Is HR Passport an employment agency?

Employment/recruitment agencies find employees on behalf of their clients/employers. Therefore, their fee is paid by the client/employer, when job vacancies are filled. Job vacancies may have particularities, for instance they may refer to part-time or fixed-term employment and in many cases the employment contract is signed between the employee and the recruitment agency, not the employer. At HR Passport, we focus exclusively on the best interest of the candidate and we critically advise him/her on issues, such as job search, employer choice, salary negotiations, work contract and employment rights. Our services aim at providing integrated and personalized advice on job ads sources, job search and social networking methods, in order to adequately prepare the candidates to find the job they want.

Is the content of our discussions during career coaching or the other HR Passport services confidential?

Totally! Trust is a key factor to our success. We apply in practice the Code of Ethics of the International Coach Federation (http://www.coachfederation.org/ethics) and the relevant legislation (Law 2121/1993 on intellectual property, Law 2472/97 on the protection of the individual with regards to the processing of personal data, Law 3471/2006 on the protection of private life in the field of electronic communications, Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission's regulations, regulations of all other responsible public or certified private parties, the relevant provisions of the Community Law and international legislation, as incorporated in the Greek Law or existing on top of the Greek Law).

How different is the CV HR Passport prepares from a CV sample found on the Internet?

The Internet is a source of broad information on many issues; however, it does not provide a personalized approach, which can make the candidate stand out in the job market. Our experience and the methods we have developed allow us to identify, through personal contact with the candidate, which points should be highlighted or omitted and how to design a well-organized and best-selling CV. In almost all of the cases, the concept of the new CV is totally different from the old one, surprising positively the candidates.

"Interview Preparation" means you teach the candidate what to say during the interview?

Our goal is to help the candidate understand the logic underlying the interview and the role of the interviewer, and to form his/her own answers, in order to be authentic; authenticity plays a crucial role in the positive evaluation of an interviewee. We exchange views and coach the candidate, while maintaining the approach "we learn how to fish, not how to eat fish".

Why do you videotape the interview?

A picture is worth a thousand words! This method is widely used by career coaching agencies abroad; in Greece HR Passport is the pioneer. It is very important for the candidate to watch, frame by frame, what he/she is saying and how it is being expressed. In this way, both strengths and areas for improvement are clearly demonstrated and better understood by the candidate, allowing him/her to work on them in a more targeted way.

How can career coaching help me in a way I cannot help myself?

Career coaching relies on the basic principle that inside us lay all the answers to the dilemmas and hesitations we are experiencing. We know our strong points, we know the decisions we need to take, but we are often unable to see them, influenced by other factors, mainly our fears. Through dialogue, powerful questions and creative exercises, an experienced and trained career coach acts as a co-player in identifying the answers, just like every expert in his/her field.

How much time does it take for career coaching to be effective?

Coaching is an action-oriented approach, aiming at direct change, without wasting any time. The timing and pace of change is different for each individual. If a person is willing and committed to his/her self-improvement, then the progress is steady and quick.

Why isn't the Career Orientation service based on widely used psychometric tests?

Without doubt, there are several respectable psychometric tools in the market. In HR Passport, we have developed psychometric tests, drawing from a wide range of theoretical concepts. However, we are cautious with strict categorization and mechanistic match patterns, and thus use them only as a supportive tool. We do not believe that 1+1 necessarily equals 2, when it comes to important life decisions. Using creative exercises and dialogue, we explore the personality of each pupil, we help the pupil realize his/her true talents and dreams and plan the next actions accordingly.

What differentiates HR Passport from the relevant services?

HR Passport combines many years of experience in the market with solid academic expertise in the field; this has allowed the company to develop its own methodology and to constantly improve it. Nevertheless, the people of HR Passport make the difference with their personalities, their vision, their out-of-the-box thinking and their drive to really be there and help.

end faq

How do you assess ROI (Return on Investment) of your training programmes?

ROI assessment depends on the goal and content of each workshop. It can be measured by specific action plans designed from the participants and by monitoring their progress; by linking the training with the corporate performance appraisal system or with specific quantitative and qualitative objectives; finally, by individual or group coaching sessions that take place sometime after the completion of the workshops. There is a variety of ideas and best practices to choose from with the company-client.

In times of crisis, isn't executive coaching a luxury?

Quite the contrary, taking into consideration that coaching aims at increasing individual, team and organizational effectiveness. In addition, coaching, when delivered strategically and consistently, enhances employee engagement. Especially during these turbulent times, executive coaching can act as a valuable teammate for executives, boosting their morale and promoting practical and creative solutions to current challenges; and due to all systems' inherent interaction, these interventions have a positive impact on the entire organization.

How is the company updated on the coachee's progress?

Trust and confidentiality lie at the core of coaching! No substantial discussions or progress can be made without them. At the same time, though, companies wish to receive feedback on emerging issues which are relevant to the individual and the organization. At HR Passport, through diagnosis and analysis, we give a total feedback on key themes that emerged from all meetings with different executives, retaining full anonymity; in the case of a single executive coachee, we co-decide from the beginning on the way feedback will be given after the completion of all sessions, in order to maintain a balance between confidentiality and briefing.

How can we persuade an executive to receive coaching?

It is very important to inform the executive on the meaning and benefits of coaching. Equally important is the first meeting with the potential coach and the "chemistry" between them – as in all personal and professional relationships. Our experience demonstrates that the most skeptical coachees often become the most passionate supporters of coaching!

end faq