In the current job market, there are more vacancies than candidates to fill them, so recruiting employees into your workforce from other sectors, who have transferable skills, may be a realm worth exploring. But how?
Attracting top talent from other sectors can be a task for any company. It requires a clear understanding of the skills and experience that these candidates possess which can then be applied back into your business, as well as an understanding of the unique challenges and incentives that the candidate is looking for in a new opportunity.
In this blog post, we discuss some strategies for attracting candidates from other sectors and highlight some of the benefits that they can bring to your organisation.
Focus on transferable or buildable skills
It’s important to be open-minded when it comes to hiring candidates from other sectors. They may have a different background, set of experiences, or career path behind them, but it doesn’t mean they’re not capable of contributing to your organisation. They may have transferable skills that you’re not aware of, such as strong project management skills, attention to detail, ability to think outside the box or a talent to adapt to new situations.
Take scientists as an example. They need more than just hard skills, such as experimental training or how to use the molecular lab, to have a successful career. Today, scientists also need soft skills like creativity and communications to inspire, discover and lead, which can be applied across to some other roles.
At Remarkable Jobs, for instance, we’ve placed a Radiation Therapist into a Regulatory Affairs Technician due to their transferable problem solving, quality assurance and organisational skills.
Consider your incentives
To leverage such opportunities, one of the most effective ways to attract candidates from other sectors is to clearly communicate the unique value proposition of your company. This could include highlighting the specific opportunities for growth and development, as well as your company culture and values.
Offering competitive compensation packages, which may include performance-based bonuses and flexible work arrangements, are strong incentives for top talent from other sectors to join your organisation. Additionally, highlighting the innovative nature of your products or services, as well as the impact that your company is having in the industry at large, on the lives of your customers, or those within the local community will demonstrate that your company is making a meaningful difference, and that joining your team would be an opportunity to contribute positively.
Connect with industries with comparable skills
Another effective strategy for recruiting outside your sector is to establish relationships with other industry associations or professional organisations that cater to those sectors. This could be through attending networking events, speaking at conferences, or even hosting informative sessions on your company. By connecting with potential candidates on a professional level, you can build trust and demonstrate your company’s commitment to their industry.
Demonstrate opportunities to grow
Candidates today also seek roles with meaningful and challenging opportunities to grow and develop their skills. Make this clear on the job description and interview process such as offering customised training and development programs or creating roles that provide a diverse set of responsibilities and opportunities for a fruitful career.
Lastly, keep in mind that it’s not just about attracting top talent, it’s also about retaining them. By creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture, with plenty of regular communication and transparent feedback is vital when it comes to making your employees feel valued, satisfied, and committed to their work.
Attracting top talent from other sectors can be challenging, but it’s well worth the effort. Candidates from other sectors can bring fresh perspectives and skills to your organisation to help drive innovation and growth. By utilising the strategies outlined above, and remembering to be open-minded and flexible, your company could reap the rewards of a diverse, well-oiled workforce.
For assistance with sourcing candidates from other sectors, our team of highly skilled recruitment specialists can help. Get in touch today via: [email protected].
