by Phillipa Geard
If you find it challenging to find good talent, you are not alone. In my dealings with other CEOs and business owners, I often hear this statement: “There is no good talent out there”. Similarly, this Future of Jobs 2023 World Economic Forum report states that, on a scale from 1 to 7, the ease of finding skilled employees in South Africa is only 3.89. Despite the doomsayers there are ways to find and attract good talent.
These are a couple of common hiring hurdles we see and suggestions on how to overcome them:
Skills shortages: In some skill sets, there are definite shortages. But because of the demand, innovation is on the rise. For example, software developers are scarce, but now there is a whole industry mushrooming of low-code solutions. Don’t fish in the same pool as everyone else. Think broadly where you fish for talent. At RecruitMyMom we have a wide reach of women across South Africa, many of whom are not accessible via broadly used channels.
Are you trying to replicate yourself? A common mistake of employers. Familiarity bias and unconscious bias are traps many hiring managers fall into. Hiring managers may have a preference for candidates who remind them of themselves because it creates a sense of comfort and familiarity. They might believe that individuals who share their traits or experiences are more likely to fit into the company culture and understand the job requirements. This is a big misconception; be open to candidates who differ from you.
Are you trying to hire unicorns? A unicorn is a candidate with an extraordinary combination of skills and qualities. "I’d like a PA with digital marketing experience." Unicorns are rare, and if you do find one, they are expensive and almost impossible to replace when they leave. My advice is don’t grow them and don’t hire them. Rather, hire specialists into your area of greatest need.
Are you willing to pay a market related salary? We have seen wage inflation skyrocket post Covid for all digital, bookkeeping, and IT related skills. You may have lost touch with market related salaries, so find a recruitment partner that can advise you so that you can attract good skills.
The challenge of finding top talent is a common one, but there are ways to overcome it. Please feel free to reach out to me should you require personal guidance on the above hurdles or any other staff-related concerns affecting your organisation. We are dedicated to providing value within RecruitMyMom, and my door is always open.
Phillipa Geard is the Founder and CEO of multi-award winning company RecruitMyMom.co.za, an innovative online recruitment agency for forward-thinking companies, looking for top-calibre female skills. Skills that value flexibility, either hours or location. More recently she launched RecruitAGraduate, an online platform designed to make the hiring of graduates and interns effortless. Both are full service agencies. She is a wife, mother and a social entrepreneur at heart.