Recruitment and Selection Services

Over the past twelve years Merit Solutions has developed a client base of more than 25 government departments and local government authorities. We have undertaken an average of 30 selection assignments per month over the past four years. Work is performed to client requirements and delivered within a maximum timeframe of five working days (except for large exercises and panel imposed delays). Repeat bookings from existing clients and word of mouth referrals constitute our sole source of assignments. The level of service we deliver to clients is demonstrated by the fact that we have grown by an average of more than 10% per annum without ever undertaking any form of advertising.

Some significant examples to demonstrate the range of our previous experience working with large organisations include the following:

Sole Provider Status - Local Government Authority

Merit Solutions commenced working with one large SEQ Council approximately twelve years ago when we facilitated the initial recruitment of Call Centre consultants. The fact that we have retained this client and attained sole provider status for the 2006/09 contract, is testament to the level of service we deliver on a consistent basis. Our work across numerous Council Divisions, and at the Executive level, has resulted in our consultants developing an excellent understanding of Council recruitment and selection policy and how it operates in practice. Further evidence of our success has been the growth of our Council business, our relationship with the Recruitment Centre and understanding of the new recruitment model, repeat business, and new clients we have achieved over this period. Some examples of our Council work include:

Within Council, we have provided selection services for a wide range of general, administrative, professional and executive roles in areas such as natural environment and sustainability, licensing and compliance, development and regulatory services, customer and community services, transport and traffic, marketing and communications, infrastructure, plumbing services and information technology, to name just a few.

The work provided by our Directors and Principal Consultants to support SES and SOS panels is well known and regarded across all Council Divisions and the Central Recruitment Team.

Supporting a Change Program - Queensland Government Agency

Since its inception in 2007, Merit Solutions has been involved in the recruitment of staff to a significant reform program established within one agency. We assisted in the recruitment of the Program Director and subsequently some 12 positions ranging from Project Directors, Finance and Communication Managers to Executive Assistant. We also assisted in the planning and staging of the recruitment and have reviewed role statements, handled applicant enquiries, shortlisted fields and supported all elements of the selection processes as panel members and scribes.

Ongoing Engagements - Queensland Government Agencies

Merit Solutions is also regularly engaged by a number of Divisions within one large State Government Department to provide selection support including consultants who perform the dual role of independent panel members and "scribe". We have recently provided a full Executive Recruitment service to source an Executive Director at the SES level and are currently engaged in relation to similar assignments. Additional work for this Department includes ongoing shortlisting services, Selections Training, reviewing role descriptions, and developing a Departmental standard for selections.

Merit Solutions is also regularly engaged by a safety and health group within another Department to provide selection support services and independent panel members. In 1997, we worked as panel members and scribes in a major exercise selecting staff from Chief Inspector down to Inspection Officer in one of the technical branches. This was a major restructure that implemented the findings of a Royal Commission enquiry. Since then, we have worked with the technical and administrative staff. Over the past eight years, our consultants have been engaged to provide selection support for a range of other executive and non-executive appointments in the Department.

Inter-State Selections – Commonwealth Government Agency

A selection panel was conducting telephone interviews with panel members and applicants in different locations across two States. Our consultant, working in the role of “scribe”, was based in Brisbane, assisted in the maintenance of consistency across all interviews and prepared full selection documentation for the panel.

Annual Recruitment – Queensland Government Agency

Our consultant designed materials that assisted in streamlining the assessment of some 400 applications, the interview process for 74 applicants over 4 weeks and feedback to applicants. We also designed a work sample test for use in operational level selections and an in-basket exercise to use in the managerial level selections. A total of more than 30 vacancies across a range of positions and locations were filled.

Shortlisting – Compliance Roles

Our client required assistance to review more than 200 applications received for 5 vacancies. Merit Solutions developed benchmarks, assessed all applications and prepared detailed notes for review by the selection panel.

Independent Panel Members - Local Government Authority

Merit Solutions consultants have been employed as independent panel members for many selection panels for more than five years. We were selected to perform this service in response to client concerns about the impact of successful appeals and have been successful over that time in ensuring the consistent application of selection policy and practices.

Shortlisting – Senior Executive Service

Following the advertising of an SES role in the Department's senior management team, the Director-General engaged Merit Solutions to provide initial assistance in shortlisting the strong field of applicants who had applied. Our consultant offered an independent perspective and reviewed all applications. An initial assessment including a summary of the CV's and brief evaluative comments was provided to inform the final panel decision about which applicants to interview. This facilitated a timely process with interviews able to be conducted soon after close of applications.

Restructure – Queensland Government Central Agency

A major restructure introduced a generic approach to job design and selection. 70 positions at 6 levels were filled after consideration of 300 applicants. Merit Solutions worked collaboratively with HR staff to co-ordinate the total exercise, provided consultants as independent panel members for each panel and completed referee checks and selection documentation for all positions. Three consultants worked on this project which was co-ordinated by a Director of Merit Solutions. Our consultants were congratulated on their professional service and timely outcomes achieved while senior executives and line managers were able to concentrate on agency deliverables.

Work Sample Tests - Local Government Authority

Merit Solutions consultants have developed work sample tests for use in selections for Town Planners, Development Officers, IT consultants and Compliance Officers. Better selection outcomes have been achieved through the use of relevant selection tools.

HR Restructure & Recruitment – Commonwealth Government Agency

A National restructure of HR roles within a major federal agency was managed from the Brisbane Office; Merit Solution Consultants provided administrative and specialist support to ensure quality documentation and feedback to applicants. Security of information and high standards of quality were critical as well as supporting systems for decision-making processes. As an internal process the credibility of decisions was supported by the involvement of external selection expertise from Merit Consultants.

Assessment of Redeployees - Queensland Government Agencies

Our consultants are familiar with the process and experienced in the application of OPS Directive 4/02 to the assessment of suitability. We have worked with a number of selection panels and documented outcomes in accordance with OPSME requirements.

Innovative Shortlisting Process - Queensland Government Central Agency

The agency wished to obtain a stronger applicant pool and encourage more applications from outside the government sector. Applicants submitted a CV and our consultants conducted a 15 minute phone interview as a screening device. Reviews of the process provided positive comments in relation to the quality of the field of applicants interviewed.

Graduate Recruitment - Queensland Government Agency

Merit Solutions was engaged to support the Agency's annual graduate recruitment program. Our consultant conducted an initial shortlist, participated as a panel member and documented the final recommendations.

Compliance Roles - Commonwealth Government Agency

Within the Federal government, this agency is particularly conscious of information security and process consistency in recruitment of professionals dealing with numerous and high-profile clients. Robust and open merit based selection is critical for high standards and professionalism within employment and in service delivery. Merit Solution's consultants contribute both fundamental HR standards and perceived transparency in selection processes.

Sensitive Selections - Queensland Government Agencies

Our consultants are frequently engaged as independent panel members for sensitive selections. We are experienced in ensuring adherence to proper merit selection processes, transparent documentation and the management of adverse referee comments in accordance with the OPSME Directive.

Identified/Specified Positions – Queensland Government Agencies

Merit Solutions is regularly engaged to provide independent panel members and professional selection support to panels selecting for Identified and Specified positions. We are experienced in communicating with applicants and referees from Indigenous communities and in working collaboratively with Indigenous panel members and panel chairs.

Independent Panel Members – Professional and Technical Roles

This Queensland Government Agency has a strong professional and technical workforce spread throughout Queensland. Merit Solutions consultants provide expert selection advice, coordinate selection processes and ensure gender balance on selection panels while also preparing excellent selection reports.

Other recent clients include the Australian Taxation Office, Child Support Agency, Department of Corrective Services, Department of Communities, Department of Education and the Arts, Department of Employment and Training, Department of Family and Community Services, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of Housing, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Disability Services Queensland and Queensland Treasury.