THE BUOYANT job market is keeping freight recruitment specialists on their toes, with Lee Botti & Associates averaging 185 positions countrywide on a weekly basis, according to managing director Lee Botti. “There is a definite skills shortage and we are finding that clients are now looking beyond the realms of specific experience and are more focused on developing potential.” In line with the industries it serves, where added value is an important part of the mix, Lee Botti has extended its service offering beyond pure recruitment. “We put back into the industry – that’s been our commitment for the past 29 years,” says Botti. “After launching our salary survey for the clearing and forwarding industry in 1984, we have delivered this service for the past 22 years and now have a partnership with the PE Consulting Group which brings further benefits on remuneration packages. “In 2005 we undertook a pilot project to assist learners in securing their first positions. These sessions touched on a range of issues such as interview etiquette, dress code, CV formation and understanding the benefits of the entire remuneration package. “We have also financed the Iziko Maritime Museum to set up a career centre in Cape Town.” Labour law seminars are offered to keep clients up to speed on changes over the past 11 years. With dedicated offices in Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal, and the Western Cape, the company has strong links with its UK agents, facilitating the placement of South Africans returning to the country from abroad.
