiration, HERE is a link to some beautiful words of wisdom from Anthony Hopkins regarding being true to yourself.

As a business advisor, I understand the value of ongoing profits for a business to be a going concern and remain sustainable; however, not all success is measured with a dollar sign. What drives us is bringing our knowledge and skillset to business owners to demystify their business finances.

Be A Clear Channel

To attract the right candidate, you will need to create a clear indication of who you are and what you want. This will need to be updated regularly as you and your business evolve.

When QiBalance Bookkeeping started out, we worked mostly with startup companies who needed guidance every step of the way. We loved this work and enjoyed the vibrant energy of a business idea being manifest. Now we work with businesses with a minimum annual revenue of $150,000, and we provide end-to-end Bookkeeping services, as our skills and expertise are suitable to support an established business that wants to hand over the books to a trusted advisor. This frees up the business owner to expand their products and services or diversify their current offering.

I was looking for a Senior Bookkeeper who could fill this role and provide these services, and I noticed that not all candidates had the range of experience I required. After a mini-break and some time to reinvent the job description, I sent out a call to registered training offices that offer Certificate IV in Bookkeeping and Accounting, and there I found a number of candidates that fit not only the role but also the values of QiBalance Bookkeeping.

By sending out a clear message, you are more likely to receive a clear response, attracting the right candidate with a specific skill set for the job.

Celebrate!

This is sooooo important; as you put the time and effort into putting out the call for a values-driven employee, when the call is returned, celebrate in whatever way you see fit.

I am organised, and most of my days are scheduled at least a week in advance. If I do not schedule celebration, it gets missed, and days bleed into weeks, bleed into months, etc...

How do you want to rejoice in the change that you are creating for yourself, your team, and your new employee? I love an early morning swim at the beach (summer and winter), I love taking the team out for breakfast, and I love words of appreciation. What do you love?

Recruitment can be a challenging process, but knowing yourself, understanding what you want, and being clear about the outcome can lead to successful hiring and a harmonious work environment. Celebrate yourself and your achievements along the way, as they are the milestones that mark your journey.

References

Words by Susan Holtmeulen, Principal BAS Agent from QiBalance Bookkeeping.
Beautiful Words of Wisdom from Anthony Hopkins (drhurd.com)