Format

Employment – it’s all about the preparation strategy… or is it?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Like any board game – preparation, planning research are all essential elements to increase our chances of winning – which are mirrored in searching for employment.

 

I received an email over the weekend which made me stop and think.  Maybe not everyone shares this logic.  Who teaches us about workplace etiquette after all ?

 

Over the weekend, I received an email.  I had to re-read this several times.  I have another Growing Talent programme about to start and applications are already coming in.  However, nothing in my 20 year career history working in inclusive employment prepared me for this email……..

 

‘Can I use your address to re-direct my mail?’  This individual was a complete stranger.  Why would they think it appropriate to ask such a question?

 

There is no 2nd chance to make a 1st impression.  Preparation, planning and research will help everyone make a great 1st impression!

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

 

Speed Dating – Growing Talent Way!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

It was the first time at our new venue – Etc Venues in Eastcheap – would everyone find it ok?  Of course they all did.

 

The room was buzzing with employers from diverse industries including Northbank BID, Crown Plaza Hotel, Portico, Red Personnel, Pertemps, Park Plaza Hotel, Ballymore, ConnectPlusServicesM25 and Baxter Storey.  Armed with their ice breaker questions and summary profile sheets as well as their open minds, the conversation and laughter flowed.

 

Just some of the employers who joined us for our speed dating session in January………..

 Antonia & Julie from Portico at PwC

 

 

 Pedro of Pertemps  Jamie – Red Personnel

 Katherine & Gerald of Northbank BID

 Cameron looking for talent for Ballymore

 

 

Andy of ConnectPlusServicesM25

 

 Maria & Ebb from Crown Plaza Hotel

 

 

 

The format was 10 minutes at each employer table in small groups of 2-3.  Following the ice breaker question would be ‘tell me a little about yourself’.  Now all applicants had met with me first and been told to prepare an ‘eBay’ style ad on themselves ready for this question!  A snapshot of their life – at work, at home and future career desires.

 

Employers would then select their shortlist of applicants they believe could grow into their roles over the six week journey to meet again on a 1-2-1 basis before provisional job offers would be made.

 

Everything ran like clockwork until one group went the wrong way mid-way trough causing laughter mayhem! Of course going out of sync meant an employer table was always left without any applicants!  Great for coffee/loo breaks though.

 

Finally, the event was over.  I’m not sure who was more exhausted – the employers or applicants!  Even new employers agreed this was a unique and interesting method to secure new talent without a cv/traditional interview.

 

We ended with six people invited to go forward with provisional permanent job offers:

 

Charlene – Guest Services Agent with Crown Plaza Hotel

Kristina – Guest Services Agent with Park Plaza Hotel

Abraham – Resourcer with Red Personnel

Joseph – Commis Chef with Park Plaza Hotel

Estela – Welcome Host with Portico

Jess – Welcome Host with Portico.

 

Excited and ready for the challenge ahead, the new Growing Talent 20 Associates prepared for the Orientation Week before going on site to train in their roles……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New look Growing Talent is open!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

To mark our 5th anniversary in February 2019 of our planned one-off pilot in 2014, we have streamlined the framework of Growing Talent.

 

It retains all the core elements including selection without cvs, provisional permanent job offer upfront on selection by an employer, orientation week before going on site, a total of four weeks training in the vacant role and a holistic week during which life skills including personal finance, fitness, nutrition on a budget and qualification as a mental health first aider.  So what has changed? instead of 12 weeks, it’s now six weeks long.  All parts have to be completed.  There is no uncertainty when someone will be employed.

 

This will deliver transparency for employers, participants and those referring them.  Provision has been put in place to enable an extension based on individual circumstances and only by agreement with all parties.  Equally, those going into roles requiring minimum training, such as barista, will be employed after the orientation week and return for the mental health first aider qualification on the holistic week – again, by arrangement.

 

This year we move to a new training venue – etc venues – away from Southwark Cathedral.  As a public venue the facilities at the Cathedral were not appropriate.

 

Those selected by employers – known as Growing Talent Associates – will enjoy a breakfast, choice of lunches, afternoon tea plus unlimited refreshments throughout the day.  This investment should return commitment and focus thereby pushing numbers up of those going into work.

 

Diverse employers took part in 2018 including Ballymore, Connect Plus Services M25, Acuity Services, Portico, MitieTDM, Pertemps, Harris & Hoole, Scotscape, ME Hotel, Firmdale Hotels, Harrow Green & many more.

 

Some great life changing stories lie ahead no doubt………

Sales – can you do it?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

My answer to this is generally ‘no’.  I have always felt I’m not a natural ‘sales person’.  However, a feature by Ismail Khan, a marketing specialist in UAE made me think again.

 

Ismail believes there are four key skills a great salesperson needs:

 

  1.     Effective information gathering
  2.     How that information is used
  3.     Delivering information effectively
  4.     Closing – seal the deal

 

Ismail believes when you follow this format, you ‘nail sales’.  Below is the conversation he outlined using these four components:

 

‘Sell me this pen’. The mistake here is to go straight into its benefits.  Instead, Ismail asked a question..

‘When did you last use a pen’

‘This morning’

‘Do you remember what kind of pen you used’

‘No’

‘Why were you using a pen?’

‘To sign contracts’

‘Would you agree signing those contracts is an important event for the business?  It’s a memorable event, which demands a memorable pen.  We grew up our entire lives using any pen to get the job done – shopping lists etc.  We didn’t give it much thought because they weren’t memorable events.  This pen is a memorable pen.  It’s a pen to get deals done.  It’s a symbol for taking this company to the next level.  When you use the right tool, you’re in the right mindset and become more productive.  Actually, last week I shipped 10 boxes of these pens to Elon Musk’s office.  This is my last pen today.  So I suggest you get this one.  Try it out.  If you are not happy with it, I will personally come back next week to pick it up.  It won’t cost you anything.  What do you say?’

 

The framework which can be used in any sales:

 

Find out how they used a pen (gathering information)

Emphasise the importance of the activity a pen was last used for (respond to information)

Sell something bigger than a pen, like a state of mind to grow the company (deliver information)

Ask for the buy (close the deal)

 

Sounds simple doesn’t?