How is findHR4u different from other online registers for HR consultants and training and development specialists?
Other sites provide great support to HR and training consultants through their online communities, but don’t specifically focus on marketing members’ skills and experience to potential clients. findHR4u does provide support to members, and will do more as the site develops, but our main objective is to match HR consultants, personnel consultants, training and development consultants and specialists with organisations in their local area who could benefit from their skills and expertise.

Why don’t you find jobs for members or allow recruitment advertising?
There are lots of sites catering for job seekers as well as recruitment agencies in every town. In contrast, findHR4u provides a marketing opportunity for independent HR consultants and training specialists who are running their own consultancy practices. We don’t want to dilute that focus by dealing with individuals looking for jobs.

I’m not a CIPD member bit I’ve got years of relevant experience, why can’t I join findHR4u?
Membership of the CIPD is the leading qualification for people working in the field of HR, personnel, training and development and adds credibility to independent consultants and training specialists seeking client organisations. The institute recognises that many experienced people may not be prepared to sit exams to qualify for membership and there is a route through Professional Assessment of Competence (PAC) into chartered membership. Or you could join as an Affiliate, which offers the benefits of membership and is perhaps particularly appropriate for consultants offering services outside the mainstream of HR and training specialisms e.g. writing skills training or health and safety.

My marketing budget is very limited, why should I join findHR4u?
If you’ve been in business for a while you’ll probably have found that word of mouth is the best way to get new clients, but networking takes a lot of time and sometimes costs a lot too. You’d probably rather be concentrating on delivering your skills and expertise to your clients. findHR4u:

• Allows you to compare findHR4u with joining networking groups or advertising and decide for yourself whether you want to pay and how much
• Actively markets your expertise whilst you get on with working with your clients

Why are you suggesting I pay commission on projects I get through findHR4u?
It's entirely up to you whether you pay commission on business you get through findHR4u, but even the suggested membership contribution is low so you might feel this is a good way to both show your appreciation of the work I do on the site and support the findHR4u marketing activities.

Why haven’t I won any business through findHR4u yet?
We hope that all members will get new clients through the findHR4u matching process. However, there are a number of steps between joining findHR4u and winning new business clients and you need to think about each one to see whether there you can increase your opportunities. Firstly of course, if you offer e xpertise and services in a very niche area then it is likely that fewer organisations will be looking for people like you and you will be matched less often. However the positive aspect of niche services is that when an organisation is looking for your expertise there may be less competition for winning the business. Once you have been short-listed as matching the requirements of an organisation your profile will be viewed to find out more about you. Make sure you are using this ‘selling’ space to do yourself justice. Writing about yourself is always difficult and it is worth considering getting someone else to do it for you. The next step is the initial contact with the enquirer. You only get one chance to make a first impression so make sure this is a good experience for the client contact. Finally there are all the things to do with listening to the clients needs, putting together a proposal and presenting it well. If you’re doing all these things right but still haven’t been successful, why not get in touch with us and we’ll try to make some suggestions to help.

Are you suggesting 5% on everything I do with clients introduced by findHR4u?
No, only on the first project you get through the findHR4u matching scheme. We reckon that if an organisation that you’ve met through us gives you some work, then that’s largely because you met up through findHR4u. However, if they give you more projects that’s because they like you and you did a good job for them on the first project – so if you want to pay commission on the first piece of work you I'll welcome that, but wouldn't expect anything further however much work you get from them.

Your explanation of CIPD grades seems to favour chartered members. As a Graduate/Affiliate member am I disadvantaged here?
There is no doubt that chartered membership of the CIPD denotes recognition of having achieved a Masters level of knowledge and understanding of the standards underpinning the qualification. If you are already a graduate then you should contact the Membership Officer of your local branch and discuss the criteria for getting upgraded – it really is a simple process. If you are an Affiliate, Licentiate or Associate this may be the most appropriate grade for you, particularly if you are providing services outside the mainstream personnel and development areas, and this fact is included in our explanation. However there may be routes into chartered membership that would suit you at this stage in your career and it’s worth discussing this with your branch Membership Officer, or looking at the information available from CIPD.

How will findHR4u know what 5% of my fee is, if the contract is between me and the client?
Although findHR4u will know, through our contact with the client organisations, who has been awarded a particular project, we may not know what the fee is. So we trust you – our experience is that if you treat people fairly, they are generally honest in return. If you’ve got a new client and a fee you wouldn’t otherwise have earned, then we reckon you won’t begrudge us our commission, especially as nothing is payable on subsequent projects for the same client. Also, in the future we plan to run features on success stories, so by being honest you may get another chance to promote yourself on the findHR4u site.

You say you’re offering a local matching service but how can anything online be local?
Although findHR4u is launching in the Thames Valley and will eventually cover the whole UK, the matching process includes location and the short-list presented to the searching organisation will be of people in their area. Also, findHR4u will be promoted to potential client organisations in local branch areas through the press. We are hoping to get some local radio coverage too.

Why can’t I pay my set-up fee and annual subscription online?
Soon you will be able to, but initially we wanted to get the service running and see what enhancements people wanted before embarking on more development work. We will also be offering a direct debit option for subscription renewals.

There aren’t many companies in my rural location – does this mean I’m not going to get matched with anyone?
Unless you’re way out in the sticks most addresses contain a postal town and this will be part of the location matching process. Eventually findHR4u will include a postcode proximity search facility so that organisations can specify someone within say 50 or 100 miles of their own location.