GLOBAL BLOG 2008 .

August 27th 2008
All the roles for Doha have cancelled. I got a call from our client in Doha, advising us that due to building difficulties, the contractors have been fired and new contractors are being sought. The project now looks likely to be delayed for 8-12 months.

Regrettably, all our candidates who had been lined up, interviewed, reference checked and offered positions will have their contracts suspended until next year. Regrettably, I am sure most cannot wait. Some had handed in their notices in readyness to start later on in the year. These are the obstacles in our way,, no matter how hard we work, no matter how many brilliant candidates we have acquired and worked with, there is always a challenge that we have to overcome and that is life. You can understand as we tire of the challenges, we tire of life, the energy we have placed in the faith of the jobs we have worked on drains away. Fortuntely, life is about not giving up and rising above these challenges.

Website: Our apologies that our website has not been updated for a few weeks, I hate excuses, but after my desktop stopped working, after my laptop screen smashed, following the new acquisitions of new computers, reloading all the files and programs has been a never ending task. I am just waiting for the server to crash now.

Latest news, Susan Foster from Australia will be rejoining the team in Late September.

August 9th 2008
The builders have finally left the global search office building. After 16 months, of renovations, the builders have walked off site leaving several jobs still unfinished. Its been a time of reflection and turmoil and we are finally glad to see the back of them.



8th July 2008
Candidate shortlisted for Doha Sales role, F&B role and Rooms role... thats my weekend gone again. Working on the sales role for the Turks & Caicos Islands and the finance role for Vietnam. Candidates interviewed over the weekend and second shortlist to be confirmed for next weekend

25th June 2008
Another day, working late last night, identifying star candidates for the front desk Manager for Doha, the role is pivitol for eventual promotion to Rooms Division manager...

Acquired references for a star candidate. References are just one way to identify the skills and potential of candidates,

Today will be our focus to identify a shortlist for the Group Sales and Marketing Role, for a new luxury hotel group, based in Doha...Qatar....today is decision day...

Candidate offered the Majordomo position and regrettably, he turned it down, deciding to stay where he was... an amazing life changing opportunity, obviously not for everyone.

Friday 13th 2008
Lots and lots of applications.... perhaps too many yet again, so many career minded professionals looking for their next move. I spend my life reviewing applications, so many square pegs trying to fit into round holes. Recruitment is very much like trying to find a diamond in a mountain of glass, a sparkling jewel to fit on top of a gold ring.


Wednesday 11th June 2008
Busy week already.... lots of interviews being organised for the positions we are working on, I am delighted that Global Search has the opportunity to assist clients and delighted too, that we can bring career breaking positions to some of our industries most amazing candidates. Sadly we can only make one candidate happy per job vacancy and that is the sad realism of executive recruitment.

Today I was sent a Platinum Rule. "Wow" I thought, "whats all this about."?

One of my clients who used my Butler Training services in Asia thought I might like to see how they are progressing one year after my training. They have introduced service rules and one in particular takes the golden rules to the next level.

The Platinum Rule is highlights what your customers want. “Treat others the way THEY want to be treated”. (not as common sense as we might think).

Service is not about what we want to give; it's about what customers want to receive. If we give customers what they don't want, then we haven't increased value in their eyes.

The big question is whether we have the perception to understand and learn what our customers want and in many ways that's a whole new ball game, because many of us, will say, “yes, we totally understand what our customers want and we deliver their needs consistently”, the question is whether we add value to what our customers want by offering or surpassing their needs by identifying a need the customer didn't even know they wanted!!!

There must be a deliberate effort to uncover your customer's wants, needs, and desires are, in order to take the guess work out of the equation. If you haven't captured information to support your hypotheses, then it's considered anecdotal.

Once we confidently know what customers want, (because we've learn it, captured it, or asked for it), then we can proceed with meeting and exceeding those expectations. When it comes to service, what else can be more important than giving customers what they want?

The Double Platinum Rule

At this moment in time, my house and home is being renovated and refurbished. In the beginning, when I was getting quotes and prices choosing my builder, I advised the builders what I wanted and the builders sent me prices. I chose the best builder at the optimum price.

Once the builder started the job, he then recommended lots of other services and suggestions, (after he started the work). It was all common sense and could have been provided upfront before he started the job. It could have saved me a great deal of time and money, instead it ended up costing me more and taking more time.

I asked the builder why he never told me at the beginning and he told me he was giving me what I wanted. “I was doing my job and giving you what YOU wanted”.

The implications immediately hit me. I got what I wanted, but I was still upset. So the Platinum rule may not be sufficient in all situations. The Double Platinum rule is (you guessed it), “treat others the way they don't even know they want to be treated”.

Always anticipate, anticipate, anticipate. Don't just meet your customer's expectations, surpass them big time if you can.

Our service strategy should be based upon Golden Service Rules works and three rules which allow us to reach the double platinum rule would be :-

1. Heighten our empathy (Golden Rule),
2. Focus on our customer's expectations (Platinum Rule),
3. Challenges our normal ways to exceed customer expectations (Double Platinum Rule).

A great lesson for the day, I am sure we all knew already, but its wonderful to have this reinforced.

Saturday 7th June 2008

Saturday is just another day as far as I am concerned, its a quiet day without the phone constantly ringing which gives me a great chance to catch up. A few of the jobs I am working on at the moment are very exciting, I cannot list them all here, but here's just a flavour.

I am seeking a Restaurant Chef for an independently run Gourmet Restaurant in St Lucia, so I will be busy contacting some great Restaurant chefs who like the idea of moving to the Caribbean.

I am looking for an Executive Chef for another leading resort in the East Caribbean, my client will happily pay the going rate, (what ever that is), as long as the candidate has an proven quality background in the caribbean or similar leading resorts and hotels.

Another position is the role of Food & Beverage Manager for this leading resort in the East Caribbean, A proven leader and motivator, who can inspire a young a gifted food service team will be guaranteed recognition and development.

Another role which came on this week, is that of Majordomo, for a private family based in London but responsible for properties all over Europe such as Kiev, Italy & London, a salary to match exceptional quality is offered.

I cannot believe that I am still looking for a Food & Beverage Director for a new luxury 5* Hotel in Doha, opening in November later this year. I have been searching for the past 4 months.. It's true there are no shortage of F&B Directors and with a tax free salary of $66K a year, you would think an expatriate family package with schooling would entice some great candidates. Come to think of it. we are still seeking a Group Sales and Marketing Director, although at the same salary of $66K , it might be more difficult to fil

Another position - Food & Beverage Manager, for a great family in Jordan is required, with emphasis on the management aspect, although someone hands on with great organisational and communication skills will do very well for a small team of 20 household staff. The Salary flexible for the right person, and would suit someone either with boutique hotel experience or household management experinece.

Thursday 5th June 2008

Hospitality has to be one of the richest and most diverse industries in the world, but at the end of the day, it's people that make hospitality work and being in the people industry, I come across some amazing career minded professionals who I am very proud to represent.

At the moment we have a role on our books for Island resort manager, in the Maldives, with a great salary up to 60K a year tax free, plus benefits, you would think that resort managers would be cueing up to take it on. Unfortunately, so far the shortage of candidates for these types of roles is bizarre, but Island life is not for everyone.

International Recruitment is about understanding what clients want and delivering candidates who closely match as many aspects of the criteria as possible. Regrettably, we get hundreds of applicants who never match the brief we are given, and unfortunately, only one candidate will ever get the job.

Sometimes, selecting the right candidate is like playing god, it's the most difficult task in the world and it's impossible to make everyone happy. I like to say, that I develop relationships for someone's entire career rather than for just one vacancy and there is always an opportunity for other vacancies in the months and years ahead, its a question of keeping in touch and it's a two way process.

Unfortunately though, you would be amazed at how many candidates have applied for positions without reading the brief. I will elaborate a little later.