Australian Professional Recruiters Group

Australian Professional Recruiters Group's Managing Director, Mr Rob Bromage, has been re-elected as Chair of the RCSA (Recruitment and Consulting Services Association) QLD/ NT Council.

The RCSA is the voice of the Australian & New Zealand recruitment and on-hire industry. RCSA promotes the interests of the recruitment industry through legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, education and the advancement of business and individual standards and professionalism.

The RCSA Member companies operate more than 3600 offices across Australia and New Zealand and contribute over $12 billion to the Australia New Zealand economies collectively. RCSA also has over 120 Affiliates who supply services to the industry as well as over 600 Individual Consultant Members and nearly 700 Students progressing to industry accreditation. For more information about the RCSA visit www.rcsa.com.au

On the 14th November 2008, APRG held their fourth annual Local Business Leaders Forum which was attended by 140 leaders of local business.

This year's keynote speaker Anthony Sork discussed 'Retention - The Key to Placement Stability'. Anthony's presentation looked at the human capital pipeline; employee attachment - what it is, why it is so important, what drives employee attachment and how is it measured; and how to protect your placement investment. To view Anthony Sork's presentation click here.

Anthony is founder and Managing Director of Sork HC - Human Capital Experts. Recognised as one of Australasia's best leadership, climate, engagement and performance consultants, he is also an author, speaker, trainer and executive coach.

The APRG Local Business Leaders Forum's key objective is to acknowledge the support of APRG clients and to show our appreciation by providing them access to industry experts who share their insights on timely and relevant people issues.

For the second consecutive year APRG was successful in the annual Q400 Awards. APRG is ranked 269th among Queensland's top 400 privately owned businesses for 2008 – up 116 places from last year.

The Q400 awards are a unique program that provide public recognition of the achievements of Queensland's local business heroes – the owners of the state's leading home–grown enterprises.

APRG Brisbane North Recruitment started trading in October, bringing the total number of APRG specialist practices to six.

The breadth and diversity of the employment market on Brisbane's north side highlighted to APRG the need to establish a specialist practice specifically for clients and candidates based on the north side. The practice recruits for accounting, office support/administration, and sales/sales support roles.

APRG Brisbane North Recruitment is the first APRG franchise. APRG's franchise business model gives specialist recruiters and/or industry experienced professionals the platform to achieve business ownership, while having the support of proven back office infrastructure.

Scott Wiseman is responsible for Brisbane North Recruitment. Scott has over 12 years experience across a wide variety of business environments in state and national organisations. He brings to APRG a detailed understanding of recruitment, training, human resources, business development, sales and operations at all levels including senior management.

APRG continues to expand with the addition of another specialist practice – APRG Human Resources Recruitment (QLD)

Our Human Resources specialist recruitment team consists of Corey Shaw (Practice Director) and Aline Barnett and they recruit at all HR levels and across all industries segments.

Corey has 12 years industry experience working for a leading national company, bringing to APRG experience in the areas of operations, management and human resources. Having a background in volume recruitment, training, OH&S, IR in addition to HR management, Corey is responsible for the HR practice recruiting across all areas of Human Resources.

Aline has six years experience as a human resources practitioner in both the hospitality and financial services industries. Her experience takes in recruitment and selection, training, OHS, workplace rehabilitation and general HR management. At APRG, Aline focuses on all facets of HR recruitment from HR administration through to HR management.

The annual APRG Local Business Leaders Forum is on again in November, for the fourth consecutive year.

This year's keynote speaker Anthony Sork, will be discussing 'Retention – The Key to Placement Stability'. Anthony's presentation will look at the human capital pipeline; employee attachment - what it is, why it is so important, what drives employee attachment and how is it measured; and how to protect your placement investment.

Anthony is founder and Managing Director, of Sork HC – Human Capital Experts. Recognised as one of Australasia's best leadership, climate, engagement and performance consultants, he is also an author, speaker, trainer and executive coach.

The APRG Local Business Leaders Forum's key objective is to acknowledge the support of APRG clients and to show our appreciation by providing them access to industry experts who share their insights on timely and relevant people issues.

APRG continues to expand with the addition of another specialist practice – APRG Retail Recruitment (SE QLD).

APRG Retail Recruitment (SE QLD) specialises in the recruitment of experienced candidates from the retail industry for positions such as department managers, assistant managers, store managers, regional managers and state managers.

Some of the sectors our retail practice recruits within include: supermarkets; fashion; sporting; hardware; jewellery; homewares; footwear; electrical; and department stores.

APRG's Managing Director, Mr Rob Bromage, was shortlisted in the 2008 AIM Management Excellence Awards. Mr Bromage was nominated in the Owner Manager of the Year category and was one of six nominees shortlisted – a fantastic achievement after only four years of operation.

In July we welcomed Mike Hilton to the APRG Financial Services (QLD) team, and Rachel Lovett to the APRG Banking (QLD) team.

Mike has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry working in a variety of roles, including administration management and state management. At APRG Mike looks after permanent recruitment for the Financial Services recruitment team.

Rachel has over three years experience within the retail banking sector, enjoying a variety of customer service, consumer lending and sales roles. At APRG Rachel will focus on temporary recruitment within the banking and finance practice.

APRG is pleased to welcome Christine Chen to the Corporate Head Office as our Corporate Accountant. Christine has a Master of Commerce, majoring in Professional Accounting and brings to APRG experience in payroll, accounts payable, superannuation, reporting and cash flow budgeting. With nearly two years work experience as an accounts assistant for a retail clothing company Christine is a welcomed addition to the APRG team.

750 people have now been placed into jobs since the 1st of February 2005.

Congratulations to the team on a great effort and thank you to all those who have supported us.

What is a quality recruitment process? Are you getting one

Let's face facts - as a hiring manager, you only really feel satisfied that you have hired the best person when you have been forced to choose one person over another and it was actually a hard decision. Ultimately the decision is usually made by critically assessing all the proÂ’s and the conÂ’s of each candidate in terms of what skills & experience they possess, how they will add value, what training they may need, how will they impact on team dynamics, is the motivation right and the big oneÂ… attitude.

So how do we get there? Start with 30 people! A quality recruitment process is all about developing wide applicant pools leading to increased competition for your job. This all starts with a cost appropriate attraction strategy that targets the whole population of candidates that you are wanting to hire and motivates them to apply. Although you ultimately only want to hire 1 person, you want to interview 3 to 5 quality people which means 10 to 15 people need to screened /interviewed to find that top 5 quality shortlist. To interview 10 to 15 people, somewhere in the vicinity of 20 to 30 applications or expressions of interest need to be generated. The sort of campaign you need to get these numbers depends on the specialisation of the job, the level, unique selling points and of course the market.

A good recruiter can assist you with working out what you need to do to get an applicant pool of 30 candidates or if it is possible. They will develop the campaign to attract and appeal to the right audience and the go about developing a tailored selection process to identify the best ones that you should meet. So ask yourself, am I generating 20 to 30 applications for every hire I make?

The world of work has become internalised as we search for meaning in our working life. People are looking for more from their career, and more from their employer. They are looking for more meaning and purpose.

For the second consecutive year APRG hosted their Career Development Seminar with key note speaker Edwin Trevor–Roberts from Trevor–Roberts Associates – Career Architects.

Edwin's interactive presentation looked at how careers have evolved and why work is about more than just the ‘work’. Candidates discovered five metaphors of their working life that give insight into their career, and three practical strategies to create more meaning and fulfillment at work.

Trevor–Roberts Associates top seven tips for your career are:

1. Maintain Balance
2. Know Yourself
3. Succeed Through Uncertainty
4. Be Connected
5. Keep at the Cutting Edge
6. Take a Strategic View of Your Organisation
7. Take Action

For further information visit www.trevorroberts.com.au

APRG Accounting Recruitment (Brisbane) is the latest APRG practice to welcome a new team member in May. Malinda Baldwin joins the team looking after temporary recruitment.

Malinda has a Degree in Business majoring in human resource management, along with experience in the payroll office of Bunnings Melbourne, and bookkeeping and payroll experience for a Queensland based marketing company.

The APRG team continues to expand with MalindaÂ’s appointment the second this month, following Nirmal Sumanaratne who joined the Financial Services (QLD) practice.

APRG welcomed another new local recruitment specialist to the team in May. Nirmal Sumanaratne joined the Financial Services (QLD) practice.

Nirmal has spent the past six years working in the telecommunications and IT industry, specifically within the contact centre area. Nirmal's various roles have included customer service representative, technical support agent, technical Coach and team Leader/team Manager. At APRG Nirmal will focus on recruiting temporary staff for the finance sector.

APRG welcomed two new local recruitment specialists in March. Michael Paras joined the Sales and Marketing (QLD) practice, and Andrew Ryan joined the Accounting (Brisbane) practice.

Michael's first hand experience working in retail management; motivating teams to achieve sales targets; and developing marketing strategies, ensures he truly understands the needs of our sales and marketing clients and candidates. After 10 years retail experience, including working for two major retailers, Michael joins APRG as a recruitment specialist focusing on permanent and temporary recruitment.

Andrew joins APRG after six years experience as a business services / tax accountant where he progressed to the level of senior accountant. Andrew has worked for firms ranging from mid size chartered accountants to smaller accounting practices. At APRG Andrew is responsible for permanent recruitment within the accounting practice.

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist, Jutta Morten to the Accounting Recruitment (Brisbane) practice. With in excess of 26 years experience in finance and business management Jutta has worked for small and medium businesses in Australia and Germany. As a result Jutta has vast experience in accounting, bookkeeping and administration. At APRG Jutta looks after temporary recruitment for the Accounting Recruitment (Brisbane) practice.

APRG Managing Director, Mr Robert Bromage, today hosted the RCSA QLD (Recruitment and Consulting Services Association) Industry Leaders breakfast in his capacity as President and Chair of the RCSA QLD/ NT Council.

A panel of industry leaders addressed the topic "Industry Heavyweights Face the Challenges of 2008". The panel discussed issues impacting the recruitment industry such as the affect the change of government will have, candidate attraction, stock market movement and its implications, and the current talent shortage.

The Power of Recruiting - myths, revelations and reality. That was the topic of today's RCSA QLD industry luncheon, hosted by APRG's Managing Director Mr Rob Bromage.

2008 will provide both challenges and opportunities for the state's recruitment and on–hire industry.

With the tightening labour market, I believe we have a great opportunity to further increase the professionalism of the industry and add value through innovative consulting, said APRG's Managing Director Robert Bromage. Now, more than ever, we need to work with our clients to help them boost productivity through effective people resourcing and forward-thinking recruitment practices.

At an agency level the key issue over the past year has largely been candidate sourcing, in terms of competitiveness for 'active' applicant pools. This trend will continue well into 2008.

The new Federal Labor Government will also have an impact on the industry as the year unfolds. The past year has seen a strong focus on understanding WorkChoices, but now that these IR laws are on their way out, the transition to a new regime will take priority in 2008.