Case Study
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Q&A:
Darwalla
Hiring challenges before Expr3ss!
E.
What were the primary challenges Darwalla faced before adopting Expr3ss!?
K.
Our primary challenges were based around inconsistency and not being able to compare applicants easily and effectively. We would get all of these random applications from various sources and then try to compare each application to work out who was the best applicant for each role. I think realistically, more often than not, it was probably the applications that happened to be at the top of the pile that were shortlisted, rather than the best applicant for the role. So more a case of first in best dressed, or who was front of mind at the time
E.
Describe your recruitment process prior to using Expr3ss!?
K.
It was very much a manual process. Spreadsheets, individually contacting candidates via phone and email, that kind of thing. We certainly had some process behind it, but very much a manual, labour intensive exercise
E.
Where did you experience the most direct costs in recruitment?
K.
Recruitment agencies fees, paid job ads such as Seek advertising and simply the very manual side of our process at the time, going through individual applications and physical resumes, were the most costly areas of our recruitment process.
We've always used recruitment agencies on occasion, for specific jobs, so we had an added expense there. Poultry is a really specific industry when it comes to recruitment. So it can be difficult even now, because poultry workers can be very hard to find and aren't necessarily online, going on job sites all the time. That is where an agency comes in. Often those candidates require a tap on the shoulder from an agency that has candidates with this experience on their books.
E.
Why did Darwalla decide to implement Expr3ss!?
K.
I was first introduced to Expr3ss! at a Family Business Association event. I worked side by side with the lady that did recruitment for us at the time.
I saw Expr3ss! as an opportunity for Darwalla, as we were expanding in our farms at the time and so was our recruitment. We were focusing our efforts around wanting to attract a more quality workforce
Our work sites are remote from where we're based at our office, so it was becoming clear that we were needing some sort of platform to assist us in attracting that quality workforce. Also to assist us in managing the recruitment requirements for those multiple remote sites, so that we could share information easily across the different managers on different sites and provide the capability to connect remotely and easily.
Expr3ss! provides us the flexibility to have the majority of our managers manage their requirements directly in the platform. For some managers, depending on how computer savvy they may be and what sort of level of control they want, we have the ability to simply download the applicants’ summary report and email it to that manager directly for review. So, we've got that flexibility.
Expr3ss! supports a uniform process across multiple sites and allows all of our team across those multiple sites to see all of the candidate information and work together.
Darwalla is a family business and we want to put that personal touch on everything we do, from our product, with our people and our engagement with our applicants.
Kate Benfer
Former People and Culture Manager, Darwalla
Time-saving features
E.
Which Expr3ss! features do you find the most beneficial?
K.
Our Screening Questions in Expr3ss! make it so easy to screen out unsuitable applicants at a glance, even without clicking into their application.
We can easily see if applicants possess our must-have criteria for the role, or if they have answered negatively to any key criteria we have set.
Since many of our roles are based in regional areas, the Google mapping feature in Expr3ss! enhances transparency and planning, which helps with fair and practical hiring decisions. It’s there to support our process, rather than forming the basis of selection.
The mapping tool also makes it easier to have open conversations with candidates about travel times and what the role really involves. That way, both sides can make well-informed choices, leading to better and longer-lasting employment outcomes.
By showing location details visually, the mapping tool helps us plan more effectively and make sure we’re aligning the needs of both Darwalla and the candidate for lasting success
It’s just one of several tools in Expr3ss! that helps us hire in a fair, responsible and informed way.
E.
Which Expr3ss! features have helped reduce the time spent on recruitment tasks and speed up your time-to-hire?
K.
It’s really having all of the applicants information in the one easy to read, easy to compare in-place via our View Applicants page. I don’t even need to click into anything, I can simply hover over a particular piece of an applicant's information and so quickly and easily compare applicants suitability. Information such as, has this applicant applied for a role with Darwalla before? Where are they located compared to the site which they have applied for? Do they possess all of the “must have” skills and criteria we have asked in our Screening Questions? What are their salary expectations compared to the salary on offer for the role?
We have created customised benchmarks in Expr3ss! from our exemplary team members, which allows us to see how an applicant compares to our team in terms of our culture and the behaviours which we know lead to success in our organisation.
Another key time saving feature for us in the Self Serve Interview Calendar. You can spend a significant amount of time and energy chasing applicants to book in to interview.
The Interview Calendar feature in Expr3ss! allows us to schedule interview timeslots and invite candidates with the click of a button.
The candidates then book themselves into our calendar and can message with us if any updates or changes are required. Purely for the ease of use and the amount of time the Interview Calendar saves, it is a fantastic feature for us.
E.
Which Expr3ss! features help you identify high-quality candidates more easily?
K.
When we’re hiring for certain roles such as People and Culture roles, Learning and Development roles, Head of Department roles etc, the ShowReel Video feature in Expr3ss! is a great way of gaining additional insights into candidates and highlighting those high-quality applicants.
It's so quick and easy to submit an application in Expr3ss! that you can find yourself with a high volume of applications.
Asking a candidate to submit a ShowReel Video means that they then often need to think deeper about the role itself and perhaps they may need to do some additional research on our business.
It lets the candidate know they are likely being considered for the role as we are requesting this additional information and it provides us additional insights when making decisions for key roles, so it really does help to highlight those high quality candidates.
White glove customer service
E.
How does Expr3ss! support your communication with applicants?
K.
Having our customised email templates in Expr3ss! and being able to email our candidates in bulk in particular is a big support for us when it comes to communicating with our candidates. The candidate experience is really important to us. It reflects on Darwalla as a business and it's equally important for the candidates who are unsuitable for roles they have applied for with us. Those candidates are still in the workforce, more than likely in our industry and they will still talk about our business.
So the ability to communicate with all of our candidates in bulk via Expr3ss! enables us to communicate effectively, respectfully and promptly.
E.
The Darwalla team uses Expr3ss!Sign during the onboarding process. How does this assist the overall recruitment process?
K.
When we receive the accepted letter back to us, we have it available with all of the candidates’ application information for review before they start which is very convenient, also just the time saved being able to quickly send the letter off electronically, not having to sign, scan and physically store documents. Previously we would have emailed it to the candidate and often they would complete it on their first day at work. Sometimes we might have needed a different signature, sometimes we would have to chase it up - so the process was a bit hit and miss previously, whereas now it's seamless.
We send our letter of offer via Expr3ss!Sign in Expr3ss! and it’s fantastic.
E.
What has been your experience with the Expr3ss! Customer Service?
K.
I really like that when you email one of the Expr3ss! team and they are on leave, your email is automatically forwarded to a colleague for action, and they actually get back to you, fast!
The Expr3ss! team is just so responsive, whether you email them, you give them a call, or you use LiveChat.
Final thoughts
E.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
K.
Darwalla is a family business and we want to put that personal touch on everything we do, from our product, with our people and our engagement with our applicants.
