How to check a consultant knows the current sector targets

You're three months out from your employment equity reporting deadline, and a consultant has pitched their services. They sound credible over email, but how do you know they understand the current sector targets your industry actually has to meet? Relying on outdated or generic knowledge could mean your report misses the mark — or worse, triggers Department of Employment and Labour scrutiny. Here's how to verify that someone knows the live landscape.

Check their grasp of current gazetted targets

Every designated employer must report against sector-specific targets set out in Department of Employment and Labour notices. These targets shift; what was current in 2022 may not apply in 2024. A consultant worth hiring should be able to name the gazetted targets for your sector without hesitation and explain which year's notice they're using. Ask them to send you a copy of the relevant gazette notice or department circular they're basing their advice on. If they send a generic "employment equity targets" document without a date or sector label, that's a red flag. The best consultants keep a dated register of sector notices and flag when updates come through — ask if they do this and how they notify clients.

Request evidence of their sector specialism

Some consultants work across all sectors generically; others specialise in one or two. Neither is inherently wrong, but you need to know which applies to your adviser. Ask for a list of similar-sector clients (names withheld is fine) they've submitted reports for in the last 18 months. If they've genuinely filed reports in your sector recently, they'll have lived through the same reporting cycle and know the quirks. Also ask them to walk you through one anonymised example report they've submitted in your sector — not to steal their IP, but to see whether they can articulate the thinking behind how they interpreted targets and allocated staff. A strong consultant will explain their methodology clearly.

Verify their contact with the regulator

Consultants who regularly engage with the Department of Employment and Labour pick up signals about emerging changes, common audit findings and tightened enforcement. Ask whether they've attended recent Department briefing sessions, submitted queries to the Employment Equity Analysis and Monitoring Unit, or received feedback on submitted reports. They should be able to name the key contact channels they use (the Department's email address, specific offices in their province) and describe a recent query they've logged. This isn't about asking them to name internal contacts — it's about confirming they maintain an active line to the regulator rather than working from assumption.

Call their references and ask one specific question

When you ring a previous client, don't just ask "Were they good?" Ask: "Did they flag any changes to sector targets or reporting requirements during the process, and how did they explain what it meant for your company?" A consultant who proactively alerts clients to regulatory shifts — and helps them understand the implication — is tracking the sector actively. References should be able to recall this; it tends to stick because it directly affects the plan or budget. Also ask whether the consultant has revisited the client's targets since the report was filed, or whether they only engage at submission time. Ongoing awareness is a sign of genuine sector depth.

Once you've worked through these checks, you'll have a much clearer picture of whether this consultant is current or coasting on old knowledge. The Department's enforcement is tightening, and a report based on outdated targets or misread gazetted figures invites audit risk. A consultant who can produce the gazette notice, explain their sector-specific methodology, maintain contact with the Department and leave their previous clients confident they're on top of changes is worth the conversation. Search Strove's verified HR consultants for local providers who've been vetted against exactly these kinds of checks.