Following on from the last post (10 Feb 2011) here is part 2 of some the highlights of my interview with Frank Chidiac from Beyond where we focus on two specific questions.

Frank … are you open to cold approaches from prospective employees? What makes you say “yes, we’re interested”?

I am always open to have a talk with someone. Given the type of industry we are working in we are constantly approached by people who want to work with us or a similar outfit. Obviously I can’t talk to everyone, but will make time for people who approach me in a professional way. I like it when someone emails me and then follows up with a phone call. It would be rare that we would have a need coincide when someone emails or calls so it’s important that people keep in broad touch over an extended time – say a few months. By keeping in touch it also shows me that they are serious, professional and may have the right attitude / temperament to work in this industry.

What is the most unusual way you have hired someone?

There was a young twelve year old who we knew through a church group we attended in Sydney. Quite often I would notice him fiddling with the church A/V and audion gear. He would be the kid that always had a camera in his hand filming church events concerts seminars etc. He moved to Canberra and we would only see him occasionally. One day I received a call from his mother asking if we would be interested in hiring him as a trainee for our production company as he had decided to drop out of school.

We agreed to put him on but he had to move to Sydney. Anyway, it ended up with him living with my family for six months and then settling into a flat with some friends. After being trained by a real task master in video editing, he ended up being a great asset to the business eventually becoming the company’s creative editor and technical person.

He left Sydney to get married to his sweetheart back in Canberra and now runs his own business in Canberra producing video’s and film clips for Government Departments.

There you go – two things worth remembering: the long haul pays off and there is more than one way to get a job within a specific industry and/or orgnanisation.

See you next time,

James E

James Evangelidis

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Tagged as: Beyond International, Frank Chidiac, long haul