Author Archives: Louise Hjorth

How Small Companies Can Compete for Top Talent 

Offer Flexibility

One of the biggest advantages of small companies is that they can often offer more flexible work arrangements than larger companies. This can include flexible schedules, the ability to work from home, and the option to take time off when needed. By offering flexibility, small companies can appeal to top talent who are looking for a better work-life balance.

Provide Growth Opportunities

Small companies often offer employees more opportunities for growth and advancement than larger companies. This can be especially appealing to top talent who are looking for a career that offers opportunities for growth and development. By offering career development opportunities, small companies can provide a path for employees to progress in their careers and achieve their professional goals.

Promote a Positive Work Culture

Small companies often have an intimate, family-like atmosphere that can be very appealing to top talent. By promoting a positive work culture that values employees and their contributions, small companies can create a supportive and engaging work environment that will attract top talent. This can include regular team-building activities, a focus on employee well-being, and a commitment to open and honest communication.

Provide Competitive Compensation Packages

While small companies may not be able to match the salaries and benefits offered by larger companies, they can still offer competitive compensation packages. This can include flexible benefits packages that allow employees to choose the benefits that are most important to them, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Additionally, small companies can offer other benefits such as stock options, performance-based bonuses, and flexible work arrangements.

Invest in Employee Development

Investing in employee development is another way that small companies can compete for top talent. By providing employees with opportunities for learning and growth, small companies can create a work environment that is attractive to top talent. This can include regular training sessions, access to professional development resources, and opportunities to attend industry events and conferences.

Promote Work-Life Balance

Finally, promoting work-life balance is another way that small companies can compete for top talent. By providing employees with the tools and resources they need to achieve a healthy balance between work and personal life, small companies can create a supportive and engaging work environment that will attract top talent. This can include flexible work arrangements, access to health and wellness resources, and opportunities for personal development.

Conclusion

Small companies can compete for top talent by offering flexible work arrangements, providing growth opportunities, promoting a positive work culture, providing competitive compensation packages, investing in employee development, and promoting work-life balance. By focusing on these key areas, small companies can create a work environment that is appealing to top talent and ensure that they can compete for the best employees.

Scancruit Wins Best Executive Search Recruitment Specialist in UAE Award

The MEA Business Awards 2022 has examined a variety of industries and sectors in their search for the region’s finest businesses. From aviation and agriculture to utility companies and yacht manufacturers, MEA Business Awards aim to consider each and every market which trades within the MEA region. 

Strong Reputation for Innovation and Creativity  

In addition to Scancruit Wins Best Executive Search Recruitment Specialist in UAE Award. MEA Markets has written an article explaining more about the company. Explaining why Scancruit is the right company to win the business award. 

 

“Scandinavian businesses have cultivated a strong reputation for innovation and creativity across industries and around the world. Scancruit has certainly done its part to reinforce this reputation on the greater recruitment landscape”. 

 

Scandinavia has a long tradition of trust-based and transparent collaborations worldwide. The culture is known for being creative, innovative, and having new ways of thinking while focusing on sustainable growth and development. To help bolster this mission, Scancruit plants a tree in the Scandinavian forests for each successful recruitment. Planting a tree is a beautiful and useful gift for the future and helps for a better environment and climate.

Best Executive Search Recruitment Specialists

Scancruit value people and this underpins everything that they do. They believe that the right people make the difference between success and failure. This is especially true when it comes to executive search. There are a few areas of recruitment that require a precise process as finding leaders to help level up or otherwise improve the businesses they enter. 

 

This is especially important when it comes to operating in the UAE, which is experiencing a prolonged period of growth as a core business hub in the Middle East. These businesses need leaders and managers that match their relentless pace and endeavor to maintain best-in-class standards. Scancruit has found success by understanding what makes each company thrive and flourish – and what qualities they look for in new talent. 

 

6 Tips for a Successful Job Interview

Research the Company and Role

Before the interview, it is crucial to research the company and the role you are applying for. This will help you understand the company’s culture and values, as well as what the hiring manager is looking for in a candidate. Use the company’s website, social media accounts, and other online resources to gather information. You can also reach out to your network to see if anyone has any insights.

Prepare Responses to Interview Questions

It is a good idea to prepare responses to common interview questions in advance. This will help you feel more confident and articulate your answers clearly. Some common interview questions include: “Tell me about yourself”, “Why do you want to work here?” and “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”

Dress Appropriately

It is important to dress appropriately for the interview. This will make a good first impression on the hiring manager. Make sure to wear professional attire that is clean and well-maintained. Research the company’s dress code to ensure you are dressing appropriately for the role.

Arrive Early and be Polite

Arriving early for your interview shows that you are punctual and respectful of the hiring manager’s time. It is also a good idea to be polite and friendly to everyone you meet, as they may be evaluating your behaviour as part of the interview process.

Ask Questions

An interview is not just an opportunity for the hiring manager to ask questions. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions. This shows that you are interested in the role and the company, and it can also help you gather the information that can be useful when making your decision. Some good questions to ask include: “What are the biggest challenges facing the department?”, “What kind of support and resources are available for employees?” and “What opportunities are there for professional development?”

Follow up After the Interview

After the interview, it is important to follow up with a thank-you note or email to the hiring manager. This shows that you are grateful for the opportunity and that you are still interested in the role. Additionally, following up can help keep your name fresh in the hiring manager’s mind and can increase your chances of getting hired.

Conclusion 

A successful job interview requires preparation, professionalism, and follow-up. By following these 6 tips, you can make a positive impression on the hiring manager and increase your chances of getting hired. Good luck!

4 Ways to Create a Better Workplace

Encourage Open Communication

Open and effective communication is essential for creating a positive work environment. When employees feel that their ideas and opinions are valued, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work. Encourage open communication by creating channels for employees to provide feedback and suggestions, holding regular meetings, and promoting an open-door policy for management.

Additionally, it is important to listen to employees and take their feedback seriously. This can be accomplished by regularly checking in with employees, providing opportunities for anonymous feedback, and following up on suggestions and concerns promptly.

Promote a Positive and Inclusive Culture

Promoting a positive and inclusive culture is another important aspect of creating a better workplace. A workplace that values diversity and inclusiveness is more likely to attract and retain top talent and can also lead to increased creativity and innovation.

To promote a positive and inclusive culture, it is important to have clear policies and procedures in place that promote diversity and prevent discrimination. Additionally, it is important to provide training and education opportunities for employees to understand and appreciate different perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures.

Invest in Employee Development

Investing in employee development is another key factor in creating a better workplace. Providing employees with opportunities to learn and grow not only benefits them professionally but also helps the company by increasing their knowledge and skills.

Invest in employee development by offering training programs, attending conferences and workshops, providing mentorship opportunities, and encouraging employees to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

Offer Flexible Work Arrangements

Offering flexible work arrangements can help create a better workplace by providing employees with the ability to balance their work and personal lives. Flexible work arrangements can include remote work, flexible schedules, and job sharing, among others.

Not only can flexible work arrangements improve employee morale and job satisfaction, but they can also improve productivity and reduce stress. Additionally, offering flexible work arrangements can also help attract and retain top talent, especially for employees who have demanding personal or family responsibilities.

Conclusion

Creating a better workplace requires a combination of open communication, promoting a positive and inclusive culture, investing in employee development, and offering flexible work arrangements. By implementing these four strategies, organisations can create a positive and productive work environment that benefits both employees and the company.

Why Consider Using Recruitment Companies for Hiring New Candidates

Hiring new employees is a critical and time-consuming task for companies, especially for small to medium-sized businesses that don’t have a dedicated HR department. While it’s possible to handle the recruitment process in-house, there are many benefits to working with a recruitment company. Here are some of the reasons why companies should consider using recruitment companies when hiring new candidates.

Expertise and Knowledge

Recruitment companies have a wealth of expertise and knowledge about the job market, the latest hiring trends, and the best recruitment practices. They have the experience and know-how to find the right candidates for your company, saving you time and effort in the recruitment process.

Bigger Reach

Recruitment companies have a bigger reach than most companies and can access a much larger pool of potential candidates. They have a database of candidates and can use various recruiting techniques, such as social media and job boards, to find the right fit for your company. This means that companies can access a larger range of candidates, including those who may not be actively seeking a new job.

Cost-Effective

Hiring new employees can be expensive, especially if companies handle the recruitment process in-house. Recruitment companies often offer cost-effective solutions, and their fees can be more affordable than the cost of hiring a full-time HR manager or recruiter. Additionally, recruitment companies can save companies time and effort by handling the recruitment process, which frees up internal resources for other tasks.

Timesaving

Hiring new employees can be a time-consuming task, especially if companies handle the recruitment process in-house. Recruitment companies can handle the entire process, from sourcing candidates to conducting interviews and background checks, which saves companies time and allows them to focus on other tasks.

Database of Candidates

Recruitment companies have access to a diverse database of candidates, including those from different backgrounds, cultures, and experience levels. This means that companies can access a bigger range of candidates and find the best fit for their business needs.

Better Quality Hires

Recruitment companies have the experience and knowledge to find the right candidates for your company. They can evaluate candidates’ skills, experience, and qualifications to ensure that they are the right fit for your company. This means that companies are more likely to make better-quality hires, which can lead to improved employee retention and better business outcomes.

Compliance with Regulations

Recruitment companies are familiar with local, national, and international laws and regulations related to hiring and employment. They can help companies ensure that they are following these regulations, which can help companies avoid costly legal battles and disputes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using recruitment companies for hiring new candidates can be a smart move for companies. By leveraging the expertise and knowledge of recruitment companies, companies can save time and money, access a larger range of candidates, and make better-quality hires. Whether you’re a small to medium-sized business or a large corporation, working with a recruitment company can be a cost-effective and efficient way to hire new employees.

Best Work From Home Productivity Tips 

There are many advantages of working from home, and nowadays more and more people are working a few days from home a week or fully remotely. But working from home can also be challenging, especially when it comes to staying productive and juggling the demands of your daily job, next to home and family concerns. Therefor we have put down the best work from home productivity tips, for you to stay on top of your deadlines and daily tasks when working from home. 

Get Up Early To Start Your Day

When working from home it can be tempting to sleep a little longer than usually, since you don’t have to rush to get to the office. But if you are having a difficult time staying productive, waking up early to start your day, is a good strategy. Set an alarm, early in the morning and make yourself your favorite morning beverage and start looking at your first tasks for the day. This is a great way to start your morning in a productive way. 

Time Management and Scheduling 

Time management is the process of planning and organizing how to divide your time between specific activities. The benefits of time management include better productivity, increases your focus, builds confidence, and allows you to plan your time for effectively. One of the best ways to be successful with time management is by scheduling. When creating a schedule, you will put down the tasks you need to complete each day, including breaks. Scheduling is one of the best work from home productivity tips, since it positively impacts your mental health and wellbeing. 

Set Up a Motivating Home Office 

One of the most important best work from home productivity tips, is to set up a home office space. Many remote workers and professionals who work from home, will tell you that it is necessary to have a specific working area. Whether it is a corner of a living room or a guest room, turned into an office. Your home office should be a productive and peaceful area. 

Try to Avoid Distractions 

Many surveys have shown that working from home results in increased productivity levels. Though there are a few home life distractions, that can make working from home more difficult, and you lose focus from your daily tasks. To avoid distractions, make sure to have clear communication between other members in your household, when taking a work call or meeting. 

Build Movement in Your Day 

If you want to be productive when working from home, make sure to take regular breaks and give your mind time to recharge. One of the best ways to ensuring you look after your mind and body, is by allocating time for exercise, stretches or making sure that you are not stuck in one position the whole day. Building movement into your work from home routine, has proven to reduce levels of stress, uplift your mood and stimulate your brain function. 

Conclusion

Working from home come with both advantages and challenges. But creating a schedule, setting clear expectations, and eliminating distractions can all enhance the productivity. Finally, remember to keep in mind, to focus on your mind and body, by building movement in your day, signing of work for the night and taking time to focus on yourself. 

4 Things To Know About Scandinavian Values

For almost a decade, the five Nordic countries – Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, have all been in the top ten of the happiest countries in the world. In fact, the Nordic countries has been occupying the top three positions, in the World Happiness Report (WHR) during the last few years.

The Nordic model, is built on values such as trust, openness, and transparency. A model focused on taking care of the people around you, so that everyone has the same opportunities in life. As well as taking care of the environment, and always working towards new and creative ways of thinking. The Scandinavian values are beneficial in many ways. We have put down 4 things to know about the Scandinavian values, for you to get more knowledge about how they do things “up there” and perhaps you will even get inspired, to adapt some of these characteristics in your organization. 

Trust And Transparency


Scandinavia has a long tradition of trust based and transparent collaborations worldwide. Being transparent means operating in a way that creates openness and helps build trust between managers and their teams. A transparent mindset encourages clear communication, collaboration and understanding of others. 

New Ways Of Thinking, Creativity And Innovation


The Nordic culture and mindset is known for being creative, innovative, and having new ways of thinking. Innovative companies are always trying out new ideas and offering new services and products. Diversity and spotting new trends are important characteristics of an innovative company. 

Compassion And Equality


Your ability to put yourself in the shoes of others and understand what another person is experiencing, will create more compassion and empathy to the workplace. The people who value compassion and equality may be more effective at getting a more diverse and inclusive work environment.  

Working For Sustainable Growth And Development


While focusing on all the above factors, sustainable growth and development is also very much a part of the Scandinavian mentality and culture. Surrounded by breath taking Scandinavian nature, a sustainable business approach is mandatory. An approach that is focusing on how an organization operates in the ecological, social, and economic environments in the long term. 

The Future Of Recruitment 


Scancruit value people and this underpins everything that we do. We believe that the right people make the difference between success and failure. We are known for our transparent and long-term partnerships with companies worldwide. Our recruitment company won the most innovative recruitment and headhunting award in 2022, which goes hand in hand with our innovative and creative mindset. Lastly but not least, we are focusing on sustainable growth and development. Scancruit plants a tree in the Scandinavian forests for each successful recruitment. Contact our team today and let us help you find the right talent to grow your company. 

Top 2023 Tips on How to Write a CV 

We have all heard the frightening statistics that employers only spend approximately seven seconds looking over a CV. If you want to impress a company or a recruitment agency, you must get it right the first time and you will go straight to the interview process. 

What your CV includes and looks likes depends on the industry and role you are applying for. But all CVs must follow a similar structure to get noticed. 

Whether you are wondering how to write a CV for the first time or simply updating your current CV. Our recruitment agency has created a guide with the top 2023 tips on how to write a CV. This guide includes insider tips from our Scancruit recruitment team. It will help you get noticed for all the right reasons. 

Tailor your CV to the Specific Job 

We can’t mention this enough, make sure to read the job description from beginning to end. Make sure to understand what the employer is looking for and what the role requires. If you understand the job description you will immediately give yourself an advantage in the competition of candidates. Besides that, you must research the company itself. Perhaps you can find some information about the values and culture in the company. Which you can include in the CV, which will show that you fit in. 

Highlight Keywords in your CV

Many employers and recruitment companies use ATS systems to scan applications before they are seen by human eyes. These systems can scan CVs for specific keywords or phrases related to the role and job description. If you CV doesn’t include these words and phrases, you might not make it past this stage. Therefor, it is important to highlight keywords and specific skills listed in the job description, and include them in your CV. If the job description mentions specific skills like ‘good communication skills or attention to details’. Make sure to highlight those words somewhere. 

Make your CV Relevant 

When writing your CV, keep returning to the job description and ask yourself whether the information you have included is truly relevant. You don’t want to undersell yourself. But as mentioned previously in this post, you only got seconds to make an impression. In terms of the length, our recruitment agency recommends you to keep your CV maximum 2 pages. This might seem difficult if you have many years of working experience, but everything you include should be essential and written as concisely as possible. If you are a recent graduate, you may even want to stick to one page. 

Your work Experience and Skills 

As mentioned, you must keep your CV relevant, which means you should only cover your most recent work experience and what is relevant for the role you are applying for. You must list your employment history from the most recent to the oldest as your current role is most relevant for the employer and for the recruitment companies. For each position you must include your job title, the name of the company, the period you worked in the company and a short description which summarises the role. 

Our recruitment agency recommends that you describe the role in three to four bullet points, which explains the most relevant responsibilities, achievements, and skills you gained while working in that role. If you are a fresh graduate or low in work experience, you might also want to add a section which explains more about your interest in the job, your skills, and relevant hobbies. 

Choose a Professional Design 

The first impression matter. If an employer or a recruitment agency finds your CV visually confusing or overwhelming, there is a risk your CV will not be taken into consideration. Make sure to choose a professional design, with concise wording, clean spaces and a consistent font size and style. Many recruitment companies recommend choosing the fonts Arial and Calibri, and to stay between 10- and 12-point size. Since it looks good on both printed paper and digital. 

Summaries your Qualifications 

This section must include any education you have completed or other relevant qualifications. Make sure to include where you went to school, information about the type of degree and other relevant training and courses. You should list your educational experience and qualifications from the most recent to the oldest, as well as writing it clearly and concise, for recruitment companies and employers to easily review your CV. If you recently finished your education, you may want to include more details, like any relevant projects, modules, and assignments. 

Conclusion 

Finding a job is never easy, so make sure to not give up your interview spot because you didn’t spend enough time on your CV. Take the time to tailor your CV and make it the best you can. Do you want to make the CV-writing process even easier for yourself? Buy a professional CV with Scancruit CV Service.

How to Source and Recruit Executive-Level Candidates

When doing an executive search, the roles can look quite different, from the other roles you have recruited in your company. It is also a risk that the same candidate you are communicating with, is being pursued by other competitors. 

In that case, it is essential that you have a hiring plan in place before your team starts to invest time in contacting potential candidates. To ensure that you are hiring the right top talent for your company, we have created a short guide explaining how to source and recruit executive-level candidates. 

Understand the Role 

When focusing on executive recruitment, you must have the right recruitment strategy. The first step is for your team to understand the role and define the person you are looking for. Executive search can be very different from other roles since the role often comes with more requirements. Your team cannot start hiring for the role without knowing exactly what they are looking for. 

Make sure to understand the qualifications the person needs to have, what function the candidate will have in the company and which long time goals you have for the role. Also, make sure to clarify what kind of personality you are looking for, to ensure that the candidate fits into the team and company culture. You probably already know the professional experience the ideal candidate needs to have when starting the executive search but remember to focus on the specific skills you need for the role as well. 

Implement Social Sourcing Strategies

Senior and executive-level candidates might not be actively looking for a new job opportunity, but perhaps they are still active social network users. When focusing on executive recruitment, make sure to join professional online groups, and start to build a network with potential candidates. 

Your team has probably already posted the job on different job boards and on LinkedIn. But relying on these tools alone, when doing an executive search, will not get you all the relevant candidates for the position. To ensure that you have all eyes on the candidate market, use social sourcing to connect, engage and attract top talents. 

Check Resumes and Relevant Keywords

When focusing on executive recruitment, you must check the relevant keywords are aligned with the requirements and skills you identified in the first step. Look at the job title and make a list of relevant keywords, for you to use when searching for resumes. Lastly, do not be afraid to use boolean search tools, to find qualified candidates in a more time-efficient manner.   

Once you have found and received the resume, that fits the requirements and keywords for the position, you can begin to look deeper into the resume. Look at if the candidate’s work history is consistent and progressive, or if have they been “jumping” around in their career. If you find these are red flags but still feel the candidate is relevant for the position, you can ask questions regarding the concerns during the phone screening. 

Conduct Effective Interviews 

You want to hire the best executive candidates, but how effective is your executive recruitment process and is the process helping you hire the right talent? A structured interview has been shown to not only be more reliable but also more effective than an unstructured interview. 

A structured executive recruitment process and interview process, show that your company is professional. It also makes the process faster and more productive, which gives you a better chance to hire the right top talent, before your competitors. 

Trends for Hiring in the Recruitment Industry

The recruitment market is constantly changing due to external factors impacting the economy and companies. As a result, there is more pressure on employers and recruitment agencies, to be on top of their game when it comes to finding the best talent to grow their company. To get a better understanding of the trends for hiring in the recruitment industry we have put down the top trends that will get you inspired to attract, source, and hire suitable talents. 

Candidate Experience

It is not always easy for recruitment agencies to find the right talents for an open position. With the high demand for skilled candidates, the recruitment experience remains more important than ever. Candidates are more likely to accept offers if they have a positive recruitment process and reputation matters. 

For that reason, the first factor to keep in mind when focusing on improving the candidate experience is the job advertisement. You must write the description with the candidate in mind, focusing on what they want to know. The next step is the interview process, which must be easy and to the point. If there are too many rounds of interviews and if the process is too long, they will probably lose interest and go with another employer who is willing to offer them the job more quickly. 

Finally, communication is key if recruitment companies want to build a relationship with the candidates. Acknowledge the applications you receive for the role, and make sure to ask the candidate relevant questions, to figure out exactly what they are looking for and what they want to achieve in their new role. 

Data-Driven Recruitment

One of the biggest trends for hiring in the recruitment industry is data-driven recruitment. With more pressure to hire the right talents, both cost, and time-effectively, many recruitment companies have turned to data to help them make smarter hiring decisions.  

Recruitment agencies are using this trend to attract and source the best talents, through HR technology, such as an ATS system and recruitment marketing platforms. These methods are great ways to get relevant data from potential candidates and to find the best talent for an open position as fast as possible. 

Work Flexibility 

One of the most relevant factors for candidates when deciding to change jobs is work flexibility. Many companies work with a diverse team that includes a combination of full-timers, contractors, freelancers, and interns. Because of the competitive candidate market, more employers are offering creative benefits including flexible work schedules. This has helped to differentiate companies and create a more attractive workplace for potential talents.

This is a hiring trend that recruitment companies have to keep in mind to attract the right talents. Candidates who like the fact that they can work from wherever they want, whenever they want. Technology has been a game changer, and enables a huge growing trend, helping to connect teams from all over the world. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

While diversity, equity, and inclusion are not a new hiring trend, it remains a popular and growing trend around the world. Employers and recruitment agencies must keep this trend in mind since it can strongly influence a candidate’s perception of an employer’s brand and in the end, it can affect the decision of whether the candidate wants to pursue the advertised job. 

Employers and recruitment companies must pay close attention to the language they use in the job description, the variety of sourcing channels they use, and the screening and evaluation process they use. Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion also offers companies many other benefits including improved employee happiness, productivity, retention, and loyalty.