I started SiteForce Recruitment to change the industry and perception of labour hire; from offering just ‘labour’ to offering highly skilled, best of the best, correctly matched and crews that give more than is expected. To be honest, I value my time, and I certainly value others time as well. In my wide experience, my unique method simply delivers successful outcomes efficiently for all concerned.

A lot of agencies that provide a labour hire service have a ‘mass hire’ approach to a brief from a client. That means they do a mass hire, without going into much detail about who they are placing the job with, the site requirements, and the staff skillset and needs. The expectations for these types of agencies (yes, I’ve worked in them and witnessed this), is that they hope that 80% will turn up, and that perhaps 40-60% are suitable. This is a massive waste of time and resources for all involved in my view. 

At SiteForce Recruitment, we engage in ‘365’ recruitment and are really proud of our highly skilled crews to deliver continuous, reliable and successful outcomes. But it is more than that, in conjunction with our highly skilled crews, we also match the right person to the right job. We do that by having the experience, expertise and interest in finding out in detail about our clients, their needs, the sites involved, our crews skillset and aspirations and making a successful match.

In this article, I want to share with you an interview with Curtis, one of my plastering team, on his honest view of the positives and negatives of working for us, a labour hire firm, compared to his past experience with employers and being self-employed in his own business:

Chantal: Curtis, tell us a little bit about your background and where you have come from.

Curtis: I’m 33 years of age and started plastering when I was 14. I completed my apprenticeship with CK Plastering over the four years and carried on with plastering jobs since then.

Chantal: From a skillset perspective, what skills have you acquired in the last 19 years of working in the construction industry.

Curtis: I’m a fully qualified plasterer including fixed set and corners, and whilst I was at TAFE I also had to frame out, so I earned my framing ticket as well. Next I acquired scaffolding Cert I and II as well. Next was my welding certificates, I, II and III – mig, meg stick and oxy-acetylene. And also my coal inductions.

Chantal: So you’re quite talented?

Curtis: I ran my own business for about two years, so being multi-skilled was a benefit to just getting the job done on time, and I’m committed to learning and getting certified.

Chantal: What are you doing now?

Curtis: We are mainly doing defects, making sure frames are set right, fire rating walls, ensuring they are compliant, and fixing everyone’s stuff ups to make sure they are ok.

Chantal: What was the transition like from owning your own business and hiring your own people, to now working for SiteForce.

Curtis: Better, one hundred percent better! I’ve gone from owning my own business, worrying about everything – as everyone knows that owns a business. The stress and money situation as well was very stressful – it was ridiculous. So now that I’m working for SiteForce, I’m banking money and putting money away, and I don’t have the stress I used to have.

Chantal: Can you share for others, what have you found in your honest opinion, the three best things working for SiteForce?

Curtis: There are a few, like:

• Less worry: I don’t have to worry about anything any more – it’s sorted for me by you guys;

• Your technology: The app that you guys have is fantastic – absolutely amazing and ease to use;

• You are amazing: Other than that, you are amazing to get along with, especially if something is wrong. I ring up and say, look, something is wrong, and I know you get it and know what you need and that you’re going to act on it. Which is good, really good for a boss. So that’s exactly what I want, you know what I mean;

• I love the people I work with: I absolutely love the people I’ve met. I’ve made this site my own. Really cool. Everyone knows that sites like you to stick to your lane, keep to the right, to your own trade. I was like, no, this isn’t going to happen, everyone has to work together. It just has to happen. You know what I mean. If I need some plumbing done, I have to ask a plumber. I can’t email you to email the plumber. No, I see the plumber. So we’re working as a team and it’s all starting to work together.

Chantal: Coming from a labour hire company, what has your experience been when you go to site to work for a builder or trade? Do they understand and utilise your wide skillset, ask you what you can do, give you plans, treat you as part of the team? 

Curtis: I’m setting at the moment, which is sweet, and I’ll do anything. Sometimes you are branded as just labour hire or coming in from a recruitment drive, and some may not know how highly skilled we are. SiteForce is different, and one tip I could give to guys on site, is to have the conversation and know what trades on site are capable of.

But honestly on site, when we start working, that’s that. They can see that our trades are top line, and everyone knows what a good tradie looks like, until they see someone who isn’t. We also contribute. If I see something I can do that is quicker, I’ll suggest a switch around. They are sweet with it. One hundred percent.

Chantal: So, there could be that conversation at day one in the induction, so everyone is informed. Important questions: What's your skillset? Who sent you on? Why are you here? What do you prefer? What's your best, best work act? That's what it should be. What do you like doing? Or where do you see yourself thriving? 

Curtis: One hundred percent. We’re really committed, and we start thinking for the companies. To us, it’s not just a job, it’s pride in our work, and working towards building a better career. If you’re not working towards something, you’re working towards nothing. It’s how we’re wired a bit different, and how we keep happy.

Chantal: Thank you so much, Curtis. Happy days.