Eastern Europeans

Gareth Austin

Hi there

Does anyone have any experience of recruitment agencies in Eastern Europe, we've been trying to recruit for more horticulturists and florists but we have had no luck in Ireland, have tried all the normals recruitment companies, colleges etc but no-one so far.

A number of recruitment companies have been on to me, (we have the vacancies listed on fas.ie and they seem to come through this), and I wam wondering if anyone has nay experience of good recruitment companies in Poland, Chec republic, Estonia, Lativa etc, or is there better ways of targeting the availavble workforce in these sorts of countries.

Your advice and feedback welcome.

BossArky

Gareth Austin wrote:

...nay experience of good recruitment companies in Poland, Chec republic, Estonia, Lativa etc, or is there better ways of targeting the availavble workforce in these sorts of countries.

Your advice and feedback welcome.

so that you can exploit them?

Raekwon

Gareth Austin wrote:

we've been trying to recruit for more horticulturists and florists but we have had no luck in Ireland, have tried all the normals recruitment companies, colleges etc but no-one so far

Why is this? What sort of rate/hours are you offering?

seamus

I don't see why anyone is instantly jumping on this guy's case.

Most Irish agencies would have eastern europeans on their books, if it's just your bog-standard, train-them-up-in-two-weeks job that you're hiring for.

CiaranC

so that you can exploit them?

wtf? Cop on.

BossArky

CiaranC wrote:

wtf? Cop on.

Cop on to what, wtf?

The man asked a question and so did I.

mountainyman

Gareth Austin wrote:

Your advice and feedback welcome.

Pay a living wage and hire Irish people.

MM

empirix

BossArky wrote:

Cop on to what, wtf?

The man asked a question and so did I.

very true - to exploit them! Check out Vietnam, even cheaper rates again.

caff

mountainyman wrote:

Pay a living wage and hire Irish people.

MM

go find him some irish florists and see if he will, dude said he looked but they're in short supply. Lay off him

eth0_

BossArky banned for a week for trolling.

Tabnabs

BossArky wrote:

so that you can exploit them?

Ah the mob mentality at its finest, and from a Moderator too :mad:

Who needs a jury, just execute!

The OP wasn't asking about the intricacies of industrial relations, just a straight forward question...

Beruthiel

Gareth Austin wrote:

we've been trying to recruit for more horticulturists and florists but we have had no luck in Ireland.

Really?
Have you tried the colleges they train in?
For example, there is a horticulture course running out of the College in Blanchardstown who could probably supply you with some details on how to get trained people.

Millionaire

why not put an add, in the newspaper of the country you want people from, and find the people directly yourself?

eth0_

Beruthiel wrote:

Really?
Have you tried the colleges they train in?
For example, there is a horticulture course running out of the College in Blanchardstown who could probably supply you with some details on how to get trained people.

There's very little demand for these courses. Which is why one of the best horticulture colleges (in Louth) closed a while back.
Considering there are so few horticulture courses available, maybe - just MAYBE - all the students find jobs really easily before they've even finished the course?

I know that was the case with my friends sister when she did horticulture there.

GoneShootin

mountainyman wrote:

Pay a living wage and hire Irish people.

MM

Keep it on topic there MM.

eth0_

seamus wrote:

Most Irish agencies would have eastern europeans on their books, if it's just your bog-standard, train-them-up-in-two-weeks job that you're hiring for.

Horticulture isn't something you can learn in two weeks!

seamus

eth0_ wrote:

Horticulture isn't something you can learn in two weeks!

That's why I said if

"Accounts technician" sounds all fancy, but you could train any monkey in a suit to do the job in couple of weeks

Gareth Austin

Well folks, seems to me that there are a few people with issues out there.

To answer some of the questions which have been asked:

We have adverts placed with the Horticultural colleges in South and North Ireland, this was organised through the relevant departments. We also have adverts in 7 florist colleges in England. Vacancies are listed on fas.ie and with job centres in the north.

We have had a position for Senior Florist listed with Recruitment companies in Ireland for nearly 3 months without any quality applicants. And we're waiting to open 7 more shops as soon as we can get good staff!

With regard to the comment made about exploitation this is a typically narrow-minded snap answer when you enquire about Eastern Europeans, There are many foreign natonals who come to Ireland and work throughout the Horticultural industry and indeed the enginnering, manufacturing and trade areas and earn damm good livings from this.

My original question wasn't about the rights and wrongs of bringing foreign nationals in, its about where to find good overseas workers and if anybody out there has worked with overseas recruitment agencies.

The Horticultural industry is not a well-paid industry, as compared to engineering etc. But Supervisors and Managers can earn good wages if theyre good at what they do- and as part of the package for our staff we do profit% share - this way everyone benfits from success.

Retail horticulture is not something you can learn in two weeks, expecially when you're dealing with the public answering all types of questions. I have over 15 years retail experience, working in Scotland, Ireland, North Ireland, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Germany and I'm still learning.


Now, anybody any ideas?

the_syco

Gareth Austin wrote:

Now, anybody any ideas?

Try putting an ad for someone who has worked in a florist shop, the old "2-5 years experience or a cert" route. This may get someone who is working in another florist shop, but may want to move to another location, as its closer to home, etc. Also, try pushing the "local" sh|t, of "not having to commute to work, work in your locale" type thing.

caff

Gareth Austin wrote:

Well folks, seems to me that there are a few people with issues out there.

To answer some of the questions which have been asked:

We have adverts placed with the Horticultural colleges in South and North Ireland, this was organised through the relevant departments. We also have adverts in 7 florist colleges in England. Vacancies are listed on fas.ie and with job centres in the north.



Now, anybody any ideas?

If you have contact with the horticulture colleges here, then why not ask them for contacts if they have them of horticulture colleges in eastern europe? Surely they would have some contacts with them? Then you could contact them and try recruit their graduates?

Gareth Austin

Caff

Thats a good idea, thanks for your help.

Cheers

jesus_thats_gre

BossArky wrote:

so that you can exploit them?

Rofl... Too right - tis the way of the world. One big cycle. They will be doing it to someone else in 10 to 15 years time.

Sonnenblumen

Gareth Austin wrote:

We have had a position for Senior Florist listed with Recruitment companies in Ireland for nearly 3 months without any quality applicants. And we're waiting to open 7 more shops as soon as we can get good staff!

The Horticultural industry is not a well-paid industry, as compared to engineering etc.

Therein lies part of the problem, Employers are hugely responsible for prevailing wage rates and business growth etc. Fundamentally they're more focussed on the latter but fail to realise how dependent they are on the former.

If you make an attractive offer, I've no doubt you'll get a better response. IMO intermediaries such as agencies are no angels when it comes to screwing contract workers, in fact, I'd blamed them more than unscrupulous employers.
Horticulture is coming of age, but at retail wages are still pitiful and thesedays who after 2-3 years training would want to go there!


Good luck.

is_that_so

Gareth Austin wrote:

Caff

Thats a good idea, thanks for your help.

Cheers

I would have thought you could look at some of our other EU members as well. You might find people there. What about Fás ? Don't they advertise internationally?

GoneShootin

jesus_thats_gre wrote:

Rofl... Too right - tis the way of the world. One big cycle. They will be doing it to someone else in 10 to 15 years time.

keep philosophical non-topic posts to the minimum