Quality VS volume: Alphéa Conseil's choice [Interview]
Rachida Tata is a recruitment consultant, responsible for l'agence de Valence du Cabinet Alphéa Conseil. She talks about the firm's choices and how they translate into concrete action.
What do you see as the role of a recruitment agency?
Rachida Tata : A firm has to be there for both the customer and the candidate. At Alphéa Conseil, we answer and advise all candidates, successful or not, for example and this is rare...
Why would you choose to respond to an unsuccessful candidate?
Rachida Tata : For a candidate, it's easier to bounce back if they know the reasons why their application was rejected, but beyond that, there's a question of transparency. Alphéa Conseil has always positioned itself as a recruitment partner. A good partner is one that allows each party to progress. But secrecy can put both clients and candidates at a disadvantage. They are therefore totally counterproductive to our consulting objective.
How do you coach candidates engaged in a recruitment process?
Rachida Tata : During the interviews, we'll explain the recruitment context, give them information about their future contacts, detail the strengths and weaknesses of their application and coach them in line with the company's wishes, particularly in terms of their interpersonal skills. During successive job interviews, we'll listen to his feedback and discuss any difficulties encountered. We will then accompany the candidate through to the end of their integration into the company, i.e. to the end of their trial period. The firm's objectives are quality objectives and not volume objectives, hence a very ambitious service that we measure through a satisfaction barometer.
Bearing in mind that you also accompany unselected candidates in a specific scheme: "Return to Employment", what is your overall objective?
Rachida Tata : The relationship we create! It's rewarding for both candidates and consultants. Some candidates
sometimes call us back months or years later, to tell us how much our help meant or because they're leaving their job and want to go through us again. For our part, we know exactly which candidates we've met and remember them when an offer comes up. Choosing proximity, for a firm, is interesting for everyone!
How do you work with companies?
Rachida Tata : We are very attentive to the need with the aim of understanding not only the context of the position but also that of the company. This enables us to refine and make proposals concerning the profile sought. We also help our customer to rank his selection criteria according to their importance. What's more, each consultant brings his or her business expertise to the table, and that's what makes him or her so valuable. During job interviews, we listen carefully to our customers and analyze feedback. We are then in a position to make proposals such as training, for example, to adapt the candidate to the position.
Is integration the ultimate sign of successful recruitment?
Rachida Tata : Integration is synonymous with duration. A candidate who is well adapted to the position and well integrated will stay with the company longer. That's why we aim for the best possible integration. Here again, our quality targets (not volume) are great assets: 96% of our customers are satisfied with our services. This is shown by our barometer of corporate customers.
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