Recruitment the Pastel way

When Softline Pastel entered the specialist recruitment market, they turned the industry up-side down.

At first it apears as if Pastel People, Pastel’s new recruitment division, is a paradox. It simultaneously competes and co-operates with its peers. “Co-opetition” is a phrase that comes to mind.

According to Softline Pastel divisional director and co-manager of the multi-branch agency, Bridget du Toit, the organisation performs traditional recruiting and offers auxiliary services to other recruitment agencies.

“At first we only focused on finding, training, and supplying Pastel skills for the Pastel community at large,” said du Toit. “Today we also work with other agencies, helping them do better Pastel recruitment.”

A mere ten months after launching, Pastel People had already expanded with new branches in Benoni, Sandton and Cresta.

“The surge in demand for these skills reflects a number of South African issues, including changes in legislation regarding bookkeeping and accounting that put additional regulatory pressure on SMMEs. The surge in start-up SMMEs also had a role to play. One in six adult South Africans is now self-employed and upwards of 122 000 close corporations have been registered every year for the past six,” she said.

“The economic growth seen at the registrar of companies was mirrored here at Softline Pastel with software sales growing at more than 35% per annum. We now sell 2000 accounting packages per month. All of which means that demand is outstripping the availability of bookkeepers and accountants proficient with the software.”

At the time of making the recruitment move, Pastel decided not to align itself with any one recruitment agency. “Agencies were simply not in the best position to test the applicant’s Pastel skills accurately,” said du Toit. “Who better to test for skills than the creator of the software?” In addition to pure recruitment, Pastel People now also offers: consulting, certification and CV listing.

Consulting

Pastel People Consulting offers traditional employer consulting on such issues as disciplinary procedures, performance management and basic conditions of employment. “Due to the number of start-up companies who don’t yet employ professional human resource personnel, there is a tremendous need for advice on these issues,” said du Toit.

Certification

Pastel Certified Recruiters (PCRs) are recruitment companies who completed a Pastel People process towards becoming specialist Pastel recruiters. “We offer good training and work samples to prospective recruiters who can then go out and recruit with confidence. This is a service aimed purely at other recruitment agencies,” she said.

Once an agency is a Certified Pastel Recruiter, it may then subscribe to a service giving them access to the Pastel People database of leads and CVs.

CV listing

Very soon Pastel People will launch an online CV listing service whereby job-seekers with Pastel skills can post their CV for a fee. Employers will have free access to the listings. Keep an eye on www.pastelpeople.co.za for a launch date.

Contact us:

Tel: 0861 00 HIRE (4473)
E-mail: recruitment@pastelpeople.co.za