Maximize your recruitment in Quebec
The keys to finding qualified employees with Forstaff, an employment agency specializing in healthcare, housekeeping and day labor in northern regions.
The Quebec job market is in a state of flux, forcing recruiters to continually adapt to find and retain qualified candidates. This is particularly true in demanding sectors such as health care (nurses, home care aides, orderlies), housekeeping, or day labor in northern regions. Finding a reliable, competent and motivated workforce is no easy task, especially when it comes to positions where quality of work, availability and adaptability are key criteria.
It’s in this context that Forstaff, a Quebec-based employment agency, stands out. Specializing in targeted recruitment, the agency offers personalized support to help companies find the best candidates, whether they be healthcare professionals, housekeepers or day laborers accustomed to the sometimes extreme conditions of northern regions.
In this article, we present strategies and best practices for optimizing your recruitment in collaboration with Forstaff. Whether you’re a seasoned recruiter or just starting out, these tips will help you improve the quality of your hires, save time and build lasting relationships with your new recruits.
Understanding the specific needs of your sector
Before looking to fill a position, it’s essential to clearly define the skills, experience and qualities required. Requirements vary considerably from one field to another. In the healthcare sector, a nurse needs to have a high level of clinical skills, empathy, stress resistance and adaptability. A home care aide needs to be patient, caring and well-organized, while an orderly needs to combine listening skills with technical knowledge.
On the housekeeping side, reliability, efficiency, discretion and attention to detail are paramount. The ability to comply with strict sanitary standards, to work independently and to offer consistent service is particularly valued. For daily work in northern regions, physical stamina, flexible hours, the ability to work in difficult climatic conditions and a certain resourcefulness are essential.
By taking the time to define your needs, you can share a precise profile of your ideal candidate with Forstaff, making it much easier to pre-select suitable profiles.
Rely on Forstaff's expertise
The main advantage of working with Forstaff is being able to draw on the expertise and experience of a team of recruitment professionals. The agency has a vast and diversified network of candidates, from healthcare specialists to housekeeping staff and day laborers ready to operate in northern areas. Thanks to this diversity, you save precious time: no need to spend hours sifting through CVs, Forstaff is already filtering out the best candidates for you.
The agency is with you every step of the way, from needs analysis to pre-selection, skills assessment, reference checks and post-employment follow-up. This means you benefit from personalized support tailored to your expectations, all the more valuable in sectors where demand can fluctuate rapidly or where skilled labor is in short supply.
Define a strong employer brand
To attract the best people, it’s essential to enhance your employer brand. Healthcare professionals, housekeepers and day laborers are no longer simply looking for a job: they’re looking for a workplace where they can thrive, be recognized and grow.
Start by highlighting your advantages: opportunities for ongoing training, prospects for career development, flexible working hours, social benefits, recognition for a job well done, and a friendly working atmosphere. In the healthcare sector, emphasize the quality of your medical team, modern equipment and the importance attached to patient and staff well-being. For housekeeping, emphasize the stability of the job, the importance of hygiene, the collaboration with close-knit teams. As for the daily work in northern regions, present the exciting challenges, the cohesion of teams in the field and the unique aspect of working in an atypical environment.
By strengthening your employer brand, you make it easier for Forstaff to present you with candidates who are genuinely motivated by your value proposition.
Refine your selection criteria
Even if you’ve drawn up a profile of your ideal candidate, it’s important to be open and flexible. In the healthcare field, a professional with a little less experience but who is particularly motivated and willing to learn can quickly become a major asset. Likewise, in housekeeping, a person with a strong sense of service and rigor, even if they haven’t held a similar position for many years, can adapt quickly if you offer them the right training.
For day laborers in northern regions, experience in the field is an asset, but determination, an ability to learn and a willingness to work in demanding conditions can compensate for a lack of seniority in the field.
In discussion with Forstaff, you’ll be able to determine which criteria are really essential and which can be relaxed, so you don’t miss out on potential quality candidates.
Develop an efficient recruitment process
A well-structured recruitment process is crucial to attracting, evaluating and retaining the best candidates. Forstaff can support you in this process, helping you to define the various stages: pre-selection of CVs, telephone interviews, technical assessments or psychometric tests, reference checks and final interviews.
For positions in the healthcare sector, an assessment of clinical skills or situational scenarios may be useful to gauge responsiveness and the quality of care provided. In housekeeping, tests of product knowledge, cleaning techniques and time management may be relevant. For daily work in northern regions, an assessment of physical fitness, resistance to cold or adaptability can make all the difference.
By establishing a clear, consistent and transparent process, you show candidates that you’re a serious, organized company, committed to recruiting in the right way.
The importance of integration and retention
Post-recruitment is a stage that is all too often neglected. Once a candidate has been hired, it’s vital to put in place a solid integration plan. Offer them a warm welcome, introduce them to the team, clarify their responsibilities and make sure they have the resources they need to succeed. Whether it’s a newly-hired nurse, housekeeper or day laborer, a well-orchestrated integration will make a huge difference to their long-term commitment and motivation.
In the healthcare sector, ongoing training and psychological support can help maintain a high level of excellence. For housekeeping, regular training on hygiene standards and new cleaning techniques will improve the quality of work and staff satisfaction. In northern regions, logistical support, adequate accommodation and regular monitoring of employee satisfaction will help reduce turnover.
Forstaff can support you by providing advice on integration and post-hire follow-up, so that your recruitment efforts produce lasting results.
Focus on flexibility and adaptability
Staffing requirements vary according to the time of year, project developments and fluctuations in demand. In the healthcare sector, an influx of patients may require the rapid recruitment of an additional nurse. In housekeeping, a one-off contract may require the temporary hiring of several employees. In northern regions, seasonal work sites or particular climatic conditions can generate sudden needs.
Forstaff allows you to remain flexible by adjusting the size of your teams over time. The agency can anticipate peaks in activity, labor shortages and offer you tailor-made solutions.
Deepening the relationship with Forstaff
More than just a supplier, consider Forstaff as a strategic partner in your HR policy. By maintaining a relationship of trust, you’ll enhance the quality of the profiles suggested and the speed of the recruitment process. Keep Forstaff informed of your company’s development, upcoming projects and future needs, so that it can anticipate and refine its searches.
The more you communicate and share your comments on the candidates presented, the more Forstaff will be able to understand your expectations and adapt its search. This long-term synergy will enable you to build a stable, efficient team that perfectly matches your values.
Conclusion
Recruiting healthcare professionals, housekeepers or day laborers for northern regions is a major challenge in today’s Quebec context. The scarcity of skilled labor, the sometimes complex working conditions and the need to adapt quickly call for a methodical, rigorous and personalized approach.
With Forstaff, you benefit from comprehensive support: analysis of your needs, pre-selection of candidates, skills assessment, post-hiring follow-up. By putting into practice the advice presented in this article – nurturing your employer brand, refining your criteria, establishing an effective recruitment process, integrating and retaining – you’ll maximize your chances of finding the employees who will contribute to the success and longevity of your company, whatever the challenges ahead.