HRM was founded in 2005, Sally Desch opened a recruitment and human resource agency – HRM –  with just a fax machine, laptop and $10k. The HRM team is now 6 with a combined 70 years’ experience.  Sally’s company has preferred supplier arrangements with some of the Sunshine Coast largest employers including Sunshine Coast Council.

To service the emerging needs of their clients, HRM is constantly engaged in creating additional services such as workshops for candidate training, to provide an advantage for their clients.

With Over 1500 clients and a talent pool of over 4000 candidates placed in jobs, HRM has become the most successful labour hire and human resource company on the Sunshine Coast.
HRM were the winners of the Professional Services Category (Small Business) at the Sunshine Coast Business Awards in 2019.

Sally, where did your love for recruiting and people management come from?

I have always worked in roles that involved people. My first true recruiting role was with a specialised agency recruiting for Local Government throughout QLD.This is where my passion for recruiting really took hold.I love assisting employers and employees find the perfect match in each other – I still get a buzz out of a placement.I also have a passion for businesses getting the best out of the people that they have.

Based on your experience in Human Resource Management, what is one tip that you would give to employers to improve relationships within their team?

Communication – if things are going well – let them know.If they aren’t going very well – let them know.

Tell us about some of the highs and challenges you face as a business owner…

Highs – definitely seeing what I have built from nothing.
Relationships – I have friendships that started as a client or candidate relationship
Doing what I love every day – it is a little like match-making!

Challenges – like most of my Clients staff can be a challenge for small business owners – you have to invest in them, like all things you need to nurture and grow your people.
Never being able to turn off – I am always thinking about something!

What is the key to employee engagement?

We are all striving for motivated engaged employees. I believe the keys to achieving this are – Leadership, Communication and Culture.I read a quote years ago that I love – “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept” – we set the Culture of our organisations.

Do you think it is important to be active in the local business community?

Absolutely, and it’s not just important, but a responsibility.I am very passionate about our local business community and become involved any chance I get. It is all about building relationships and getting to know our local business and our local talent.

And what’s next on the agenda for Sally Desch?

My mind never stops thinking about opportunities however this year is going to be a year of consolidation and more family time!

Favourite movie and why? 

Pretty Woman – I love the fairy tale.

Guilty pleasure?

Oh gosh, I have a few… red wine, chocolate and a pot of tea sitting on my back deck

What family activity do you enjoy?

Bike riding and mountain climbing I have two young children so life is always busy

Where is the best place that you have travelled to and why? 

Last Christmas we went to Lapland in Finland – Santa’s home town – it was Magical!

To find out more about Sally head to 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-desch-94587618/

or Facebook
@hrmcontracting