SOLUTIONS LAB


THE


Matthew Iveson MD, CV SCREEN LTD


Challenge: Attracting top talent


Candidates welcome – check out our brand


The current talent shortage in the UK is having an unparalleled effect on the labour market. The SME marketplace has always found it challenging to compete with larger organisations who are able to attract talent by offering better career progression, better benefits packages and, in theory, greater job security. So as an SME, how can you differentiate yourself to compete in this candidate short market? Matthew Iveson advises


Tell a story Does your Careers page tell candidates why they would want to work for you? Your Careers page should ideally show the environment in which that candidate will be working and, most importantly, talk about the values and culture within your business. It is also prudent to consider whether your social media profiles are branded in the same manner – candidates want to see consistency and to be able to engage with your brand.


React Quickly Our analysis has shown that there have been 37% less applicants in 2019 than from 12 months previous, entering the market. With this in mind, if you receive a strong CV through – react immediately; can you set up a quick telephone chat to engage the candidate on the same day? It doesn’t need to be an interview, simply a quick introduction to personalise the process and to make potential candidates feel special.


Feedback We live in an online world where reviews are part and parcel of everything we do, the job market is no different. If the candidate experience isn’t a good one, you’ll soon know about it. Google reviews, social media or sites such as Glassdoor can be particularly scathing of your employer brand if you get things wrong. The key thing is to ensure that all candidates receive feedback and acknowledgement throughout the process.


Social Media Recruiting If you’re looking to employ, check that you are making the best use of social media channels. Ensure that your existing employees are incentivised to help you fill your roles – ask them to share vacancies with their Facebook or LinkedIn networks. You could offer a finder’s fee of £500+ to anyone who successfully sources you a candidate – that will soon focus the team to help you source talent and is a great deal more cost-effective than using a recruiter.


Use multiple recruitment channels Alongside your Careers page, social media channels and, potentially, posting the role on job boards, it’s also recommended to partner with a couple of recruitment agencies and invest time with these recruiters. Show them around your offices, introducing them to the team and providing them with a full understanding of your culture, benefits package and your growth plans. Truly partnering with a select number of recruiters will pay dividends now and in the long-run. ■


Established in 2009,CV Screen is a leading recruitment agency who recruit IT, Finance and Marketing professionals predominantly in the SME marketplace.


www.smeweb.com SME MAGAZINE 25


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