MAYDAY Features on Qantas

Finding the right person for the job can be a challenging process.

But with these tips from Qantas Business Rewards member MAYDAY Recruitment, you can be sure you’re asking the right questions when hiring.

“When we began MAYDAY three years ago, we had no idea we’d have a staff of 20 today,” says Katrina Docherty, one of three co-founders behind the fast-growing Sydney-based recruitment company.

“We saw a huge gap in the market: other agencies simply didn’t have the ‘care factor’ we offer. To us, it’s not just about money – it’s about making sure a candidate or a client is looked after from the moment they engage with us.”

Specialising in office-based recruitment, from EAs to CEOs, MAYDAY has been widely recognised for the service it provides clients: in 2018 the business collected the “Start-Up Superstar” award at the NSW Business Chamber Awards and this year it took home two gongs at the Recruitment International Awards for Best Company for Client Service and Best Company for Candidate Experience.

When it comes to finding new employees, Docherty says it’s important to be prepared.

“You need to know and fully understand what you want from an employee and have a full job description prepared before you start looking. Know what your non-negotiables are, be thorough with the job interview process and do your due diligence. Also, keep candidates in the loop – if you interview them, have the courtesy to tell them how their application is going.”

“There are so many mistakes that businesses make: rushing in, not being systematic, interviewing too quickly, not understanding objectives before the interview process, not testing on practical skills, not trusting instincts.

“Also, it’s incredible how many people don’t look at employment history – check LinkedIn for job titles, call referees, make sure you understand why people have left jobs.

“It’s so important to invest in good recruitment – people don’t fully understand the cost of having the wrong person in their business.”

Finding the right candidates for clients also comes down to the experience and dedication of the MAYDAY team.

“We invest in our employees and as a result they want to do a great job and want to find the right candidates for our clients. We stand out because we provide reliably excellent service,” says Docherty.

And job seekers looking for temp roles are well looked after. “Temping can be lonely work,” says Docherty. “We make sure every candidate that we place in a role feels special. We visit them regularly and get updates over pizza sessions…. We go above and beyond.”