The traits every SME hiring manager should look for - Viewpoint Viewpoint careers advice blog

The traits every SME hiring manager should look for - Viewpoint There is a unique sense of comradery that comes with working in a small-to-medium sized business (SME). While such comradery can of course be experienced in larger organisations too, in an SME it is amplified because there are fewer people involved in projects, and the roles are sometimes less rigidly defined. With SME employees often working outside the silos of their specific roles and pulling together when needed, there’s naturally a more unified culture. This culture could very easily be disrupted if you were to hire the wrong person. Therefore it’s important that you find talent who not only fits, but thrives within your team. In our experience, there are certain traits which are universally important to employers of all sizes, but tend to be particularly important when hiring for an SME: 1. A clear passion for and interest in your company As mentioned, in an SME there are less people to help the business reach its goals, and thus there are undoubtedly going to be times where employees are expected to go outside the confines of their job description. You therefore need to recruit professionals who are passionate enough about the business to proactively go above and beyond their role for the good of the company. So, when you’re next interviewing potential recruits, try asking them the below questions to determine their genuine interest in your company: What X things appeal to you most about working here? What do you think sets us apart from our competitors? Given what you know about our company, why do you think you would be a good fit? Describe the last time you were asked to assist in an area outside your job description. What was the result? There are other key signs you can look out for during the interview process to help you determine how interested a candidate really is in your company. For example, a genuinely interested candidate will likely arrive for an interview armed with plenty of knowledge about where your company is headed and its journey so far. They’ll have prepared intelligent questions to ask you. They may even bring their own ideas to the table. It’s not just what the candidate says that helps you determine their genuine interest and engagement with your company though; how they say it is equally insightful. Make a conscious effort to read their body language â€" if they gesticulate, smile as they talk and make eye-contact, then they are probably excited about what you do as a business. And if they appear nervous â€" remember that this may well be because they really want the job. In this situation, do everything you can to put them at ease, such as nodding and encouraging them as they answer your questions. After all, nerves are preferable to a candidate who is aloof, folds their arms and sits back in their chair! 2. A personal commitment to lifelong learning Lifelong learning (i.e. ongoing, personalised education in the workplace, as opposed to one-off training) is becoming a bigger part of how businesses upskill and evolve their employees alongside rapid digital transformations. And whilst larger corporates may have the budget to equip every employee with state-of-the art, personalised and up-to-the-minute training programmes, few SMEs have the same resources. One of the ways you can still compete is to hire those candidates who have a proactive approach to their personal learning. There is a free podcast, article, webinar or YouTube tutorial for almost everything nowadays. You just need to be hiring people with a proactive self-learning mind set who will take advantage of such resources. To determine their attitude to self-learning, ask questions such as: When and how was the last time you learnt a new skill? Can you tell me about an interesting new trend relating to your area of expertise? How do you make sure you keep your knowledge up-to-date? 3. Their priorities aren’t only focused on money or material perks SMEs can often struggle to match the budgets of large corporates not just when it comes to training, but also in terms of material rewards, such as salary, bonuses and benefits. Therefore, when hiring, lookout for those candidates who place importance on all the great things you, as an SME, are in a strong position to offer. This could range from your open and engaging company culture, through to a sense of purpose and passion for what you do, the chance to take on new areas of responsibility or clear progression paths. Here are some questions you could ask to gauge where a candidate’s priorities lie: Why are you looking for a new role? What matters to you most when looking for an employer? What motivates you to perform? What engages you with a business? In asking the above questions, you are able to more easily identify the candidates who want to stay and progress within your business, and won’t be easily swayed should they get approached by an attractive counter offer from their current employer. The questions that the candidate asks you during the interview can also give you an insight into what their true motivations are, particularly if they ask more about the opportunity itself than the material perks. Whilst the implications of a wrong hiring decisions will be heavily felt in an SME, so are the implications of getting it right. The above advice should help you find that person who can slot right into your business, contribute strong ideas and initiatives, and help power your business forward. If you found this blog helpful, read our other SME focused content: How can SME leaders retain staff without breaking the budget? How can SMEs find the best cyber security talent? SMEs you need to fix your digital skills gap

Important Employability Skills For Workplace Success

Significant Employability Skills For Workplace Success Significant Employability Skills For Workplace Success What are employability aptitudes, and for what reason would they say they are significant both to get recruited and to prevail in the work environment? A significant number of the most exceptionally looked for after aptitudes today are delicate abilities relating to your capacity to impart and work with a group or hard abilities concentrated on fundamental (however more up to date) innovation. What are Employability Skills? Employability abilities are center aptitudes and characteristics required in about each occupation. These are the general skills that make somebody alluring to an association. Recruiting directors quite often search for workers with these abilities. Employability abilities are here and there called basic aptitudes or occupation availability aptitudes. They are soft skills that permit you to work well with others, apply information to take care of issues and fit into any workplace. They likewise remember the professional skills that empower you to be effective for the work environment. These are likewise observed as transferable skills because you can apply them to an occupation in any industry. Kinds of Employability Skills Correspondence All businesses search for work up-and-comers with strong communication aptitudes. These allude to one's capacity to pass on data plainly to other people. Bosses need representatives with solid written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills. Some portion of being a solid communicator additionally incorporates being a good audience; representatives should have the option to comprehend the inquiries and worries of their customers and tune in to their manager's headings. Composed CommunicationOral CommunicationInterpersonal SkillsActive ListeningAttentive Collaboration Teamwork is significant in practically any work setting. On the off chance that a worker chips away at various gathering ventures, he/she should have the option to coexist well with others and convey a lot of the remaining task at hand. Regardless of whether a worker doesn't do a great deal of group ventures, he/she despite everything should have the option to coexist with different partners. CollaborationManaging ExpectationsConflict ManagementReliabilityProfessional Basic Thinking Basic thinking refers to one's capacity to comprehend, break down, and decipher data and reach inferences. In any activity, a representative should evaluate circumstances and tackle issues. Representatives need to think coherently and make reasonable decisions. Systematic SkillsProblem SolvingCreativityInductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning Morals Ethics is a general class that alludes to a representative's standards. Organizations need representatives who comprehend and adhere to organization rules, are straightforward and dependable, and act expertly and capably. ComplianceIntegrityEmpathyDiscernment PC While most employability abilities are delicate skills, computer skills are hard aptitudes that are required in all occupations. While a few situations in the field of technology (such as programming designers or IT masters) require broad programming information, most occupations basically require essential involvement in PCs. Bosses need up-and-comers who can utilize regular projects like Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel. All applicants must display an ability to learn and adjust to new or evolving advancements. Microsoft Office SuiteInformation and Communications Technology (ICT)Email ManagementDigital Calendar ManagementMobile DevicesWord ProcessingSearch Engine ResearchSocial Media Greater Employability Skills FlexibilityLife SkillsMotivationOrganizationAbility to Learn New SkillsAdministrative SkillsPhone EtiquetteCustomer ServiceClient RelationsPresentationOffice EquipmentBookkeeping SoftwareEfficiencyMultitaskingTime ManagementSalesGoal SettingPrioritizingSupervisionTroubleshootingInformation ManagementInitiativeProactiveFocusEnthusiasmNegotiationMemory The most effective method to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Skills to Your Resume: The right catchphrases can tell businesses that you have the employability abilities they look for, and they can improve the probability of your application being seen while applying electronically.Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter: Apply a similar consideration to remember employability watchwords for your cover letter.Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview: In your interview, bosses anticipate that you should have the option to share genuine instances of when you utilized at least one of the aptitudes recorded previously.

Writing a Resume - 4 Important Dos and Donts

<h1>Writing a Resume - 4 Important Do's and Don'ts</h1><p>When it comes to composing a resume, there are some do's and don'ts that you should know. You would presumably discover these do's and don'ts very significant, particularly on the off chance that you have been thinking about going after a position and you have some earlier experience.</p><p></p><p>Do read the resume you are composing. That sounds self-evident, however I wager you aren't generally certain on the off chance that you have the fundamental experience to try and consider going after a position. It is additionally significant that you take a gander at your resume in any event once per day or consistently during the day to guarantee that it looks proficient. In this way, read it, and you will see the subtleties of your achievements just as your aptitudes and encounters. Furthermore, since experience is what is well on the way to stick out, read it.</p><p></p> <p>Do make a rundown of things on your resume that are pertinent to the position you are looking for. You can likewise request references, to give data about you. This is a remember with regards to your resume.</p><p></p><p>Do compose a bio. A bio is the thing that the employing chiefs will see when they go to a meeting and when they look at your portfolio.</p><p></p><p>Do compose an introductory letter. The letter that is sent with your resume to the business is the early introduction they get of you. It might be the main possibility that the business gets the opportunity to meet you. Along these lines, it is indispensable that you utilize all the data from your resume to give an exact portrayal of you.</p><p></p><p>Do edit and alter the resume. The least demanding approach to tell on the off chance that you have set aside the effort to work superbly of changing and altering your resume is by the criticis m from companions and partners who additionally go after positions. Along these lines, you need to realize that it has looked great, too.</p><p><, taking everything into account, remember to check your resume. On the off chance that you are uncertain of the subtleties, request a few references. Likewise, do cause a rundown of do's to and don'ts for composing a resume.</p>

Featured Job President @ Agricenter International - Copeland Coaching

Featured Job President @ Agricenter International Agricenter International is seeking a President in Memphis, TN. Agricenter International, the world’s largest urban farm and research test facility seeks a President with the following primary responsibilities: This person will work directly with the Board of Directors and committees to meet the overall mission for Agricenter International: a self-sustaining, not-for-profit organization that provides economic development and improved quality of life by facilitating agricultural research, educational programs, environmental conservation, natural area preservation and recreational opportunities. Responsible for day-to-day operations, to include but not limited to, budgeting and strategic direction. He/she will work with the Agricenter Commission and various Federal, State and County agencies. He/she shall possess the ability to ensure that Agricenter International is in compliance with the overall mission as determined by the Board of Directors. To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Agricenter International job posting here.