International recruitment: what France taught me

Last week, I accompanied our client Projexia on an international recruitment mission to Paris during the annual event entitled “Québec Days”. Assisted by an SAP consultant, we conducted 35 very interesting interviews, of which 13 candidates rose to the rank of 1^erchoice. And this count doesn’t even include “plans B”. That’s how great an experience it was!

At the end of this process, our client will be able to hire 6 very promising new employees. Too good to be true ? It seems not.

This mission to France confirmed to me what I suspected: countries where the unemployment rate is not as low contain within their borders a gold mine of qualified, educated and refined candidates. All had diplomas and certifications in their discipline, a rich and sustained vocabulary, a high level of interest and preparation for the interview as well as a very professional and committed attitude. And that’s not to mention that they all had reasonable salary expectations! Let me tell you that the “wow” effect was there. In addition, the vast majority of candidates had acquired enviable experience, often even internationally, in addition to being bilingual with a very good level of English. But what planet had I fallen on? After more than 12 years specializing in recruitment in our beautiful province struggling with a growing labor shortage, I was overwhelmed by the success of this recruitment. It was literally exhilarating.

And our IT client was not alone: ​​the Thetford Mines manufacturing company sitting next to our table carries out international recruitment every year of qualified welder-assemblers whom it immigrates to Canada. According to them, not only are the candidates very interesting but their growth would not be possible without this immigration. And like us, they go straight to the source to hire them.

What France has taught me goes beyond the fact that they are full of qualified candidates ready to immigrate and work in Quebec. What France taught me is that Quebec is currently going backwards. The economic situation in Quebec reduces graduation rates and the general respect to be observed for one’s employer. During this trip, my partner Médina pointed out to me that there would be no labor shortage (and all its perverse effects) if people did not overconsume. Without overconsumption, companies would produce less (and the planet would be better off). Would it be possible to produce less in quantity and more in quality, and raise Quebec to the rank of world leader for products and services that are difficult to imitate?