When Jon Parker and Debbie Dern recruit employees for their clients, they don’t just place an ad in the newspaper and wait for résumés to pour in. Parker and Dern, senior vice president and CEO, respectively, of DJP Executive Search Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va., get out of the office to observe potential recruits in action. During a seminar on recruitment at the JCK Show ~ Phoenix, they encouraged jewelers to approach likely prospects in the field and offered these tips on what to look for:

• The person with unstoppable positive mental attitude, an eye for detail, and a passion for excellence.

• The person who cares a lot about his or her service and has a great personality. He or she could be a salesperson at a cosmetics counter, a bank teller, a waitress, or even a frequent customer. Keep your eyes open.

• The best-dressed and/or best-groomed person in a store who’s usually working a “money-making shift.” This person’s energy often has the effect of boosting the tempo among surrounding staff.

Once you’ve found a potential hire, ask him or her some questions on the spot, such as:

“Are you always this happy? What drives your positive attitude?” and “Why do you like to make others happy?” If the answers indicate a positive outlook on life and not just a one-day occasion for joy, then you may consider pursuing more specific questions such as, “Do you work full- or part-time? Are you in college? What are your thoughts regarding a career? Do you like jewelry? Have you ever thought about a career in jewelry?” If the responses are intriguing, you may want to consider inviting this person to your store for a formal interview.

For more information about DJP Executive Search and its services, contact Parker or Dern at (757) 721-6545 or visit www.djpexecutivesearch.com.