From Teaching . . . To Recruitment

The Age

Saturday September 6, 2008

Yvonne Nicolas

Like Premier John Brumby and before him, Steve Bracks, Tom Stafford started out as a school teacher before working his way up the ladder in another arena. Now, he manages a recruitment agency.

IT'S about providing quality leadership, Tom Stafford believes. "I am not comfortable on public display," he says, "nor do I wish to have a career in politics. But I am a strong advocate for either speaking up or shutting up, not sniping in the background. Factionalism, towing the 'party line' and the adversary style of our political system does not bring out the best in leaders."

When I started out as a primary school teacher I would never have thought I would be doing what I am today."

Mr Stafford was recently appointed general manager of hospitality recruitment agency Cordon Bleu, where he manages day-to-day operations. "I get to set and measure objectives, goals and activities of staff to assist business growth," he says."

We specialise in placing temporary and permanent people within the hospitality and services industry, which includes filling emergency positions on as short as an hour's notice for a waiter, chef or kitchen hand. It could be for a large sporting venue, banking sector boardroom, or aged-care facility."

He says working in the hospitality industry is very much about people, which he loves."

I work with clients and candidates to place them in management and executive management roles."

Mr Stafford has had previous jobs with hospitality industry associations and motel operators, which gave him an understanding of the industry. "Sometimes it felt like I was reporting to the headmaster and I'm sure my teaching skills came into play there, where I had to report to two boards and a separate management team."

You never lose the skills you learn and you never know where they take you."

Since his departure from teaching, he says each new role has had different demands and specific learning curves. "For me, it has always been about challenge and growth. It is not worth moving to a role that is similar and does not allow you to cultivate new skills, knowledge and attitude."

According to Mr Stafford, there are core competencies that are critical to all careers - in particular an ability to communicate across different mediums."

Negotiating and influencing others is critical to career success - which I am continuing to expand upon in my current role - but these are skills learnt throughout life."

Mr Stafford also worked with TAFE and a private learning provider."

My background experience gave me pretty much most of what I need to make a success of what I am now doing. It's about listening carefully to what people want, which is what being a teacher gave me. It is critical that the message is pitched in such a way that it is understood."

This is particularly pertinent in this world of electronic communications that abbreviates and impersonalises, which can lead to miscommunication."

As a teacher, you learn to read people, so you read their actions, body language and anticipate questions. This was particularly helpful in a busy restaurant where staff would be surprised their request to go to the bathroom was refused before they asked! "Seeing the world from others' points of view gives you answers on how to manage and bring out the best in people - or move them on. Too often, people fail slowly and management does not take an active position to assist."

-- YVONNE NICOLAS

© 2008 The Age

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