“Do not lose your power. You are enough. Don’t let anyone tell you can’t,” were the words an employer gave Maria Batikas earlier this year when she advised her to strike out on her own.

These words were taken to heart, and she went out on her own to set up her own recruitment consultancy.

Batikas is building on the networks, screening potential employees to ensure that they upgrade skills and enhance their chances in the job market. She said the experience of the last few months is something others could benefit from.

The COVID lockdowns created a whole new set of dynamics in the work place.

“There are a lot of changes in industries and people” Bakitas said. “People who had businesses have been shutting down, we are now getting directors walking through the door looking for work and who are on benefits.”

She found that a lot of people “who were stuck in the office for a long time – particularly during lockdown –  want something different” and want to work outside the office.

“A lot of people looking for work do not know what support is out there for them,” said Batikas.

For example prospective employees may apply for clothing vouchers through their employment consultant to help make them more presentable at a job interview.

Or they can ask for driving lessons to make them more employable, or they could ask for fuel vouchers to help them get to a job interview.

“There are many services out there to offer support and I can help people access them,” she said

Batikas left school as a rebellious 15-year-old and trained in hairdressing. The long hours of standing and bending took their toll on her back so she took up a Certificate III business and office administration course which opened the way for her to work at Ames Australia as an employment consultant.

Her father Yiannis Toras who came to Australia in his 20s, made his living as a painter. Her mother, Stella, who is from Sudan, was 19 when she came to Australia on the Patris.

“I had ambitions to become an actress, and I became one when I was young,” Batikas said.
She met Leonidas Batikas and they had three children. “I became a stay-at-home mum and I did the accounts for his business.”

When their son Andrea, now 15, became ill with an auto-immune disease, she spent seven years looking after him until it went into remission, all the while looking after daughter Estelle, 13 and their youngest Yiannis who is six.

Once the family found equilibrium, Batikas returned to work. She joined Estée Lauder as counter manager responsible for a team of 12 and earned a certificate in retail management.”I learnt much, presentation is critical because you are your own brand,” said Batikas.

During the pandemic she worked remotely, and it wasn’t easy. Four months ago she decided that it was time to go out on her own.
She bought a laptop, software that sets up the legal framework and registered her business. Building a client list is her priority.

She visits employers and finds out on site how the business operates and how potential employee fit.
“I have personalised my business, I need to understand the environment if I am to find the right person for the role. I also need to talk to the candidates to find out what they really want.

“Individuals looking for work can come to me and we build up a relationship with them and I will find them the right job. It is always good to have a relationship with an employment consultant as it is a role that is more than just about recruiting people.

“We are in a time of big change, cost of living is rising but there is support out there for people doing it tough,” she said.

For more information visit: https://mbrecruitment.com.au/