Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

ALAN SUGAR’S SCORN IS RECRUITMENT BLUNDER SAYS TOP PROFESSIONAL RECRUITER

BBC’s The Apprentice brings out worst in job candidates says MD of recruiter Nigel Lynn

BBC’s The Apprentice, which returns for a new series this week, has been credited with making the recruitment process an entertaining spectacle for young, would-be entrepreneurs. However, recruitment experts suggest Sugar’s harsh tactics only serve to bring out the worst in candidates, and his eventual ‘you’re hired’ decision favours only the person who can survive weeks of one-upmanship and back-stabbing as a result of the unnecessary pressure put on the group. “I doubt Mr Sugar’s own firm use any process such as the one on the programme – if they did they would be in court 24/7 and have absolutely no staff,” says Steve Carter, MD of financial recruitment specialists Nigel Lynn, part of the Premier Group, “The Apprentice certainly makes great viewing but it is hardly representative of how recruitment really works.”

“The ‘are you hard enough’ approach employed on the show is not a fair or appropriate way to select individuals for a role,” Carter continues, “In fact last year’s winner is testament to that fact.” The successful candidate from the last series, Michelle Dewberry, lasted only a matter of months at Amstrad before it became clear she was not at all suitable for the role.

Recruiting the correct candidate can be a difficult prospect, and being able to distinguish between the future champions and pretenders is a real challenge, where the cost of getting it wrong can be huge. Consequently, observing potential employees in a real-life situation can be a true test of individual strengths. “The leadership and teamwork scenarios in the show are better” Carter suggests, “Because they create situational examples of people’s skills, business style and communicational abilities.”

“Thinking correctly under pressure is clearly important, but the unrealistic scenarios portrayed are a throw-back to the past,” Carter continues, “Indeed many of today’s managers tell stories of woe in their professional upbringing.” Previous episodes have seen the job-seekers on the receiving end of a grilling worthy of the Spanish Inquisition from an unnecessarily antagonistic interview panel, and reduced to selling rotten fruit door-to-door in an effort to defeat their opponents.

“Being able to sell ‘ice to Eskimos’ is one thing,” Carter states, “persuading someone else to do it willingly, enjoy doing it and to seek to learn from their experience is quite another.”

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Nick Warren
BlueSky PR
Tel: 0845 1308290
Email: nick@bluesky-pr.net
www.bluesky-pr.net