Build Relationships — Before You Recruit People

In: BlogDate: Feb 11, 2017By: Henry Stewart

In keeping with the 5th Happy Manifesto Core Principle of ‘Recruit for Attitude, Train for Skill’ Semco meet potential future employees even before there is a vacancy.

Hi, we are Happy

We are leading a movement to create happy, empowered and productive workplaces.

How can we help you and your people to find joy in at least 80% of your work?

More about Happy

The Brazilian company Semco, run by Ricardo Semler, has always been a key inspiration for Happy. And visiting their site just now, I came across this great idea: Date Semco. The aim is simple, to get to know people before they have jobs for them to apply for.

We rarely advertise jobs at Happy, or use recruitment consultants. Instead we have a simple sign-up on our web site for people to register their interest in a job here. The result is that we have had over 2,000 people on the waiting list and, when we need to recruit new trainers, we often get over 100 completed application forms from just one email. Crucially this approach targets people actively interested in Happy, rather than those happening to be reading the job pages (in a newspaper or online) when your advert is there.

There isn’t a lot about Date Semco on their website, but I love the concept. Imagine having open days for potential recruits, maybe special events to get to know them, and keeping actively in contact – building relationships and getting to know people for when you next want to recruit.

The idea apparently came from Semco’s “Out of your mind” committee. This meets regularly to discuss weird ideas, ones to which the only sensible response is “You are out of your mind”. Another great idea – just imagine how much fun it must be on the committee and I bet some innovative products and approaches result.

Semco — truly inspirational even after all these years.

Related blogs

Keep informed about happy workplaces

Sign up to Henry's monthly Happy Manifesto newsletter, full of tips and inspiration to help you to create a happy, engaged workplace.

Sign up here

Learn the 10 core principles to create a happy and productive workplace in Henry Stewart's book, The Happy Manifesto.

Download for free

 

Henry Stewart, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer

Henry is founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy Ltd, originally set up as Happy Computers in 1987. Inspired by Ricardo Semler’s book Maverick, he has built a company which has won multiple awards for some of the best customer service in the country and being one of the UK’s best places to work.

Henry was listed in the Guru Radar of the Thinkers 50 list of the most influential management thinkers in the world. "He is one of the thinkers who we believe will shape the future of business," explained list compiler Stuart Crainer.

His first book, Relax, was published in 2009. His second book, the Happy Manifesto, was published in 2013 and was short-listed for Business Book of the Year.

You can find Henry on LinkedIn and follow @happyhenry on Twitter.

More by Henry

Next Conference: 2025 Happy Workplaces Conference

Our Happy Workplaces Conference is our biggest event of the year, and we'd love for you to join us on Thursday 12th June!

This year's event will be held in London, venue TBC. We may also offer a hybrid option for people to join us online simultaneously — do let us know if you are interested in joining online and we can add you to the waiting list.

As always, our next conference will be filled with interaction, discussion and space for reflection.

Book now and get our special half-price Early Bird rate — just use discount code Happy2025.

Find out more