The Bluetree group has taken on another marketing assistant. Not much to write about there, but the way that new recruit Jonathan Swift got himself hired ensured that the Yorkshire Post did indeed cover the story of how he leafletted the cars in the Rotherham business’s car park, drawing attention to his application. It was an impressive initiative, enough for the group to take him on.
He had been one of more than 140 candidates for the role, says the paper. That has to be almost unheard of in a print business. How many people will apply to a job that other printers need filling? And how many are suitable applicants? And how many of those will pull a stunt like this to get noticed because they deeply want to work in print? Any advance on none? The fact is that Bluetree has slipped the shackles of being considered a printer for those looking for a varied and interesting job. In times not so long past, recruitment into print was along family lines, or perhaps through a friend of the family. It ensured a steady flow of machine minders and comps who understood the roles. Printers consequently did not have to try too hard: print was a good trade to get into. However, the family ties that bind have been broken and printers do indeed have to try and that may be new to them.
Today recruitment is more likely to be between peer groups, friends chatting about their work on a Friday night and hopefully explaining how stimulating working in print is. Not what a repetitive slog the job is. They want to hear how much fun it is working with lively, supportive colleagues. Not about a bunch of male, pale and stale control freaks (or worse). Recruitment is not about the job ad describing in detail the tasks to be carried out. It is about striking the right note with existing employees and getting the reputation as a great place to be working.
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The Bluetree group has taken on another marketing assistant. Not much to write about there, but the way that new recruit Jonathan Swift got himself hired ensured that the Yorkshire Post did indeed cover the story of how he leafletted the cars in the Rotherham business’s car park, drawing attention to his application. It was an impressive initiative, enough for the group to take him on.
He had been one of more than 140 candidates for the role, says the paper. That has to be almost unheard of in a print business. How many people will apply to a job that other printers need filling? And how many are suitable applicants? And how many of those will pull a stunt like this to get noticed because they deeply want to work in print? Any advance on none? The fact is that Bluetree has slipped the shackles of being considered a printer for those looking for a varied and interesting job. In times not so long past, recruitment into print was along family lines, or perhaps through a friend of the family. It ensured a steady flow of machine minders and comps who understood the roles. Printers consequently did not have to try too hard: print was a good trade to get into. However, the family ties that bind have been broken and printers do indeed have to try and that may be new to them.
Today recruitment is more likely to be between peer groups, friends chatting about their work on a Friday night and hopefully explaining how stimulating working in print is. Not what a repetitive slog the job is. They want to hear how much fun it is working with lively, supportive colleagues. Not about a bunch of male, pale and stale control freaks (or worse). Recruitment is not about the job ad describing in detail the tasks to be carried out. It is about striking the right note with existing employees and getting the reputation as a great place to be working.
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