National SEEK Star Awards.

A rising star in our Recruitment team has been named a finalist in the 2023 SEEK STAR Awards.

Michael Schipp, a Recruitment Officer with the training organisation, is one of five finalists from across the country vying for Talent Acquisition Rising Star of the Year.

Michael has been with our organisation for nearly three years and plays a key role sourcing candidates right across NSW to commence apprenticeships and traineeships with the organisation’s host employers.

Despite being relatively new to the recruitment space, Michael successfully placed more than 550 apprentices and trainees in just two and a half years, while also developing and implementing new strategies and processes to ensure candidate retention. This includes providing regular updates to keep candidates engaged and informed and supporting students with mock interviews and resume writing tips.

Michael said he was excited to be nominated for Seek Rising Star of the Year, which recognises all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes throughout the recruitment process.

“A lot of work goes into every vacancy to ensure we find the best person for the job,” he said.

“Some of our larger hosts attract 200-300 plus applications for their apprenticeships, so it can be very challenging and time consuming, but also very rewarding when you know you are helping job seekers to embark on fulfilling career paths.

“It is incredibly humbling to see people that I have recruited go on to achieve success in their careers, knowing I played a key role in getting them a foot in the door.”

CEO Sharon Smith said Michael’s personable approach to recruitment has allowed him to build rapport with both employers and candidates.

“Navigating the third-party model we operates under as a Group Training Organisation can be challenging. It also adds greater complexity to the recruitment process, ensuring we meet the needs and expectations of our host employers,” Ms Smith said.

“At any given time, Michael could be managing between 50-100 employers, depending on vacancy demands. Even now going into Christmas, our recruitment team are still working on 160 plus vacancies.

“Despite this, Michael has consistently received excellent feedback due to his constant communication, efficiency, constructive feedback and the innovative strategies he employs to find the right candidate for each vacancy.

 “For example, Michael assisted a female candidate to secure an apprenticeship after she had missed out on a role with another host. Recognising her potential, Michael connected her to another host, where she secured an apprenticeship and has done extremely well.

“Michael’s dedication to meeting both the needs of our clients, but also the wellbeing and aspirations of our candidates, is second to none.

“His exceptional skills in connecting candidates with promising job opportunities have been instrumental in boosting our talent pool, effectively nurturing a skilled workforce for the future.”

The STAR Awards acknowledge excellence in talent acquisition in Australia and celebrate the integral role individuals and talent teams play in the success of their organisations. This year’s Awards will be announced in Melbourne in March 2024.