Perspectives

top ten job skills

Top Ten Job Skills to look for in your next New Hire

Michael Caicco

Below we list the top ten job skills that every viable candidate should have.

Not all jobs call for the same skills, but for every career path there are core skills that every new hire should possess. Whether the vacancy is for a millwright, entry level sales person, a marketing manager or an engineer, those main core skills should be at the forefront. Not only do they reveal growth potential, but they will also give an indication as to how flexible a new hire will be, especially as roles and responsibilities change or shift due to organizational growth or downsizing.

1. Communication

Employees at any level should be able to effectively communicate and share their ideas clearly and confidently in a verbal or written capacity. Good use of language, proper grammar and sentence structure are required when one of the most common forms of business communications is through electronic mail. Honing this one skill and mastering it will put any good candidate at the top of the list.

2. Works effectively in a team.

Team work may sound cliché, but it is essentially the backbone of any successful organization Team work doesn’t simply mean that every person executes their role; it is the ability to execute projects from start to finish by leveraging the skills of your team and ensuring that each is used to its best ability for the success of the organization. A strong team that is in sync, can build empires from the ground up…without a strong team, the road to success can be long and full of obstacles.

3. Leadership

Good team work cannot be achieved without great leadership skills. Someone who possesses the ability to harness, and utilize successfully, the skills of their peers is a great asset. Good leadership requires an individual to make the tough decisions and be able to execute and deliver using the resources available to them.

4. Self-Motivated

An individual that can motivate themselves, especially in difficult situations or environments, is a great asset due to their ability to get the job done despite it. It is a combination of determination to not only get things done and make things happen, but to also constantly look for better ways of doing things. Self-motivation is key to achieving a goal or project when you lack support or resources – making it a great skill to have.

5. Time Management

Successful time management is a great skill for any potential new hire due to the sometimes fluctuating amount of work an employee has to complete. Manage time effectively, prioritising tasks and being able to work to deadlines is a skill that not everyone can master.

Rounding out the top ten are being flexible, having good organization skills, working well under pressure, having a good work ethic and finally – a positive attitude. Choosing a candidate to fulfill a new role is not an easy process and can sometimes take a few rounds of interviews and testing to eventually choose the right candidate. A new hires foundation should be built on these dynamic and versatile skills, they may not possess them all at the beginning but over time they can learn to adapt and grow by mastering their existing skills and learning new ones.

jobs outlook canada 2015

Job Outlook Canada 2015

George Sayn-Wittgenstein

Canada Adds 59,000 New Jobs in May! Overall Economic Recovery is Slow – Job Growth up 1% Over Last Year – 2015 is becoming a Job Seekers Market

Stats Canada job figures for May surprised many – Canada added 59,000 new jobs. Manufacturing, which has experienced significant job loss in the past decade, added 22,000 jobs in May bringing overall employment back to where it was in spring of 2014.

2015 will be known as the year of the crash in oil prices. Jobs in the oil, gas and mining sectors have been hit hard with some reports indicating nearly 20% job reduction in these sectors. The retail sector has also suffered job losses this year largely due to the withdrawal of Target from the Canadian marketplace.

Despite these set backs, job growth is up 1% over last year and unemployment is steady at 6.8% according to Stats Canada. The fall in the price of oil is dropping our dollar and finally our manufacturing sector can be competitive supplying products to a booming US economy. We are starting to see our non energy businesses produce jobs as well.

Industries Experiencing Job Growth in the last year:

  • Health Care – 38,700 new jobs
  • Accommodation and Food Services – 34,200 new jobs
  • Professional, Scientific, Technical – 23,200 new jobs
  • Education – 13,800 new jobs
  • Construction – 13,600 new jobs
  • Real Estate – 9,200 new jobs
  • Wholesale Trade – 8,600 new jobs
  • Finance and Insurance – 7,200 new jobs
  • Transportation and Warehousing – 6,200 new jobs
  • Arts and Entertainment – 4,800 new jobs
  • Forestry – 1,400 new jobs

2015 is a Job Seekers Market

Employers are having trouble filling roles in science, engineering, technology and skilled trades. If you are looking to grow your team, using the services of a recruiter is a wise decision in this job seekers market. Quality candidates are cautious about leaving a secure position and generally this group of employees are not actively searching or applying to job advertisements. A recruiter can help target people who match your company needs and start a discussion with working professionals to help them understand the merits of your career opportunity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wine of the Month

Carol Irwin

Wine of the Month – Sign Up for the Fusion Newsletter

Sign up for the Fusion Career Services Newsletter and read about our feature wine of the month.

Do you enjoy fine wines, are you looking for a special gift or do you want to add to your collection? Michael and George have been enjoying and collecting vintage wine for over 20 years and have a keen sense of great taste and value.

Feature Wine for June:

Wine: Ironstone Vineyards

Grape: Zinfandel, 2013

Region: California

Value: under $20.00

Visit Fusion Career Services to sign up to our Employment Trends and HR Update Newsletter.

 

 

bad behaviour work

Workplace Bad Behaviour – Tips for Managers

Carol Irwin

How to Manage Workplace Bad Behaviour

Most of us have experienced working with a co-worker who displayed one or more of the following workplace bad behaviours:

  • Gossiping
  • Showing up late
  • Spending too much time on personal business
  • Taking extra long breaks
  • Backstabbing
  • Telling lies

These bad work behaviours rarely go unnoticed. Eventually they will lead to resentment, poor morale and conflict. It is best to address these problem work behaviours quickly. As a manager or business owner you need to take action. If you do not, you risk losing the respect of your employees. In the worst case scenario, your best employees may seek out other job opportunities.

Tips for Correcting Behaviour Problems:

  1. Gather and document the facts.
  2. Start with an informal approach.
  3. Meet privately with the employee.
  4. Focus on the work related behaviour and how it impacts co-workers and performance.
  5. Be specific about what the employee needs to improve.
  6. Be professional. Don’t use language that is judgmental or critical. Don’t comment on the employee’s personality.
  7. Be positive in your message about the employee improving their behaviour.
  8. Follow up.
  9. If the situation improves, provide positive feedback.
  10. If the situation does not improve use a more formal approach – a formal warning; transfer this person to another location or position that may be more suitable; or eventual termination of employment. Make sure to discuss the consequences of failing to improve at your next meeting.  

Problems like those listed above rarely resolve themselves. Make sure you react swiftly when bad behaviour occurs in your workplace.

staff training

Invest in Staff Training

Michael Caicco

An Investment in Staff Training will Help your Business

A common phrase when starting a new business is “You can’t make money without spending money”. This is very true no matter what business you are launching, but it does not only apply to tangible, brick and mortar investments, but also to people investment.  Having highly trained staff to sell, develop or repair your product is one of the most important factors in success.

Training staff can be essential for specific tasks related to your business such as first aid training, food handling or starting a new inventory program. More important is training that incorporates the development of employee’s long-term career goals – something that can foster and promote greater job satisfaction. A more satisfied employee is likely to stay longer and be more productive while on your team.

One of the biggest reasons to invest in your people is the high cost of turnover. Many studies have revealed that employees who receive poor or little job training are more likely to leave within a year of starting. Having to on board and train new staff constantly, will have a big effect on productivity and overall staff morale. Current staff members are required to work more hours, sales may decline and the time it takes to screen and interview potential new candidates all results in a loss of productivity that would normally be contributing to the growth of the business.

Bottom-line, the cost of staff turnover adds up. This is why managers have to invest in their staff. Although the initial costs may be high, staff training pays back your investment. Here are the top four reasons why you should be investing in your employees:

  1. Training helps your business run better. Trained employees will be better equipped to handle customer inquiries, make a sale or use computer systems.
  2. Training is a recruiting tool. Today’s young workers want more than a weekly pay. They are more attracted to employment that teaches them new skills or develops their existing skills.
  3. Training promotes job satisfaction. Encouraging employees to develop well-rounded skill sets will help them be more engaged and involved.
  4. Training is a retention tool and instills loyalty and commitment. Employees are more likely to stay if you offer them new and better ways to grow and learn with the company.

Another item to take note of is the type of investment you put in your staff. Most employees, especially new millennials, seek training in areas that go beyond learning a new computer program. Some of the areas of training that are most sought after are transferrable skills and skills that assist the company as a whole such as:

  • Leadership development
  • Communication and negotiation
  • Team-building
  • Customer service
  • Project management
  • Workload and time management
  • Sales and marketing, including social media
  • Sustainable business practices
  • Human resources and employee engagement
  • Health and Safety management

Overall, staff investment is one expense that no company should skimp on. Learning and upgrading employee skills makes business sense and the long-term gain will always be a benefit to the organization.