As newsagency businesses transition to broader-appeal businesses, how we acquire new employees needs to evolve.
Whereas in the past newsagency retail experience was important, today this is not the case. Today, ideal employees will be more likely found away from the business.
For years when I needed a new employee I’d put up a sign in the business. Now I place an ad on Seek to draw from a bigger pool to present more opportunities the sign might otherwise not uncover.
Here is the text of an ad I have currently running:
Casual retail assistant: Knox and Southland
newsXpress Knox and newsXpress Southland are unique businesses. Their core products are cards, jigsaws, Ty Beanie Boos, jigsaws and gifts.We are looking for people who love working in retail and want to be part of an innovative and changing business.
While the roles are casual, chunky hours are available. Candidates must be available to work on any of the seven days of there week.
We are not looking for people with newsagency experience as these businesses are not newsagencies as you would know them.
Good communication, professional presentation station, customer care and appreciation of the value of work are essentials we are looking for in the candidates we will choose. Visual merchandising skills are a bonus.
Check out our Facebook pages to find out more about us.
In three days the ad attracted 266 candidates. While some are clearly not suited, many are, coming from diverse retail backgrounds through which we can benefit.
It is vital we expand the retail experiences in our businesses, beyond what has been traditional in newsagency businesses. One good way to do this is to bring in new employees with experience in other retail channels. That is what I am seeking to do through this latest job ad pitch.
Footnote: I have used Seek as it shows you are serious about hiring retail professionals. A free ad on Gumtree will not, in my opinion, attract the same calibre of candidates.
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