Own your SME status: Your secret weapon when recruiting

But you might have something they don’t have. In fact, when it comes to recruiting new staff, you may have several qualities that are very appealing compared to a corporation.

Here, The HR Dept, looks at how to sell the benefits of being an SME in job interviews.

Responsibility, opportunity, community
Job interviews are a two-way process. While you are certainly interviewing candidates, they will also be sussing out whether they would like to work for you.

When they may also be being interviewed by bigger companies, make sure you emphasise the opportunity they will have to make their mark in your SME. The smaller workplace and workforce mean SMEs tend to offer more opportunity at an earlier stage, and afford more visibility and recognition to each individual’s achievements.

This, in turn, may help employees gain more skills and experience in less time, helping them on their career journey.

SMEs often have a strong purpose
SMEs often each sit quite distinctly in the marketplace as they were founded to solve a specific problem.

Reflecting their founder’s passion, they could have a strong ethos around serving a particular demographic, or a quality like innovation, or a cause like reducing plastic waste. Whatever your passion is, make sure it shines through in your recruitment and it will help you hire people who are aligned to your vision.

The backbone of the economy
From big oil to big tech, it is FTSE 100 companies who normally steal the headlines in the news, but it is SMEs who are the backbone of the global economy. In fact, globally they represent 90% of all companies and almost 70% for jobs and GDP.

It is a similar story in the UK where they are the engine room of the economy. They are often innovative, fast-growing and dynamic places to work.

So, far from being a side show, when people come to work for you they are at the main event. Do you portray this with confidence?

Collaboration with other SMEs
Share that one of the most exciting parts of working for an SME is the opportunity to collaborate with other SMEs. Unlike much larger firms, SMEs tend to focus on what they do best and outsource non-core functions to the wider SME community.

Not only can this produce innovative and efficient solutions, but it also exposes your staff to new industries and skill sets, and helps them expand their network.

These are really valuable benefits to working for an SME that shouldn’t be undersold when hiring. The alternative may be to become trapped in a corporate bubble, unable to reach their full potential and connect with a broad base of people.

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