A Sunshine Coast supermarket is taking an innovative approach to recruiting staff as it prepares to open its next store.
White’s IGA will create career paths and opportunities for 80 new staff and is seeking passionate people to head along to a recruitment drive for its new Forest Glen store.
As strong advocates of supporting the local community, store owners Roz and Michael White said the drive was a way to streamline the recruitment process.
The Forest Glen store will be the sixth White’s IGA on the Coast and expand the supermarket empire, which includes Baringa, Bli Bli, Peregian Beach, Mooloolah and Mount Coolum locations.
The news on the growing business comes just weeks after Everfresh IGA North Buderim, owned by Cornetts IGA, closed due to increased competition from nearby supermarket giant Coles.
Set to open in December, the new store will be looking to fill a range of range of full time, part time and casual positions at the recruitment day on October 8 from 9am to 1pm.
Ms White said roles will cover the grocery, delicatessen, produce, freezer/dairy, meat and bakery departments, plus customer service and an instore lifestyle shop.
The team will conduct on-the-spot interviews that allows potential applicants to share their expertise, experience and areas of interest within a few short minutes.
“We want people who have the right attitude, enjoy interacting with customers and are achievement oriented, this is a great opportunity to become part of the wider White’s IGA family,” Ms White said.
“We are well known for looking after our staff because we’ve built a strong ‘people first’ culture and this is reflected in the fact that we have a number of staff who have been with us for over a decade.
“No appointments are necessary, all we want people to do is to bring along their resume and a covering letter and tell us why they would like to join our friendly and dynamic team when we open.
“It’s the fourth time we have approached hiring in this way and it would have to be one of my favourite days of the year.
“It allows us to really connect with the people who will represent us, which doesn’t always come through on paper.
“These recruitment days help us to find truly special people who will complement our team.”
Karen Baker has been working with White’s IGA for several years and followed a pathway that has seen her go from an assistant to a department manager to carve out a career in retail.
“I started as a casual checkout operator and with the guidance and support of Roz and Michael I have taken on more responsibilities, undertaken tertiary level studies through the White’s career progression program and now I am their new store manager for White’s IGA Forest Glen,” Ms Baker said.
The White’s Group now employs more than 400 people and is always on the lookout for additional talent to join the team.
The recruitment drive is happening on location at the Forest Glen Village Centre at 354 Mons Road.
For more information visit the White’s IGA careers page.
