Wild Dreams Update & Insights

As another year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on all that has happened at Wild Dreams and share some exciting updates.

 

We are constantly evolving and innovating, and we are thrilled to announce the launch of new services!

  • Firstly, we are now offering staff training. Our expert training team is located throughout South Africa and covers various departments. We provide detailed manuals and certificates for all trained team members. You can find more information on our training page HERE.
  • In addition, our founder Hayley has become a certified career coach. She offers a range of coaching sessions tailored to the individual, from interview preparation to holistic career clarity. If you’re interested, you can learn more on our career coaching page HERE.
  • We’ve also made some upgrades to our website, we hope you like the new look and feel.
  • Recently, we hosted the first global vegan hospitality and tourism conference in partnership with “Vegan Hospitality.” With 250 attendees from 40 different countries, it was a tremendous success. If you missed it, you can catch the replay HERE.
  • We have introduced new members to our team, including one based in Zambia. It’s exciting to have a presence outside of SA as we have many clients all over Africa.

 

The industry as a whole in 2023

We’re grateful to have played a part in the recovery from the pandemic and we’re proud of our resilience, as well as that of our clients. Together, we’ve overcome challenges and continue to thrive in the industry.

Recruitment has been a busy field, with many new companies entering the market. While we wish all start-ups success, we advise our clients to choose a select few recruitment companies to work with. By streamlining communication and building stronger relationships with these partners, you can ensure a better understanding of your needs and company culture. Trust is essential in any relationship, including that between client and recruiter. This approach leads to more transparency and a deeper commitment to fulfilling your hiring requirements.

Our executive team remains unchanged. Amore, our Recruitment Operations Manager, and her Assistant Manager Angie continue to oversee all recruitment processes. We’ve upgraded our recruitment database to enhance our services and our commitment to thorough candidate interviews and reference checks remains unchanged. We pride ourselves on matching candidates and clients based on proven expertise.

If you follow us on social media, you’ll notice our focus on company culture and values. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered a challenge with duplicate applications from different agencies. This unethical practice can lead to uncomfortable situations and a mismatch between candidates and roles.

We want to make sure you know that we do not submit candidates without their knowledge. During the pre-interview process, we make sure that candidates are happy to be submitted to your company and that there is a close match in requirements and values.

 

Recruitment tips for 2024

  • Transparency around salary packages is crucial for job seekers. Many candidates now expect this information to be clearly stated in job adverts. If you’re comfortable with sharing your salary packages, please let us know. Rest assured, your company name is never listed in our adverts.
  • It’s important to ensure your salaries are competitive and at least market-related. Two roles seeing significant increases are trail guides and senior chefs.
  • If you offer unique benefits to your staff, such as employee wellness days or performance bonuses, please inform us. These perks make your positions more attractive.
  • Long-term employees often seek accommodation that feels like home. If you provide accommodation as part of your package, please let us know what it’s like and where possible make your staff rooms as homely as possible, this doesn’t have to be a huge expense you can add small things like throws and cushions on a sofa or built a small fence to create a garden for a very small budget.
  • While we understand the urgency in finding great staff, it’s helpful to provide us with vacancy information as soon as possible. Keeping notice periods and leave cycles in mind, getting back to us promptly ensures that sought-after candidates aren’t snapped up by other companies. Additionally, keeping us informed about your time frame and availability for reviewing candidates and conducting interviews is appreciated.
  • Remote or hybrid work arrangements have become popular in many industries. Although this may not apply to every role in our industry, consider implementing this option for positions in reservations, finance, HR, or marketing/sales. It can attract job seekers seeking a better work-life balance.
  • Once your vacancies are closed or filled, please let us know. We want to maintain an up-to-date website to offer the best service to our candidates. Informing us promptly helps us focus on active roles and ensure efficiency in our processes.

 

Finally, we want to express our gratitude for everyone’s ongoing support. We are confident that 2024 will be the year of travel, and we look forward to continuing to support you and your team, whether through recruitment or training. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

 

Wishing you all the best for 2024!

The Wild Dreams Herd.