Umal is one of the Account Managers at our Head Office in Keilor Park and she joined the Zoom Recruitment Industrial team last year. After rising through the ranks at the previous company where she worked, she chose to join us at Zoom Recruitment because of our people-driven ethos and family-orientated culture.

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Umal and gain her valuable perspective into what’s going on in the recruitment industry right now.

How much has this industry changed throughout the years you’ve been working in it – especially as we face the challenges associated with the pandemic?

When I first started, it was very much an employer-driven market where employers could pick and choose exactly what they wanted from an employee for a role they wanted to fill. But Covid-19 has radically changed the way we see work and has introduced an entirely different mindset where people are questioning what a good work environment and a healthy work culture look like. There are also fewer candidate pools and candidates are now expressing what they want, rather than just accepting what an prospective employer has to offer. It’s definitely a candidate-driven market at the moment, and employers need to adapt to that.

So, what’s your advice to businesses who are looking to hire people at the moment?

Companies need to define their workplace culture and working environment and sell that. We consult with our clients and provide them insights on market demands and candidate preferences. The industry is changing at a rapid rate and it is our job to get our clients across these trends before and during the entire recruitment process. Aside from a fair pay structure, what the company offers that makes people matter is what retains people, along with management having a hands-on approach with candidates and employees and the challenges they face. We help employers to create the best impression when hiring and support their management team during the onboarding process and retention programs.

What would clients expect when they deal with you for their requirements?

The expectation is that I’ll address their concerns urgently and get things done immediately. My job is always to make sure I can meet client requirements - but I need to be realistic in the timelines for this. It’s important for me to have open communication with clients and manage their expectations.

How would you describe Zoom Recruitment as an organisation?

Zoom Recruitment is people-orientated and Make People Matter is not just a catchphrase. It’s the first company where I’ve felt very much included and where I haven’t felt different.

We recently shared our people-focused ethos at one of the biggest staffing events in Sydney where we featured the importance of empathy and to Walk A Mile with our candidates during the hiring process. As one of the prominent large volume recruiters in Australia, it is never lost on us that although we are working hard to onboard teams on worksites and in offices, each person must feel that they matter during the hiring process - whether they get the job or not.

What does your typical day at Zoom Recruitment look like?

No day is ever the same. Some of the activities in my day include sourcing the right talent, interviewing candidates, managing performance once people have been placed, servicing clients, and providing solutions to any issues clients and candidates may experience. This also involves things being on-site, sorting timesheets and ensuring basic admin duties are looked after. I support the rostering team in whatever capacity I can to make sure the right people are available for the right shift. This all happens at a high-volume level.

What is a quote or a belief statement that you live by?

“Be so good that they can never deny you.”

My personal goal is to provide our clients with an experience that goes above and beyond what's expected from Zoom Recruitment by focusing on our people-centred ethos and consultative approach.