PURSUITS 2011! - Business Education Council of Niagara

JOHN DANIEL
Recruitment Manager
Meridian Credit Union
As one of Canada’s largest credit unions, Meridian delivers a full range of financial services to individuals and
businesses in Ontario. We serve 220,000 Members and 10,500 businesses through 45 neighbourhood branches,
eight commercial business centres and two corporate offices.
Meridian is one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, with over 70 years of banking history, $6 billion total assets under
management, and approximately 1,000 employees.
What are the best ways for job seekers to approach your business
Are you looking for a career We can help you build your career by developing partnerships with your community
and our Members. If job postings are available, you can usually apply to them through:
• www.meridiancu.ca: Access the “Careers” section and apply through an interactive online tool
• Social Networking: LinkedIn.com
• External Job Boards: Workopolis.com, Monster.ca and industry-specific websites
If you’re interested in a Member Services Representative position, you can also personally drop your resume and
cover letter off at a branch location that you’re interested in working at. Be prepared for an on-the-spot informal
interview. First impressions are important; ensure you’re dressed appropriately!
How often do you hire and how do you recruit
At Meridian, we hire all year round. We have two Corporate Offices, and 45 branches that we support.
These are the main avenues in which we approach the hiring process:
• Internal posting: Employees are given the opportunity to apply internally for a position, which encourages career
advancement within the Company.
• Employee referrals: Do you know anybody that works at Meridian Employee referrals are an incentive program
for employees to refer quality external candidates. Many of our new employees are recruited through this program.
• Careers page: As mentioned, we also use our Careers page on www.meridiancu.ca as a major tool to recruit new
employees. This allows us to tap into a broader range of external talent when searching for the perfect candidate.
This is our most popular vehicle, even attracting international applicants that offer unique experience and abilities.
What are some of the key areas you consider when hiring
Each position we hire for requires a unique set of skills. Overall we’re looking for employees that can grow and
develop at Meridian, while also embodying our values and culture. It is important that we find the right fit for the
organization, including candidates who are:
• Proactive with a willingness to learn
• Able to engage customers on a higher level
• Passionate about people, and their work
• Interested in volunteering in their community, if they don’t already actively participate in volunteer activities
• Forward thinkers, smart and savvy
Renée Rocheleau
Employment Services
Resource Coordinator
Business Education
Council of Niagara
What are the best ways for job seekers to approach your business
Despite what you may think or hope for, there is not ONE specific way that job seekers should approach employers.
The type of industry, hours of operation, and the personality of the employer all influence the way an employer
prefers to be approached.
If you don’t know…sometimes the best way to find out is simply to ask them. Of course that implies the
“first point” of contact which is often the hardest step to make. The fastest way to connect with an employer
is through the phone. Call them…ask them what they would prefer. They may tell you and leave you to follow up
as needed whether submitting a resume or completing an application or take the conversation to the next
level and inquire about your intentions.
The secret to get the most out of employers is to ask open-ended questions and then, just let them talk.
Not only will they tell you the best way to approach them, they may also tell you how they specifically
go about hiring with their company and give you tips to help you get to the next hiring stage.
How often do employers hire and how do they recruit
Employers hire more often than people realize. In response to internal changes within the business and external
changes such the economic climate, companies need to change as their business needs change which includes
their staffing requirements.
Employers choose a method of hiring that is easiest, least intrusive, and cost-effective. They often look at the
people around them as their first step to filling a position. They approach others to see if someone they already
know would be a perfect candidate for the position.
This may include:
• Present / Past Employees or Volunteers
• Fellow Employers / Managers
• Friends or Family Members
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