Corporate to SME

Would you consider moving from a Large Organization “to an SME?

SMEs are generating an increasing number of opportunities. What does it take to move from a giant organization to a small company successfully?

With over 1.56 million licensed and 5.85 million unregistered small businesses, small  SMEs contribute to 40% of our national GDP. Job seekers can no longer ignore SMEs. While there is little data on the impact of SMEs in the job market, SMEs are responsible for 80% of the employment in Africa. In 2014, eight in every ten employed Kenyans worked in SMEs.

But would a well-established accountant want to move from the so-called “Corporate” to a startup? The answer is maybe for many people; some are thrilled by the challenge and responsibility of joining a startup or a smaller organization. Others, however, would prefer large firms with structures, stability, and growth prospects.

For those seeking opportunities in SME, the question would be. How can one successfully move to a small but promising business from a huge multinational?

First, you have to note that candidates need to show their value. Recruiters are focused on proven talent rather than the attainment of certificates. Talent and value addition may be more significant for smaller companies. While larger firms provide the possibility of delegating complex tasks to their large teams, the responsibility of a large portion of the roles may lie with one individual.

Due to the notion that a growing company may not have the structures or professionalism to hire candidates, a lack of preparedness in candidates is witnessed when responding to recruiters or during their presentation to a prospective employer.

To be a successful SME employee, you have to be;

  • Highly adaptable, willing to learn, and willing to transfer knowledge
  • Creative, innovative with problem-solving abilities
  • Patient and open to the employer, and the employer environment
  • Proactive and self-driven
  • Willing to play multiple roles

What makes a large organization different from an SME

  • Some may not have laid down structures
  • Differences in leadership styles
  • Slow decision making due to lack of capital
  • You may be the only subject matter expert

Recruitment in SMEs is more talent-driven as greater individual responsibility makes each hire riskier in small firms. Recruiters in small organizations mitigate this fact by using personality and psychometrics tests. Such tools go a long way in informing recruiters whether candidates seeking to leave large companies can cope with the transition.

Individuals who succeed in landing roles in SMEs will be the ones who have a track record of exceeding expectations and the ability to add value.

 

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5 ways HR will change in the post-pandemic era

As businesses captain their workforce through the pandemic, here are 5 ways we expect human resource management to change.

  1. HR teams will have to deal with high rates of marijuana usage. With increased free time and limited ability to monitor a remote workforce, marijuana usage is rising, especially among the youthful population.
  2. HR professionals will increasingly depend on technology to automate HR processes. COVID-19 has forced HR experts to adopt the use of software for some of their recruiting services, and the end of the pandemic will not stop the automation of HR services
  3. Remote work will now be a long-term solution for a majority of businesses. The cost-cutting benefits that remote work offers employers and employees alike are an incentive to turn remote work into a permanent solution.
  4. With partial or a full remote staff, HR professionals have to find creative ways to integrate remote work without losing the company’s culture. They need to find ways to keep people connected and maintain employee engagement.
  5. HR teams will modify employee benefits. Incentives such as free lunches and commuter benefits have become irrelevant.
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Why Hobbies should be included in your CV

 

People say first impressions are lasting impressions.

Your CV serves as your first impression, therefore treat it as a living document.

It is fine to be passionate about accounting and designing marketing campaigns, but it is equally important that your employers or potential employers know you love swimming. You know what they say about work without play!

To personalize your CV,  hobbies can help you stand out from the pack;

1. Your hobbies can highlight the skills that are useful to a role.

Let’s say a company is looking for a team player. Having soccer as a hobby will show that you are a disciplined individual or a team player with a strong drive to win.  Having hobbies that align with the behaviors required for a particular profession is likely to make you a better fit.

  1. Hobbies can be used to break the Ice during interviews.

To alleviate high pressure; hobbies can play a vital icebreaking role during the interview. Starting interviews with traditional questions such tell us more about yourself can be intimidating; a short discussion on what you really like can help build rapport between you and the interview panel.

Hobbies should be used to seal the deal and not as your key selling point therefore include them at the end of your application.

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How do I Find My Dream Job on LinkedIn?

 

Do I need a strong LinkedIn profile to get a job?

Yes…, having a strong LinkedIn profile is essential, but it is not the only thing you need. Having a strong profile that is not visible is like having a beautiful billboard stored in your basement. This article will take you through what you need to have recruiters knocking on your door.

Create a Strong LinkedIn Profile

A strong profile is the most powerful arsenal in your LinkedIn campaign as it expresses the value you will deliver to your employers.

Your profile must be complete; it should have a background image, a head shot (Profile Picture), summary, education, your skill, and experience. Your LinkedIn profile is not your resume, so don’t make the mistake of copy-pasting your resume to your profile. Your profile should be optimized and written in first-person.

Build a Targeted LinkedIn Network

You need to connect with people you don’t know for you to get to know them. Your campaign will not be successful you don’t embrace connecting with targeted people. This raises the question, who should I connect with?

  1. Connect with former colleagues
  2. Connect with industry peers
  3. Connect with Decision Makers at target companies

Engage your LinkedIn Connection

To be top of mind of your connection and industry decision-makers, you have to keep your network thriving. To quickly achieve this, dedicate at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, to LinkedIn. LinkedIn is fun; you might find yourself spending more and more time as you discover exciting stuff.

To be sought after, you need to provide value and be fun.

Go Beyond LinkedIn

Try to engage the people you meet on LinkedIn through calls, skype, or one on one meetings.

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR CAREER

It is tempting to comment and post about the current political situation in Kenya. It is very easy to get dragged into the heated discussions. Social media was designed to allow us to freely express ourselves and share our thoughts with those whom we choose to, even when they are unpopular. On this, Alison Green, a former hiring manager said: “Social media is now so woven into the fabric of people’s lives that they forget not everything is suitable to put out there.”  Your thoughts and opinions affect people differently and therefore have consequences. This is especially important because social media has blurred the lines which separate personal from professional life.

 

Here are examples of people who have had varied consequences from their social media posts:

  • In California, an employee of the State Board of Equalization tweeted a photo of a blood-splattered hangman with a noose and the phrase “I’m Ready for Hillary” from the Riverside County Republican Party’s Twitter account. Nathan Miller, who admitted posting the tweet, resigned from the party position and from his position as a trustee for the Riverside Community College District.

 

  • In Ann Arbor, Mich., mortgage loan officer was fired after she tweeted racist comments about First Lady Michelle Obama during a convention.

 

  • West Virginia State Del. Michael Folk, a Republican, was criticized for tweeting that Hillary Clinton “should be tried for treason, murder, and crimes against the U.S. Constitution … then hung on the Mall in Washington, D.C.”

 

  • Closer to home, Ken Wa Mwangi was last year inflamed the anger of Kenyans online and went on to face an inquiry by his employers, the Kenya Airports Authority, after sharing a post on his Facebook page about being a paedophile.

 

How does your social media affect your career?

 

1. Job Search

Social media is no longer cutting edge.  It is part and parcel of HR and anyone who overlooks it today is doing the equivalent of ignoring email 20 years ago. According to Landers and Schmidt, yearly surveys by CareerBuilder have found continuous growth in the number of employers reporting finding social media content that has led to the rejection of a job applicant, up to 51% as of the 2014 survey. Many employers are now consulting social media when making hiring decisions, often without the awareness of the applicant. Before you share anything on social media, think about the consequences of such a post because the internet NEVER forgets.

 

2. Personal Brand

In our previous post on LinkedIn, we discussed social media as a tool recruiters and employers use to search for and identify candidates. Google allows a recruiter to look for the candidate not only through the professional sites but also through personal sites. Jerry M. Burger defines a personality as consistent behavioral patterns originating within the individual. We can identify these consistent behavioral patterns across time and situations. We expect someone who is outgoing today to be outgoing tomorrow. Someone who is competitive at work to be competitive in sports.  A simple comment could make you an inciter, or a person who lacks judgement or emotional intelligence.

 

3. Effect on your Team

Social media allows us to specify a list of connections with other people using the sites (e.g Facebook Friends). Users are able to explore content from both their own connections and the connections of others. If team members or business associates are in your network, discussing some topics can cause conflict. You don’t want to ruin a professional relationship over a few moments of frustration.

 

In conclusion, it is important to remember that constant exposure to the barrage of negative news can heighten your stress levels and make you feel overwhelmed. Cutting down your intake (while staying informed) can make you feel less stressed.  So, before you press the post button, you should consider the repercussions of making certain statements online.

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5 WAYS TO USE LINKEDIN TO GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Did you know that your LinkedIn profile is just as important as your CV? We all use social media when we want to connect with our friends or to stay abreast with the current affairs. Depending on your morning or evening routine, you will probably spend a few minutes to a number of hours on your smartphone looking through your preferred social media platforms.

It should therefore come as no surprise that an increasing number of recruiters are now looking for ways of recruiting using social media platforms. There are a number of social media platforms and sites that can be used when recruiting, but for today we focus on LinkedIn.

At Tandem HR consultants we recognize that our clients have different needs.  Sometimes they may advertise a number of vacancies but do not find candidates with the skills they prefer.  Other times the time frame given is too short to be able to find the right candidate.  Some may unfortunately at times lack the sufficient budget. In order to assist these organizations meet their recruitment needs, we at times turn to LinkedIn as a tool.

As a consultancy we wanted to share some reasons for revisiting your LinkedIn profile today:

Personal Branding

Branding is very important not only for organizations, but also individuals. Organizations usually have a budget and a number of people who work to ensure that they maintain their image. As an individual however, you usually have a lot less to work with and this is where LinkedIn comes in. Described by Forbes Magazine as the ultimate personal branding platform, LinkedIn provides you with the best opportunity to increase your visibility and credibility with others in your industry and recruiters.

Making connections

Through LinkedIn, you are able to stay connected to a large network of individuals. Your connections provide different insights about any changes in the industry. They can also alert you to various opportunities that may be beneficial for your career. This also increases your visibility to recruiters like us.

Endorsements and Recommendations

Features such as endorsements and recommendations on LinkedIn increase your likelihood of getting an interview. This is especially true if the comments made by your connections with regards to your skills are propitious. Recruiters look for candidates with specific skill sets that their clients require. Having yours endorsed gives you an added advantage.

Access to industry insights

By joining professional groups or organizations on LinkedIn, you are able to gain valuable insights and changes in the industry which are shared by other individuals. This also provides you with the opportunity to build your reputation as an expert in your industry by sharing your insights. 

Job opportunities

All the above stated reasons ultimately contribute to your personal branding by increasing your visibility. This translates to you receiving requests to submit an application for vacancies in various organizations. Another key point is to choose your keywords carefully. They make it easy for recruiters to find you and send you vacancies relevant to your skills and experience.

So, next time you are on LinkedIn, try polishing your profile and increase chances of you finding your next dream job.

Susan Awuor

Recruiter and Trainer 

Tandem Consultants

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