With many employers having to downscale due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, companies are looking for more well-rounded employees. Employers want staff that can fulfil wider job descriptions as well as move between roles or departments if necessary. In many cases, it can be hugely beneficial to your organisation to hire candidates from outside of your industry. These candidates will bring new abilities to your skills pool.
Adaptability
During the pandemic, we saw various businesses, including Alliance Global Investors and Cisco, separate work into tasks and projects which were then matched with people across the businesses, who had the relevant skills. This enabled people within departments who had a lack of work, find opportunities in their existing businesses using transferable skills in the business areas that could make more of an impact at that particular time.
This highlights that adaptability needs to continue to be one of the most valuable traits within your workforce in the future. While technical or specific knowledge can be taught, it is adaptability, resilience and flexibility that has seen workers navigate the challenging situation over the past year or so and we shouldn’t underestimate the value of that.
Top Tips
Are you an employer in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Oxfordshire looking to hire someone from outside of your industry? Not sure which the best ways are to do so? Here are our top tips on how to attract candidates from outside of your industry.
Firstly, you need to determine which industries will have skills most compatible with yours. Here are a few examples:
- Business management: Human Resources, Legal, Finance, IT
- Hospitality: Business Management, Healthcare, Advertising
- Administration: Customer service, Banking, Human Resources, Media, Legal
- Construction: Design, Administration, Engineering, Business management
Next, you should also identify which transferable skills you value most. These are some of the most attractive transferable skills:
- Communication
- Administration
- Organisation
- Attention to detail
- Technology skills
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Emotional intelligence
Check out our Team-Fit™ page to find out how you can find the best fit for your company and learn how to work together better.
Now that you know which industries and skillsets to target, you can start working on your strategy:
Clearly describe job requirements and benefits
When browsing vacancies, job seekers look for vacancies that clearly set out what the job will require of them, as well as the benefits. When looking to attract candidates from outside your industry, it is important to not just list the necessary qualifications, but also soft skills and transferable skills. You need to paint a clear picture of what the employee’s duties will be. Describe which skills are essential. Additionally, explain why your company is an attractive employer and what benefits employees receive. This can range from opportunities to gain extra skills through additional training to employee discounts. Find out more about how to find the perfect fit for your company and job role with Team-Fit™here.
Be active on more platforms
If you limit yourself to industry-specific platforms, you are limiting your pool of candidates. It is a good idea to advertise your vacancy with a generalist recruitment agency or on general job boards. Another good option would be to take part in job fairs or to do campus recruiting. The latter entails advertising in college and university newspapers or offering internships or job shadowing opportunities to graduates and students. That way you also get to scope out brand new talent and assist budding professionals in finding their place in the working world. Sponsorships or hosting workshops can also help with brand awareness in your specific areas, such as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Offer more flexibility
The Covid-19 pandemic has made many people re-evaluate their careers. Some enjoyed the freedom of working from home or flexible hours so much that they have changed companies or even industries. Although remote working is not necessarily a benefit anymore, it can still be a huge draw for some job seekers. If your industry and company can accommodate it, be open to negotiating flexible hours or remote working with candidates that catch your eye.
Be visible on social media
Most people are very active on social media, whether it’s throughout the day or while relaxing in the evenings. Social media can reach a very wide audience. Not only can it help you create brand awareness but it can also draw a variety of job seekers. Some companies host competitions or advertise competitions on Facebook, which can reach talent from various industries. You can even target specific areas such as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire with specialised campaigns. YouTube can be a great platform to host videos about your company, your vision and mission and why you are an attractive employer. You can even use it to boost employee morale by telling their success stories, sharing fun company traditions and activities or even tutorials.
For more advice on finding the best candidate for your vacancy, contact the experts at Simpson Dean or visit our blog.