Nowadays, investing in young people should not just be a slogan, but the best strategy companies should adopt to grow, innovate and gain competitive advantages over their competitors. Regarding Consea Head Hunting‘s experience in managing recruitment processes with the younger generation, a certain rigidity shown by candidates is emerging, expressed especially in terms of demands related to hybrid working opportunities, career plans and business ethics. As a result, there is often a significant lack of motivation and engagement when faced with an offer that fails to detail or satisfy these aspects.
WHAT CAN ORGANIZATIONS DO?
To make themselves more attractive to the younger generation, companies should first of all understand what is actually being sought, and in this regard, there is an increasing emergence of the importance for young people being able to identify with company values in terms of sustainability (environmental, valuing diversity, inclusive approach and equity), ethics, training (with an important focus on soft skills, skills that can become an asset to the individual and not just a direct benefit to the company as is the case with technical skills), policies for investing in resourcesand sharing the expected goals and their consequent development plans envisaged not only in terms of vertical growth, but also about involvement in initiatives, task forces and projects aimed at the well-being of the internal community. Equally important seems to be the attention paid to the work-life balance, flexibility and wellbeing policies within the organization.
In terms of attraction and retention, an important role is played by the organization’s external communication as the new generations put great importance to the company’s website and its presence on social networks as well as, in general, its web reputation.
COMPANY AS COMMUNITY
This focus is symptomatic of the fact that nowadays the company is no longer considered a mere workplace, on the contrary, it increasingly constitutes a real community for new generations, who can appreciate opportunities of involvement that can allow them to come closer and share experiences with other employees belonging not only to different areas or functions, but also to different generations; of this a significant example could be reverse mentoring.
BETRAYAL OR OPENNESS TO CHANGE?
In conclusion, we can highlight one more peculiarity: increasingly, new generations are experiencing change as a development opportunity to enrich their skills and, therefore, the decision to leave one company for another should not be experienced as a betrayal; on the contrary, it would be much more functional for the organization to maintain relations with the resource who has changed reality by opting for a new context. This attitude could generate future opportunities for a new encounter and possible opportunities to reintegrate the resource, enriched by the new experiences gained in the meantime.
The first time my CEO and I landed in Chicago was a windy cloudy day of May.
We were 90% sure this was the place we wanted to implement our American HQs. We were a little bit familiar with the US geography, opportunities, and potential challenges, but we needed to get a “vibe” of the city, the Midwest culture and how it would welcome the project we had in mind for Consea’s expansion into North America.
Suddenly the cloudy day became sunny and mildly warm; Chicago was welcoming us with open arms.
It was 2017.
I would then travel back to Chicago many other times by myself to start looking for our offices, meeting with our lawyers, our CPA, and eventually starting our operations. I traveled to other cities and their regions (such as Atlanta, New York, Cincinnati, Detroit, among others) to meet our clients and familiarize myself with their industrial areas as well as the US “way to do” business.
In September 2017, Consea America was officially settled, and we already had our first clients.
5 years later… where are we?
Consea America is now one of the major point of references in the Executive Search sector for companies that are already in North America and also for those that are starting up their operations on US soil. Consea America exists for those who need a local partner, not only for their recruiting needs but also a consulting and effective support in understanding the US market and its cultural aspects and differences with the EU mindset.
We have a strong and solid organization composed by passionate, motivated and committed individuals that everyday are working hard and capitalize their market knowledge for our clients, candidates, and partners in general.
Consea America has recently hit its 5 Year Milestone with excellent results, being the second relevant market for Consea Group in terms of revenue.
In these 5 years, we went through challenging and exciting moments.
The pandemic was a teaching moment for the most of us; we sat down with our network (clients, candidates, professionals of the HR and Business Consulting industry) and discussed the New Normal during our Round Table with the CEOs events.
We also took the time to reinforce our team*, invest in our internal resources and prepare ourselves for the moment when the market would be ready to go back to the New Normal. And so it happened, in 2021, together with another phenomenon that experts called the Great Resignation.
Year 2023, a new 5-year cycle is starting.
Consea America is stronger and ready to continue supporting our partners and markets in North America.
*A special Thank You to my team: without you guys all this would have not been possible!
Authors
Antonella Cerabona - CEO Consea America Inc.
HR China: 5 steps to supporting employees during organizational changes
Geopolitical challenges, tightening of China-US relationship, and China’s Zero Covid Policy have disrupted the current economic environment, reshaping supply chain and driving changes on businesses. Indeed, many companies are rebuilding their organization structure on operational level – hybrid work model - and on structural level – mergers & acquisitions, split-off or closure of business.
Changes in the business model have an impact on the overall operations of the company and on its employees, redesigning workflow, potentially affecting employees’ roles, scope of responsibilities, location, and in worst-case scenario, laying off people.
In a scenario where disruptions and changes are the agenda, Human Resources are central and critical in designing internal organization restructures, developing, and implementing action plan, and ultimately but most importantly in supporting employees in adapting to changes.
How to support employees in adapting to changes?
We, Consea Group, have highlight 5 key elements for you. (add hyperlink of Consea homepage)
Understand the change
First and foremost, understanding changes is fundamental. Why are we changing, what needs to be done, how do we move from point A to point B, are key questions you need to have answers to. Without knowing the whys, it is difficult to believe and drive the changes.
Effective communication
Once identified the whys, action plan and how, take time to communicate and explain it to your employees. Consistency and clear communication are essential. Do not limit to simply informing them, rather make sure they understand the reasons behind and be present for their doubts and concerns.
Remember the intangible
Organization changes have impact on the personal level too! Remember the emotional and intangible elements. Have the leadership to speak first. Ask them to share with the team how they interpret the changes, what are their thoughts. Create connection and a support system where employees feel safe to share their own experiences, by letting leaders showing up first.
Un-learn and Re-learn
Often, changes are seen as threaten to an already established and functioning system. It is human to show resistance and refusal to changes as it is mining what is familiar to step into the unknown. Thus, it is important first to un-learn behaviors, patterns, and systems in order to re-learn during time of changes and building resilience.
Involve, collaborate, co-create in times of changes
To facilitate the transition, involving, collaborating, and co-creating with employees during and after the changes give employees ownership in the change, consequently becoming more likely to support said change. Moreover, it helps to find synergies and eliminate/limit complexities.
Changes can be intimidating, but with the right combination of knowledge, communication, leadership and environment, HR and companies can support their employees and ensure a smoother transition during changes.
Authors:
Valentina Meng – Recruitment Consultant & China Social Media Manager
Chiara Altomonte – General Manager and Head of the Fashion & Retail division
Emotional intelligence: what is it and why it can change your life
Emotional Intelligence is the common thread in every project promoted by Consea Human Capital Consulting: we firmly believe in the effectiveness of this skill, which is now internationally recognized, both in the field of psychology and in business organization.
The term emotional intelligence was first used in the 1980s by psychologist Howard Gardner, who introduced the concepts of inter-personal intelligence (which allows one to understand others' intentions and emotions) and intra-personal intelligence (i.e., the ability to understand one's own emotions and motivations).
However, the concept of emotional intelligence was popularized and made famous by U.S. psychologist, author and science journalist Daniel Goleman, with the book "Emotional Intelligence: What It Is and Why It Can Make Us Happy": in this essay, the author explains how a good IQ is not enough to achieve success at work and well-being in life, as a mix of self-control, perseverance, empathy and attention to others contribute to the basis of our choices.
The power of emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is thus the ability to recognize and understand one's own and others' emotions, but also the ability to use this awareness to better manage one's own behaviours.
Why can this change our lives and, to quote Goleman's words, make us happy? The answer is simple: emotions often get the better of us, sabotaging our chances of success at work and in life.
With emotional intelligence, however, it is possible to prevent this from happening by learning to make decisions guided by common sense and self-awareness, rather than impulsivity and fear.
By recognizing and training one's emotional intelligence, one first achieves greater mental serenity and thus greater well-being.
Emotional intelligence between reason and emotionality
Underlying emotional intelligence, we can find neuroscientific explanations. In fact, we must consider that everything we perceive through our senses travels inside our body by means of electrical signals, which pass from cell to cell until they reach our brain and, specifically, the limbic system, where emotions are born, to arrive, only later, to the frontal lobe, the seat of logical and rational thought.
Analyzing this process, we easily conclude: even before we can rationally evaluate reality, we perceive it emotionally and react to external stimuli, first with our emotional center and then with our logical center.
That is why sometimes, in moments of anger, it is difficult to control one's emotions, risking saying things that one does not really mean. In fact, in such cases, reason is hindered by emotions, which do not allow us to evaluate the information and thus choose the most appropriate reaction.
We can therefore say, in a grand summary, that emotional intelligence is the skill that enables us to narrow the gap between emotionality and reason.
Follow us to find out what emotional intelligence skills are and how they can impact the workplace.
Post-Vacation Stress or #Stresstember – How To Survive Returning To Work After Vacation
Returning to the office in September post-vacation may be a huge shock for many people. Relaxed after a summer rest, they cannot find themselves in their daily routine and are unable to work at full capacity; they have to catch up, meet new responsibilities and prepare for possible changes. Moreover, the weather changes and colder days keep coming! All of this causes enormous stress – employees are depressed, distracted, and deprived of energy and motivation. This year, an additional stress factor is also the ubiquitous coronavirus pandemicand related restrictions, which significantly affect the work environment and everyday life.
In order to overcome September stress, it is worth introducing a few small changes to your everyday life that will positively affect the quality of your work and well-being.
Here are a few of them:
1. Plan your time skillfully and set a priority list
Organize yourself in different areas of life – get an organizer, calendar or application for saving tasks and events and try to update them on regular basis. Prioritize your tasks and consider postponing or even cancelling events. Scheduling duties will help you avoid unnecessary stress and improve your quality of life.
2. Focus on one task
During your work, try to concentrate fully on one task and finish it before starting the next one. Many people consider multitasking to be a very desirable trait by which success can be achieved much easier and faster, however, this belief is wrong – many studies show that multitasking has more disadvantages than advantages. Multitaskers, while performing multiple tasks simultaneously, waste time on trivial things and the efficiency of their work decreases. Thus, they do not save their precious time – they distract faster and make mistakes more often.
3. Be assertive and do not take too much on yourself
Set your limits and do not be afraid to say no. Do not take on too many tasks and activities – try to maintain a balance between work and private life. You can also ask your colleagues for help at any time. You need to give yourself time to get back to your daily routine!
4. Think about the positive aspects of your job
Focus on the positive sides of your work – what values this job brings, what you learn, and which opportunities you have for personal self–development. You work in a great, well–coordinated team and you like what you do? Appreciate it and try to be positive!
5. Take care of your health
Taking care of your health will positively affect your productivity. Eat nutritionally rich meals, do not skip breakfast and avoid junk food! The better we eat, the more efficient and energetic we are. Be sure to get adequate rest, as well – try to sleep at least 7 hours and mantain the same daily bedtime. Also, remember to exercise – choose a sport you like and include it in your schedule. Physical activity releases endorphins that help fight stress and eliminate anxiety.
6. Take time to relax
You cannot forget about time for yourself! If your schedule is very tight, even a few minutes of meditation, a short walk, or a morning coffee within peace and quiet is enough to regenerate your body and mind and get away from your everyday life.
Unlocking the Gen Z Code: How Companies Can Attract and Retain Tomorrow’s Talent
In today's rapidly evolving job market, companies are increasingly turning their attention towards attracting and retaining Gen Z candidates. Born into a world of constant connectivity and technological innovation, Gen Z brings a unique set of skills, preferences, and expectations to the table. Understanding what makes this generation tick and embedding it in the employer brand and value proposition is critical for companies looking to thrive in tomorrow's competitive landscape.
Tech-Savvy from Birth
Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age. Since day one, technology has been an integral part of their lives, from smartphones to social media. As a result, Gen Z is inherently tech-savvy, effortlessly navigating digital tools and platforms for communication, learning, and productivity. For companies looking to appeal to Gen Z candidates, a solid digital presence and innovative use of technology in the workplace are non-negotiables.
The attitude towards new technologies is the field where the clash between generations occurs most often. Except for start-ups and cutting-edge digital companies, most organizations across industries need to create work environments where the older generations, typically in senior and leadership positions, can sustain and adequately address the Gen Zers' optimism and attitude towards using technologies if they want to engage and retain those talents.
Shared Values and Meaningful Work
Gen Zers are more diverse in race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation than any other generation. They prioritize researching inclusive work environments and are sensitive and committed to global topics such as social justice and climate change.
As consumers and employees, Gen Zers choose brands that align with their values. They want to work for companies with a clear social commitment and mission that goes beyond profit. They select a job not only because it meets their financial needs but also because it makes them feel proud and fulfills their purpose.
Creating a corporate culture that reflects the company's mission and values is essential to engaging Gen Z employees. They demand accountability and integrity and tend to abandon workplaces where the declared commitment to inclusion or sustainability, for example, is not encountered in the daily practices and expected behaviors.
Embracing Entrepreneurialism
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Fueled by a desire for independence, creativity, and impact, many Gen Zers are eschewing traditional career paths to forge their way. Instead of climbing the corporate ladder, they are pursuing passion projects and side hustles, leveraging their skills and interests to create meaningful work on their terms. Companies that offer autonomy, creativity, and impact opportunities are more likely to attract and retain Gen Z talent.
To this extent, innovation labs, internal contests to promote problem resolutions, and employee-led initiatives are excellent examples of allowing Gen Z workers to fulfill their aspirations and needs and simultaneously impact the company's success. In addition, new generations seek out organizations that allow employees to have side jobs to pursue their passions, explore their entrepreneurship ideas, and manage them through clear "moonlighting policies" and open communication.
Flexible Work Arrangements
The need for independence of the newest generations of employees also arises in their approach to the work arrangement. Work-life balance is a top priority for Gen Z. They value flexibility and autonomy in their work schedules, preferring hybrid or remote work arrangements that allow them to effectively balance their professional and personal lives. For Gen Z, productivity goals take precedence overclocking in hours at the office. Companies that embrace flexible work policies and prioritize outcomes over input are better positioned to attract and retain top Gen Z talent.
Gen Z workers don't love routines. They appreciate the autonomy of managing their schedule and the opportunity to work from anywhere and in any time zone. They don't appreciate mandatory days in the office and similar prescriptions, as they consider the virtual work environment as effective as the in-person one. However, contrary to what the older generations sometimes believe, Gen Z values face-to-face conversations and the connection created by working in the same room with others as long as they understand the benefit and don't perceive it as an attachment to old working patterns.
Investing in Continuous Learning
In a world where industries constantly evolve and new technologies emerge rapidly, continuous learning is essential for staying competitive. Gen Z recognizes the importance of upskilling and adapting to industry trends and technologies. Companies that invest in employee development and offer opportunities for growth and advancement are more likely to retain Gen Z talent in the long run. They are also more keen to reskill and have the chance to redesign their career path to follow their curiosity and interests. The idea of doing the same type of job or growing in a single direction through their career is not appealing to them; as mentioned before, Gen Z workers seek opportunities to prove themselves and are more open to questioning their choices if they are not in line with their values and needs, than the previous generations.
Whether through training programs, mentorship opportunities, or access to educational resources, companies prioritizing learning and development and offering multiple chances for career paths will stand out in the eyes of Gen Z candidates.
Conclusion
As Gen Z enters the workforce more significantly, companies must adapt their recruitment and retention strategies to meet this generation's unique needs and preferences. To this extent, they must enhance the company's reputation and image as an employer (i.e., employer brand) and communicate internally and externally the benefits, opportunities, and rewards that the company offers and what it expects to have in return from its employees (i.e., employer value proposition) in a way that includes the aspects mentioned above.
This approach is fundamental for a talent strategy that attracts and retains top Gen Z resources, ensuring the company's success in tomorrow's competitive job market.
By partnering with Consea and Cometa Coaching, your organization can receive comprehensive executive coaching, training programs, and advisory services that will equip you to successfully navigate the challenges of managing and engaging a Gen Z workforce.
Authors
Antonella Cerabona, CEO of Consea America
Mariateresa Romeo, Founder of Cometa Coaching
Upskilling & Reskilling: The Future of Work, Talent Shortage, and Human Capacity Within Organizations
According to several market studies, the talent shortage has reached its highest level in Mexico.
This is due to a lack of specific skills (a mix of technical capabilities and human factors) required from companies, especially in particular industries. Combined with the accelerated technological change management process e digital transformation we are living in, the scarcity of talent availability is further complicating the recruiting needs of many hiring managers.
In 2022, in Mexico, and in some LATAM countries, more than 60% of employers reported difficulties in finding the right match – the highest number in the last 10 years.
Today, it became essential to many organizations, to improve workforce skills as well as train and "recycle” professional talents in order to fill their internal positions and stay competitive. These two techniques are called Upskilling & Reskilling.
Upskilling is the process of learning new skills or of teaching workers new skills.
Reskilling is the process of learning new skills so you can do a different job, or of training people to do a different job.
These tools became pivotal to address the Human Capital needs within the work environment, as well as to promote career pathing, succession planning, and retention programs, for most companies.
Within the markets Consea operates with, we identified few sectors that currently are presenting the greatest demand for high-skilled profiles in Mexico: supply chain and manufacturing, finance and administrative positions, sales and marketing and engineering.
To support your Human Capital needs, Consea Groupcan design a consulting plan tailored for your company, defining together an effective TALENT SEARCH and COMPANY CULTURE FITTING strategy.
Follow Consea Group on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest trends in the labor market and to find out how to create and maintain a positive working environment in your organization.
Authors
Enrique Pedroza - Business Development Manager in Consea Group, Mexico
Read the article in Spanish:
Upskilling & Reskilling: El futuro del trabajo, la escasez de talento y las capacidades humanas dentro de las organizaciones
Acorde a diferentes estudios de mercado, la escasez de talento ha llegado a su nivel más alto en México.
Esto se debe a la falta de habilidades específicas (una combinación de capacidades técnicas y factores humanos) requeridas por las empresas, especialmente en industrias particulares.
Combinado con el acelerado proceso de gestión del cambio tecnológico en el que vivimos y transformación digital, la escasez de talento complica aún más las necesidades de muchos Gerentes de contratación.
En 2022, en México y en algunos países de LATAM, más del 60% de los empleadores reportaron dificultades para encontrar el personal adecuado, el número más alto en los últimos 10 años.
Hoy en día, se vuelve esencial para las organizaciones mejorar las habilidades de la fuerza laboral, así como capacitar y "reciclar" talento profesional para ocupar un nuevo puesto dentro de la compañía y mantenerse competitivos. Estas dos técnicas se denominan Upskilling & Reskilling.
Upskilling busca enseñar nuevas habilidades a un trabajador para optimizar su desempeño, mientras que Reskilling también conocido como reciclaje profesional, busca capacitar a un empleado para adaptarlo a un nuevo puesto dentro de la empresa.
Estas herramientas se vuelven fundamentales para abordar las necesidades de capital humano dentro del entorno laboral, así como para promover la orientación profesional, la planificación de la sucesión y los programas de retención para la mayoría de las empresas.
Dentro de los mercados con los que opera Consea Group, identificamos algunos sectores que actualmente presentan la mayor demanda de perfiles altamente calificados en México, tales como cadena de suministro, manufactura, finanzas, administrativos, ventas, mercadeo e ingenierías.
Para apoyar sus necesidades de Capital Humano, Consea Group puede diseñar un plan de consultoría a la medida de su empresa, definiendo en conjunto una estrategia efectiva de BÚSQUEDA DE TALENTO que AJUSTE A LA CULTURA DE LA EMPRESA.
Sigue a Consea Group en Linkedin para estar al día de las últimas tendencias en el mercado laboral y saber cómo crear y mantener un clima laboral positivo en tu organización.
Satisfaction in the workplace: How does work affect our happiness?
A good atmosphere in the workplace, satisfying salary and interesting challenges undoubtedly affect the attractiveness of our professional life. But is it only professional?
Work is an inseparable part of our life and has a huge impact on it. Our frequent profession defines us as a person. When asked "who are you?" we usually immediately mention our job title.
Duties, relationships with employees, successes, but also failures penetrate into our private lives. It's hard to completely cut yourself off from what's going on in the workplace. That is why it is so important that what we do professionally gives us a sense of fulfillment and provides financial security.
How to achieve "wellbeing" in the workplace?
"Wellbeing" is defined as a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment of an employee. It is related to providing them with opportunities for development and safe working conditions. Additional benefits are an added value, but they will not replace the appropriate organizational culture of the company.
How to provide employees with comfort of work?
First of all, monitor their satisfaction and create an environment in which every employee will feel free to say what bothers them. Surveys or individual conversations of employees with the HR Manager can help with this.
The next step is to implement appropriate action: these can be platforms providing consultations with a psychologist, organizing fitness classes (e.g. yoga) – activities, which can help the employee take their thoughts off the multitude of duties.
Every company and its needs are different. Especially after the pandemic, which made the hybrid model a permanent feature of many organizations. It is important to match the right tool and use it to create a workplace that will make the employee satisfied.
Generation Y and Z – can they enjoy their work?
Rocketjobs.pl conducted research in Poland to check the importance of work in the respondent's life and whether it is also their passion.
52% of people declared that working is an important part of their lives, while 30% say that there are other more important things they focus on.
The results are the same when it comes to perception of the profession as a passion – 52% treat their work in this way, and 30% of respondents do not include their job as a hobby.
6 out of 10 people say they are happy at work. While 1 out of 5 people feel – quite the opposite.
The survey has also shown which aspects of working life are important for Generation Y and Z.
The most important factors turned out to be: salary, flexible working time, development prospects, the possibility of remote work, work dynamics, prestige of work, and good relations with co-workers.
It turns out that 51% of respondents from generation Z and 3 out of 5 respondents from generation Y are very satisfied with their level of salary.
The younger the respondents, the more they valued flexible working hours and development prospects. Work dynamics, prestige of the profession and relationships with colleagues are equally important for the respondents – regardless of their age.
The employees were also asked about the reason for choosing a job and the most important thing for them is still the salary. Nowadays, this should not surprise us at all: inflation makes people want to feel financially secured. Additional benefits take a back seat – employees definitely prefer a larger payment than a gym membership. However, this does not mean, that other things – such as a good atmosphere and appropriate organizational culture – should be neglected. If they are at a low level, the employee without remorse will go to the competition.
What is "gainful employment"?
"Gainful employment" is a situation in which the employee is materially self-sufficient thanks to their earnings. They are able to cover all needs (paying for housing, food, healthcare, but also education, culture, etc.), and thus derive full satisfaction from life.
In order for an employee to strive for such a state, they should have access to:
Courses and education – having skills that are in demand in the labor market will allow one to develop professionally and, as a result, receive a promotion.
Professional experience – this includes apprenticeships, internships, volunteering, i.e. everything that will allow someone to learn new things.
Network of contacts – being active in social media and participating in fairs, conferences, interesting events.
CV – an up-to-date document that presents our current skills. Before the recruitment interview, it is also good to get to know employer's profile.
Job search "out of the box" – it is nice sometimes to get out of the comfort zone and in addition to the standard application on the Internet, make direct contact with recruiters using LinkedIn.
Summary
One’s profession does not have to be life’s greatest passion, but it is important to approach one’s duties with a motivation.
This is important, not only from the point of view of the employee themself, but also for the employer. A company that provides its people with appropriate development conditions and attractive salary has a better chance of keeping a good employee for a long time.
However, research has shown that not everyone feels happy in the workplace – this is important information for many organizations in the labor market. Employers can reliably check whether their employees feel good and implement the necessary solutions.
It turns out that it is the youngest, (generation Z), that forces employers to make the most changes. Representatives of this generation are confident and openly signal what they disagree. They suggest to employers what they would like to improve or achieve. If they don't get it, they change jobs without any regrets. Gen Z doesn't want to waste time on something that doesn't bring them satisfaction. They also emphasize the so-called „work-life balance” – a sense of peace and disconnection from professional matters after working hours is extremely important to Generation Z.
Every person strives to achieve happiness - for everyone it has a different meaning but work is an inseparable element of everyone’s lifes and it is important to take care of fulfillment there also.
Follow Consea Group on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest news about well-being in the workplace.
Authors:
Iga Paszkiewicz - Recruitment Consultant Consea Executive Search, Poland
Read the article in Polish:
Jak praca wpływa na nasze poczucie szczęścia?
Dobra atmosfera w miejscu pracy, satysfakcjonujące wynagrodzenie oraz ciekawe wyzwania niewątpliwie wpływają na atrakcyjność naszego życia zawodowego. Ale czy tylko zawodowego?
Praca jest nieodłączną częścią naszego życia i ma na nie ogromny wpływ. Często wykonywany przez nas zawód definiuje nas jako osobę. Na pytanie „kim jesteś?” zazwyczaj od razu wspominamy o naszej profesji. Dopiero potem pojawiają się kolejne elementy i cechy, które nas opisują.
Obowiązki, relacje z pracownikami, sukcesy, ale i porażki przenikają do naszego prywatnego życia. Ciężko jest całkowicie odciąć się od tego, co dzieje się w miejscu pracy. Dlatego tak ważne jest, by to, co robimy sprawiało nam przyjemność, poczucie spełnienia oraz zapewniało bezpieczeństwo finansowe.
Jak osiągnąć „wellbeing” w miejscu pracy?
„Wellbeing” definiujemy jako poczucie zadowolenia i spełnienia pracownika. Jest ono związane z zapewnieniem mu możliwości rozwoju oraz bezpiecznych warunków pracy.
Dodatkowe benefity czy tzw. „owocowe czwartki” to wartość dodana, ale nie zastąpią pracownikowi odpowiedniej kultury organizacyjnej firmy.
Jak zapewnić pracownikom komfort pracy?
Przede wszystkim monitorować jego zadowolenie oraz kreować środowisko, w którym każdy zatrudniony będzie czuł się swobodnie, by powiedzieć, co mu nie odpowiada. Mogą w tym pomóc ankiety, badania lub indywidualne rozmowy pracowników z HR Managerem.
Następnym krokiem jest wdrożenie odpowiedniego działania: mogą to być platformy zapewniające konsultacje z psychologiem, zorganizowanie krótkich zajęć (np. joga), które pomogą pracownikowi oderwać swoje myśli od natłoku obowiązków.
Każda firma i jej potrzeby są inne. Zwłaszcza po pandemii, która sprawiła, że model hybrydowy zagościł na stałe w wielu organizacjach. Ważne, by dopasować odpowiednie narzędzie i za jego pomocą kreować miejsce pracy, które sprawi, że pracownik będzie czuł się w nim spełniony.
Pokolenie Y i Z – czy potrafią cieszyć się z pracy?
Rocketjobs.pl przeprowadziło badania, które miały na celu sprawdzić, jak ważna jest praca w życiu respondenta i czy jest ona również jego pasją.
52% osób zadeklarowało, że praca stanowi istotną część ich życia, 30% twierdzi, że są inne ważniejsze rzeczy, na których się skupiają.
Podobnie było w kwestii postrzegania zawodu jako pasji – 52% właśnie w taki sposób traktuje swoją pracę, a 30% ankietowanych nie zalicza swojej profesji do hobby.
6 z 10 osób twierdzi, że jest w pracy szczęśliwa. 1 z 5 osób – wręcz odwrotnie.
W badaniach zbadano również, jakie aspekty związane z życiem zawodowym są ważne dla przedstawicieli generacji Y i Z.
Najważniejsze okazały się: poziom wynagrodzenia, elastyczny czas pracy, perspektywy rozwoju, możliwość pracy zdalnej, odpowiadająca dynamika pracy, prestiż wykonywanej pracy, dobre relacje ze współpracownikami.
Okazuje się, że 51% ankietowych z pokolenia Z oraz 3 z 5 badanych z pokolenia Y jest bardzo zadowolonych z poziomu wynagrodzenia.
Im młodsi są ankietowani, tym bardziej cenią sobie elastyczny czas pracy oraz perspektywy rozwoju. Dynamika pracy, prestiż wykonywanego zawodu oraz relacje ze współpracownikami są ważne w podobnym stopniu dla badanych osób – niezależnie od ich wieku.
Badanych pytano również o powód wyboru pracy i najważniejsza dla nich jest nadal wysokość wynagrodzenia. W obecnych czasach absolutnie nie powinno nas to dziwić. Inflacja powoduje, że każdy z nas chciałby czuć się zabezpieczony finansowo. Dodatkowe benefity schodzą wtedy na drugi plan – pracownicy zdecydowanie bardziej wolą większą wypłatę niż karnet sportowy. Nie oznacza to jednak, że inne kwestie – takie, jak dobra atmosfera oraz odpowiednia kultura organizacyjna powinny być zaniedbane. Jeśli są one na niskim poziomie, pracownik bez wyrzutów sumienia przejdzie do konkurencji.
Czym jest „gainfull employment”?
„Gainfull employment” to sytuacja, w której pracownik dzięki swoim zarobkom jest samowystarczalny materialnie. Jest on w stanie pokryć wszystkie potrzeby (opłacenie mieszkania, żywności, opieki zdrowotnej, ale i edukacji, kultury), a co za tym idzie czerpać pełną satysfakcję z życia.
Aby pracownik dążył do takiego stanu, powinien mieć dostęp do:
Kursów i edukacji – posiadanie umiejętności, które są pożądane na rynku pracy pozwolą na rozwój zawodowy, a w rezultacie otrzymanie awansu.
Doświadczenie zawodowe – zaliczamy do tego praktyki, staż, wolontariat, czyli wszystko, co pozwoli nam na naukę nowych rzeczy.
Sieć kontaktów – bycie aktywnym w social mediach oraz uczestniczenie w targach, konferencjach, ciekawych eventach.
Odpowiednie CV – aktualny dokument, który przedstawia nasze dotychczasowe umiejętności. Przed rozmową rekrutacyjną warto również zapoznać się z profilem pracodawcy.
Poszukiwanie pracy „out of the box” – warto czasami wyjść ze strefy komfortu i oprócz standardowego aplikowania w Internecie, można zadbać o bezpośredni kontakt z rekruterami za pomocą LinkedIn.
Wnioski
Nasz zawód nie musi być naszą największą pasją, ale ważne, by z chęcią i dużą dawką motywacji podchodzić do swoich obowiązków.
Jest to ważne nie tylko z punktu widzenia samego pracownika, ale też pracodawcy. Firma, która zapewnia swoim ludziom odpowiednie warunki rozwoju, atrakcyjne wynagrodzenie oraz poczucie sprawczości na danym stanowisku, ma większą szansę na zatrzymanie u siebie dobrego pracownika.
Badania pokazały jednak, że nie wszyscy odczuwają szczęście w miejscu zatrudnienia. To ważna informacja dla wielu organizacji na rynku pracy. Mogą one w rzetelny sposób sprawdzić czy ich pracownicy czują się dobrze i wdrożyć niezbędne rozwiązania, gdyby badania okazały się być mało optymistyczne.
Okazuje się, że to najmłodsi, czyli generacja Z wymusza na pracodawcach najwięcej zmian. Przedstawiciele tej generacji są pewni siebie i otwarcie sygnalizują to, z czym się nie zgadzają. Sugerują pracodawcom to, co chcieliby usprawnić lub uzyskać. Jeśli tego nie otrzymują, bez mrugnięcia okiem zmieniają pracę. Nie chcą tracić czasu na coś, co nie przynosi im satysfakcji. Podkreślają również tzw. work-life balance – poczucie spokoju i odcięcia się od spraw zawodowych po godzinach pracy jest dla nich niezwykle ważne.
Podsumowując, każdy człowiek dąży do osiągnięcia szczęścia. Dla każdego z nas ma ono inną definicję, ale praca to nieodłączny element naszego życia i warto, by zadbać o nasze spełnienie również tam.
Human Resources in China: challenges brought by Covid-19 pandemic
Two and a half years after it started, the Covid-19 pandemic is still greatly impacting businesses in China at all levels. Especially the ‘zero-cases policy’ is creating increasing difficulties to individuals and businesses in the mid-long term.
From HR perspective, for companies, especially foreign companies, one of the major concerns today is how to attract and retain international talents, considering the exodus of foreign nationals and the scarcity of new talents coming to China. In some specific industries, international competences are hardly replaceable by local workforce and the increased scarcity of foreign talents is creating many challenges.
International businesses that provide internal rotations of international profiles now, find themselves having to look outside their own reality to overcome the difficulty of moving talents in China. The immediate effect is that businesses are willing to offer highly competitive salary to attract and retain international resources and others are turning to local employees to bridge the gap.
The peculiarity of China job market challenges European companies in attracting and retaining local employees, as many are the job opportunities rising all at once. In addition, it is not easy to find qualified resources, particularly in terms of “soft skills”, “critical thinking” and “practical knowledge”; an issue present for several years but exacerbated in the last period due to the scarcity of international resources, which led businesses to look at the pool of local candidates.
In the long run, this localization strategy of the team might significantly impact the management and communication between HQs and the China business. Both foreign and Chinese are unable to travel to HQ for information exchanges, networking, training, and sharing of expertise. The risks facing are the lack of diversity in the team, and the isolation of China operations.
All these elements have led to an increase in the demand for international resources which is unbalanced with respect to the current market offer. Currently, businesses in China are monitoring the situation for their next moves, and we, Consea Group, with our team in Shanghai will keep a close eye on it for you.
Authors:
Gaia Ceccatelli - Country Manager China
Chiara Altomonte - General Manager and Head of the Fashion & Retail division
Consea’s Resume Myths, Tips, and Tricks
Advice from our recruitment team that will help your resume stand out.
The first impression does not have to be the one that matters when selecting a Candidate but the resume is the business card through which Candidates make themselves known by the companies. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your resume.
MYTH: A graphic / creative CV captures more attention
The European format is not always the best choice when writing a resume, you can also use more creative templates but on the basis of your graphic skills. An essential and clear resume is better than one which is incomprehensible and difficult to read.
SUGGESTION: If you do not have graphic skills, create a typical resume in MS Word that contains all the essential information and describes your work experience better than a thousand graphics.
TIP: There are several websites that offer templates and ideas to create an original but at the same time effective resume. If you do not already know them we suggest you try Canva www.canva.com.
MYTH: You have to insert the photo on your resume
Certainly, being able to associate a face to a resume is a great help and makes the resume emerge but you need to remember that the photo must be professional and appropriate.
SUGGESTION: It is better not to insert personal photographs or taken from group photos. Take time to take a picture which shows your professionalism and represents only you.
TIP: Once you have taken the photo, use it both for your resume and LinkedIn profile. It will allow you to give uniformity to the way you present yourself and will make you easily recognizable.
MYTH: Provide details about hobbies and personal characteristics.
Adding your hobbies and personal characteristics to your resume can be a plus but only if they provide real added value.
SUGGESTION: Each information that you decided to write in your resume is evaluated therefore it is better to insert only these elements that could have a value for the position you apply for.
TIP: Think about which competence (transversal or specific) can recall the information provided and select only the relevant ones (e.g. competitive activity – determination and achievement of results; reading – curiosity / information and education; cooking – creativity).
MYTH: Less is more!
A resume does not necessarily have to be one page, especially if you have several years of experience, but at the same time it should not be discursive or include too much details as it risks losing effectiveness.
SUGGESTION: An effective resume is between 2 and 3 pages. It reports professional experience in chronological order from the current position to the oldest. It contains relevant information and a brief description of each role, highlighting specific skills and knowledge (There are companies that associate different role content to the same job title. If a short description is therefore associated with the job title it will be easier to identify Candidate’s responsibilities.) It is useful to add some detailed information such as the number of people managed / business size / results achieved. Finally, it is worth specifying the knowledge of a foreign language through the competence levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and not through terms such as “good”, “fluent”.
TIP: The resume is your business card – Imagine that those who receive it do not know you and they want to have an overview of your skills and then explore them in an interview, but if some key information is missing (knowledge of a particular sector, program / channel …) they could exclude you from the selection process.
MYTH: Lying in resume makes it more appealing
It is well known that lies have short legs so it is better to expose your work path honestly and be able to motivate any discontinuities in your work experience.
SUGGESTION: A good recruiter does not judge the book by its cover but, wanting to build a relationship of mutual trust and reliability with the Candidate, will tend not to contact people who have talked about a different work path than the one actually lived or have boasted skills / responsibilities never acquired.
MYTH: Give a “personal” touch to the CV / Do not insert personal details
It is not necessary to enter detailed information about your personal life (e.g. names of children, spouse…) but do not forget to enter your contact information (phone number and e-mail address – verify if they are correct!) in order to be effectively contacted. It is often useful to put in your date of birth, which does not have to be seen as a discriminating factor but as a data that allows you to see the profile as a whole.
Our office is getting bigger: new opening in Singapore
Consea Group, one of the leading executive search and HR consulting firms in the world, is proud to announce the opening of its new office in Singapore in June 2023. With the opening of the new office, Consea Group aims to expand its reach in the Asia-Pacific region and better serve its clients. The new office in Singapore will be the seventh branch at international level, joining its offices in Shanghai, Krakow, Sao Paolo, Mexico City, Chicago, and New York. Consea Group is dedicated at providing its clients with the highest quality executive search services, and the new office in Singapore will be no exception.
With almost 20 years of experience in Asia thanks to the Shanghai office, Consea decided to follow the trend of senior managers, executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to conduct business in the Asian countries to consolidate and diversify its presence in the region, while maintaining a strong interested and attention to China. Due to her strong experience and knowledge of the Asian Market, the Consea’ Singapore office, already operational for a few weeks, will be managed by Gaia Ceccatelli, in Consea since 2019, as General Manager APAC.
With an overall bullish hiring market in Singapore, there was a strong appetite to hire from almost every sector for a wide range of roles, with the highest demand being for executive and mid-management (5-12 years of experience) level professionals. A notable change was the increase of regional roles based in Singapore; with the country gradually becoming the APAC hub of choice for more multinational companies.
This competitive recruitment landscape came as the economy fully opened up post-COVID-19, and companies would like to meet their growing demand to hire. Despite candidates showing greater willingness to move roles, it remained a candidate-short (and driven) market for the last months.
The HR market is still a big challenge!
Consea Group’s CEO, Chiara Altomonte, made the following statement about the company’s expansion into Singapore: “We are very excited to be expanding our presence in the Asia-Pacific region and to be able to offer our clients the same high-quality executive search services that we are known for. We are confident that the opening of our Singapore office will help us better serve our clients and help them finding the best candidates to fulfil their open positions.”
We have many initiatives in the pipeline, follow us on LinkedIn so you don’t miss all the updates and projects we are developing!
Authors:
Chiara Altomonte – General Manager and Head of the Fashion & Retail division
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