Mon, July 11, 2011 at 9:50 | Guest Blogger Upgraded Hiring Practices Down Under
By Coby Halpin
Coby Halpin, Manager at Goldfields Oasis Recreation CenterAmazing staff is the key to business success. If you have the right people, you’re on your way. If you don’t, you’re facing an uphill battle!
Even the most diligent hands-on manager can’t watch every part of the facility every day. Your staff needs to be well-selected, well-trained, passionate, and always focused on providing excellent customer service.
Having worked both in urban and regional fitness facilities, I can attest that having the right team is equally important whether a club is situated in a major city or in one of the more remote areas of Australia. In the city, competition is fierce because people have so many options. And, in regional areas, where communities are smaller and more close-knit, a good staff is critical because word-of-mouth is so strong; one bad word can have a huge impact on your business.
In both cases, amazing staff is amazing staff, and the recruitment process—and outcomes—should be the same!
As the manager of the Goldfields Oasis in Kalgoorlie, a regional recreation center in Western Australia, I’ve found that recruiting the right staff is challenge for several reasons: we’re located in a remote area with a small population that hasn’t had a great deal of experience with the fitness industry.
It’s been a constant struggle, but, recently, the local city council has done a great deal to publicize the services we provide, increasing our profile and enhancing our image in the community. Now, the Oasis has a staff of committed professionals, and the results are amazing. These employees add to the atmosphere at the Oasis, attracting more people who want to be a part of what we’re doing.
I have one overriding concern when it comes to staff members: Do they care…or not? Ask yourself this question, and you’ll probably discover that you know the answer immediately. Budgets and wages are important, of course, but spending an extra $5,000 to get the best person for the job may actually produce an extra $50,000 in profits for your business—directly, through such things as increased sales and higher member retention, but also indirectly through such things as increased staff tenure and elimination of rehiring expenses.
Goldfields Oasis Recreation CenterYou should dedicate yourself to creating an environment in which staff is respected, valued, and supported, and that provides a level of customer service that’s second to none. If so, you’ll have a club where people will want to work.
To achieve that worthy goal, heed the following tips.
• Analyze any vacant position thoroughly.
• Update your interview/selection process regularly.
• Write effective job advertisements.
• When searching for a new employee, take your time and look around—the right person is out there
• Seriously consider anyone who asks about a job: you never know what they might be able to bring to bear
• Be present at every interview—you can’t hire someone based on a resume
• Be prepared to pay a bit extra
• Invest your own time in a new employee—it will pay dividends
• Be prepared to make a tough call—if a current employee isn’t meeting your expectations, and a better-qualified person comes along, you may have to make a difficult decision, but you have to do what’s right for your business
Coby Halpin is the manager of the Goldfields Oasis Recreation Center, in Kalgoorlie, Australia, one of the largest recreational facilities in Western Australia. Goldfields serves more than 18,000 visitors each month. Halpin is also an avid reader of CBI Unbound!
Reader Comments (4)
Good advice!
Hossein
www.motionsoft.net