Shell Reaps Benefits of Global Recruitment Strategy

Firms need to find out what candidates are looking for

By Stephenie Overman

Publication date: 19 December 2005
Source: PM Online

Global recruitment initiatives can be transferred to markets around the world while remaining culturally sensitive to local needs, according to Sherri Sheehy, Shell's recruitment manager for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia.

Speaking at the Global Recruiting Forum in Brussels, Sheehy told delegates that Shell's recruitment system was aligned around the world so that it could treat candidates with "equal fairness".

She advised companies to develop a global marketing strategy with strong employer branding to give job candidates a clear impression of the firm. "Companies need to ask themselves: 'What do we know about our candidates? Can we offer them what they are looking for?'" she said.

Although there are advantages to working with one global brand and recruitment process, Sheehy said there could be "creative tension" between headquarters. "You have to be careful not to be too US-oriented or eurocentric when dealing with departments in other regions of the world," she said.