Blog (EN) - Page 7 of 32

02Jul

The importance of an HR department within a company

Human resources management plays a fundamental role within companies. Indeed, it is a complex and transversal function that must be at the very heart of any company’s strategy.

People create value, they are the most important resource of any company. And the most important mission of the HR function is to provide the company with efficient and fulfilled human capital.

The HR function designs an optimal recruitment strategy

Talent is essential to the growth and evolution of any structure in Africa. We must therefore be able to attract them. First, the HR manager(s) carry out a complete diagnosis of the company in order to understand its needs. Thus, they draw up a mapping of jobs and skills in order to have a clear and precise vision of talent (current and future). It is also a question here of listing the skills already present within the company in order to unleash their potential. This is a real groundwork that requires expert hands.

Once the recruitment plan is established, it is now time to attract talent. To do so, HR managers will need to leverage their employer brand and corporate culture. These two factors are key to differentiating themselves from other employers in Africa.

Talent management and retention

Once recruitment is finalised, HR management remains crucial to the cohesion of the organisation .

Personnel management, for example, is a key factor in the smooth running of any business. Establishing the salary scale, setting up social benefits, monitoring the evolution of performance, including evaluation and training … It is therefore a complete cycle that is set in motion and that concerns both the daily and the long-term vision.

In addition to the administrative management of personnel, there are also crisis management (economic crisis, health crisis, etc.), or even internal conflicts that may arise within the company. In these delicate phases too, human resources are a crucial player.

As we saw with the VIDOC-19 pandemic, the strategic importance of HR is well established. There is an urgent need for companies in Africa to commit now to making HR a strategic HR function.

The HR function, a real growth lever for companies in Africa

Much more than just an administrative department for contract management, the HR function in Africa is a real driving force for the company’s development.

To achieve its growth objective, HR managers in Africa are responsible for building the company’s marketing strategy and ensuring the development and deployment of the employer brand. These two branches concern both the company’s internal and external communication.

All of these elements contribute not only to the well-being of employees, but also to a better functioning of the company and its good reputation.

Are you overwhelmed or have little knowledge in this area? Don’t hesitate to ask an experienced Consultant to help you build your HR strategy and deploy it. By deciding to make it your priority, you are investing in the development of your company.

02Jul

How to integrate into a new team ?

Finding your place in a new team is not always easy. Relationships with new coworkers can be troublesome sometimes. It is understandable because people who don’t know each others need time to understand and appreciate each others so they can work together efficiently. With that in mind, when you have just joined a team, you have a key role to play in successfully settling.

1- Be humble

It is true that you must show your skills in order to be respected and accepted by your coworkers, but that doesn’t mean that you should act as someone who lack humility because that certainly will make it impossible to develop efficient collaboration. You must not give the impression that you look down on your coworkers or question their skills. That could create some type of frustration that could be detrimental to your integration to the team. Whether you are a young hire or an expert executive, settling into a new team is a good way to achieve your mission. Plus, having a good relationship with your coworkers is necessary to make you feel good in a company, it is even a motivation factor for waking up every morning to go to work. Think about it!

2- Show energy and enthusiasm

Generally, your new colleagues make an opinion about you on the very first contact. That is basic. That is the reason why you should show energy and enthusiasm when you first meet them. As a matter of fact, many HR specialists all agree on the fact that the integration period is crucial for building a positive image in the long term, even beyond carrying out your duties. So in order to successfully settle into a new team, do not hesitate to put a smile on your face, you must also be discreet and nice. It is also recommended to dress with simplicity. It is only after you are well integrated or if the dress code of the company allows you to, that you can wear a shirt with patterns on it.

3- do not try to change it all

Your input will certainly be exptected and appreciated by your management. It is a good thing actually that you have specific ideas on how to boost the numbers of your company. But be smart, do not show them off on the first day. “ ont the first days, you must essentially observe, listen and ask questions” an HR specialist advises. Take the time to adapt yourself to the culture of the company in order to better understand its challenges. It is only after a while that you will be able to bring some suggestions to your manager. “ Be careful not to confuse bringing your experience on the table and forcing it”, the specialists tell us.

4– follow the rules that your team has set up

Of course, the minute you join a team, expect to have some rules to follow. Find out about them so you don’t risk violating them. Certain rules are unfortunately not written down anywhere and you will know them as time goes by. As a new hire, the difficulty lies on following those unwritten rules that exist between coworkers. « You must pay attention to the habits and costumes of the group because there will surely be some tacit or explicit social rules », adds an HR expert. If, for example, your new coworkers usually have lunch together, make sure you go with the flow… at least until you are well settled in. Of course if you notice clans and tensions between certain people, stay away from it. Every office has its way of working anyway. Those operating rules can work during meetings for projects review, or working hours only. Make sure you absorb them fully to better your chances of successfully integrating a team.

29Jun

Wage portage in Africa

Following numerous requests from our international clients, we now offer a wage portage service at our hubs in Dakar and Abidjan. Talent2Africa being configured to be responsive, efficient and sufficiently adaptable to function as a transparent and cost-effective extension of our clients’ internal recruitment teams, we have chosen to accompany our clients on this type of needs.

There are three major challenges for any company wishing to develop its presence in Africa:

Companies are interested in the market potential of the African continent but want to sound out the market first before they can open a subsidiary.
Business trips or participation in trade fairs in Africa are very expensive and do not have the desired return on investment.
The creation of companies in Africa and the management of these companies can represent a risk for companies that do not master the environment of these countries.

Why opt for wage portage in Africa?

Talent2Africa offers its clients services on a contract basis: for a short period of time or for a longer intervention, our experts are dedicated to your various projects.

Focus on agility

We build for you, a scalable and immediately operational team according to your specific needs, and in record time.

Make your costs profitable

Talent2Africa also absorbs for you, all the fixed costs related to the creation and management of a business. Thus, you control your budget perfectly.

Fill up with serenity

Managing all legal and fiscal aspects of local employment contracts is also part of our offer. This, quite simply with the aim of guaranteeing you protection and, in fact, peace of mind.

Our business expertise with regard to wage portage in Africa is based on two aspects:

Business development

Talent2Africa builds and manages for you an additional sales force whose mission is to prospect locally in the field so that you have all the information you need, as if you were there.

Outsourcing of personnel

We are committed to recruiting qualified employees for you in the following areas:

NGO
IT ( Banks, Telcom, ERP)
Engineering ( Oil and Gas, Energies renouvelables, Infrastructures

Wage portage in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal

A simple approach adapted to your needs:

– The first step is recruitment: We are dedicated to finding the right talent for you. To that end, we use our high standards of recruitment to select the right resource that meets your expectations.

– Then, we deploy our strategy of “wage portage” in Ivory Coast and Senegal: we take care of everything: payment of the employee’s salary every month, as well as legal, social, fiscal and accounting management with all the country’s organizations and authorities.

– Finally, Talent2Africa provides coaching to our clients’ employees. The objective is to carry out a continuous training related to the market, to surround and support your teams on the spot.

To receive the complete presentation of our wage portage offer, contact us

18May

The Monday Blues : how to beat the Monday blues?

Sleeping in on Saturday or Sunday morning always feels good… However, usually after weekends, it is always difficult to go back to work. The first day of the week is certainly never the best one. Many people have trouble finding their pace of work on Monday morning. Therefore, they spend more time at the coffee machine than in their office. If this happens to you, know that you are probably suffering from what we call the ‘The Monday Blues’. It is a very common phenomenon. If it is happening to you, we have 4 ways on how to get ride of it.

Maximize your weekend…

If you are not in great shape on Monday morning, it is probably because you didn’t make the most of your Sunday rest. Keep in mind, then that if you want to have a good week at work, the work must be done ahead of time. The beginning of the week will definitely be less chaotic if you make sure you have enough rest during the weekend. « It is crucial to unplug from work during the weekend so you are efficient on Monday. To do that, the best way is to not think about work at all. Avoid checking emails for example” said psychologue and coach Boris Charpentier. Basically, some rest and some relaxing time, with activities that take care of our wellbeing.

Plan for some relaxing time on Monday night…

If you are not careful enough, the “Monday Blues” could expand over the whole week and ruin your work. In order to find a solution to it, it is recommended to plan a relaxing time on Monday night, like having a drink with friends or going out to the movies, for example. It makes you feel better and makes you feel happy because you are looking forward to something. That way, in the morning, you have something to be excited about because you know you will have a fun night. You will take on your Monday work with serenity. Also, it will help you regroup before having a good sleep and feeling good for the rest of the week.

Plan you Monday work ahead of time…

A lot of reasons can explain the “Monday Blues”. It could caused by a reminiscence of the fun time you had over the weekend, a feeling of injustice, or in some extreme cases, it could be a warning sign. It expresses pain and could be a sign of depression or burnout” explains Boris Charpentier. The most obvious sign of a “Monday Blues” is the loss of focus. If your agenda is not clearly planned, your situation will only get worse. You actually don’t even need to try because your day is already ruined. Think about time management and try to plan your Monday work ahead of time. Otherwise, you will loose some precious time and that will have a greater effect on your focus. This planning will give you a new boost from the very beginning of the week. Not to mention that it “will make you take control of your everyday life and set the tone for the week”, adds the psychologue.

Take a break from time to time…

To avoid fatigue, it is crucial to take breaks. That is not only true for Mondays. Take your mind off and empty your head, away from the screen. A deep breath of fresh air can work miracles for you. If you like coffee, a good cup of coffee is the perfect pick-me-up drink in Monday mornings. But don’t drink to excess because too much caffeine is not good for your health.

06May

How to make up for a mistake at work?

No matter how qualified you are, it is not impossible for you to make a mistake at work. This could turn into a nightmare if not handled properly. You can for example mix up the address of an order, or the recipient of a confidential mail, in brief, you just didn’t do what you were asked to… When everybody makes mistakes at work, the ways however to handle them or to make up for them can be different. Here are some tips to save faces.

Keep your cool…

When you happen to make a mistake at your workplace, there is no need for you to panic because no matter what the consequences of that mistake could be, going into panic mode will not solve the issue. Tell yourself that everybody makes mistakes and panicking would only make things worse. It is obviously naural to feel embarrassed and stressed out about admitting that you made a mistake. But the faster you act on it, the better it will go. It is useless to just bury your head in the sand. If you manager was informed about the situation quickly enough, there would be more time for him to get involved and minimize the damages. If your mistake can have repercussions then confess immediately. It will stop it from getting any bigger and leading to serious consequences. However if it’s a little mistake you can handle it yourself, no need to bring it up.

Don’t point fingers at anyone…

There is nothing that upsets a boss more than an employee who doesn’t own up to his responsibility. That is the reason why, the moment you realize you have made a mistake, take full responsibility and confess your wrongs. Show your manager that you are aware of your mistake and that you have learned from your lesson. Do not point fingers at anyone by any means. If, for example, you didn’t quite understand the instructions, admit it. Owning to your mistakes is proof of maturity.

Present solutions to correct your errors

It is not just about admitting your wrongs. You must also commit to finding solutions to the problems that you have created. Presenting solutions to correct the errors will show your manager that you are really genuinely sorry. Do not hesitate to ask your colleagues for some help. It will prove that you really want to fix the problem. You must then learn from your mistakes. Take the time to explain what have happened, what you have learned from it and how you will use it to do better in the future. In short, communicate. That could work on your favor.

Don’t beat yourself over it

If you continue feeling guilty about it, it could hurt your self-esteem and make you question yourself. Know that most of the time, talented workers make mistakes and that doesn’t take away their skills. Moreover, you must know that in many situations, you are a link in a series of events. “A mistake is never solely the fault of the person who did it, the organization and the procedure that had been put in place are also to blame. Reason why it is important for managers to get with the person who made the mistake and go through the series of events that led to the error” argues specialist Jean-François Thiriet. So basically, stop beating yourself over it and move on peacefully.

22Apr

4 tips to guarantee your cover letter is read

Recruiters are overloaded with the huge number of cover letters they get every day. That is the reason why, if your cover letter has nothing original about it, there is a good chance that it won’t be read. You must then set yourself apart with a strong email: cover letter! Usually, a lot of those letters or emails are flat and boring. To put an end once and for all to all those tasteless cookie cutter cover letters, we have a few simple writing style techniques to help boost your mail.

Be straightforward

First and foremost, keep in mind that the first sentence of your cover letter is crucial. Therefore, you must learn to avoid beating about the bushes. You must quickly get into it. Many think that they need 3 or four sentences to give praises to the company before going in. Wrong! The hook of your cover letter must be powerful. If it isn’t, the recruiter will get tired of reading from the very beginning.

Be careful of the style of your letter

We said earlier that recruiters didn’t have time. Consequently, you must absolutely avoid having convoluted phrases in your cover letter. Prefer having a more fluid style therefore much easier for the recruiter to read.That will make your letter more attractive. It’s not necessary to have an over the top complicated writing style in your cover letter. If it is not clear and simple, it will simply be tossed away for the benefits of other ones.

A cover letter is not a CV…

It is common to see uninspired candidates, to repeat in the cover letter what they have already written in the CV. It is far from being a good idea, because the cover letter must be seen as something that will make the recruiter choose between two candidates in other words to set them apart. A good CV is certainly a good thing but a good CV with a good cover letter is even better. It is in the letter that you will show that you are someone who has a vision of its profession. So say it! Talk skills, techniques, multitasking, leading skills, organization skills, methods, efficiency…

choose a clear structure

The structure of your cover letter is very important. If you want a strong letter then be careful. If done right, there is a great chance you will leave a good impression on the recruiter who will see you as someone consistent. If you want to have a simple and clear structure, you can choose to have a more traditional composition with a paragraph for every sentence. It will be set up this way:

– Opening: where did you find this job offer?

-Motivation: why did you answer that job offer?

-Argumentation: why are you the perfect candidate?

– Conclusion: Anticipate a future interview.

08Apr

6 tips for finding a job without a diploma in Africa

Finding a job in Africa is not easy for people with degrees, let alone for people without none. When you have left school with no diploma, it can be difficult for recruiters to have an interest in you. However no matter how difficult it can look for someone to get a job without a degree, it is not a lost cause…There is a lot of different help needed and plenty of sectors that hire people with no qualifications. Here, you will have few tips on how to find a job with no degree…

Go to the dedicated services…

As a person without a degree,when you are looking for a job, think about going to the departments that are dedicated to people in the same situation as you. Those services will help you find the perfect job for you. They will also help you find vocational trainings. There is a lot of different kinds of departments depending on the country you are in.

Go after the sectors that are hiring…

Despise what you think, not having a degree is not necessarily an obstacle to you finding a job considering the fact that many fields do not look for specific qualifications. That is the case in the transport field, for example, like delivery guys or taxi drivers. That is also the case in the rail transport where they hire people without degrees. The food service industry, sales, wholesale distribution, cleaning services are all among the sectors that are opened to people without degrees. Lastly, in the public sector certain public services don’t always require certain skills like the army.

Think internships…

In the lieu of a degree, an internship could be an excellent option that could make your integration easier. It will allow you to gain experience in the field you want and improve your CV. It shouldn’t matter to you whether your internship is paid a little or not at all. What is important is to do one so you can show recruiters that you are motivated, and that is the key factor in job seeking. Remember that any experience is good experience.

Point out your skills

Much as a degree supposes you have knowledge and skills, not having one doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have skills. You excel at respecting deadlines or in teamwork? Do not hesitate to underline it on your CV and your cover letter. It could grab the attention of some recruiters especially those who are mostly interested in soft skills.

Put everything on your network

If you want to find a job with no degree, you must have several channels to better your chances. Your friends, the friends of your friends can all help you through word of mouth or via social networks. Put all your chances on your side by building a strong CV and creating a LinkedIn profile, for example.

Be patient

Last but not least, it is important to know that job seeking sometimes takes a lot of time and can be fastidious even for people with degrees. That is the reason why, you should remain patient and not give up after the first few months. Learn to go around because climbing the ladder takes some time.

03Apr

Africa: when the blue economy generates jobs

Contrary to what stereotypes and misperceptions “Afro-pessimistic” have here and there, Africa is full of potential. Actually, it is not a coincidence that more and more investors have set their eyes on the black continent to do business. Talking about great potential, the blue economy have plenty of it in terms of investment so jobs. Therefore the blue economy generates jobs in Africa and is dedicated to reducing the unemployment rate in the black continent. According to experts, approximately 23 million of people work in the fishing sector. It ensures food safety for more than 200 million of people and generates an added value of 24 billion dollars so a 1.26 GDP of all the African countries. Experts believe that the blue economy in Africa plays an important part in promoting a substainable economic growth with ressources coming from the ocean, waterways, lakes and other water related ressources. It makes more sense knowing that 38 of the 54 countries in Africa, are coastal countries and 90% of exports and imports go by sea. Because of this, some observers considers the blue economy as “ the new line of development in Africa”.

Millions of direct jobs

The fishing sectors generates millions of direct jobs and induced employment. This goes from processing to packaging, fish nets and engines making, ice supplying, the building and maintenance of ships. Actually, the economic role of that sector has been confirmed by WorldFish center research institute based in Malaysia that tells us that in Uganda for example, fishing in lakes brings more than 200 million of dollars every year which represents 2.2 of the GDP of the country. That sector of activity has 135 000 fishermen working and 700 000 people working in the processing and fish trading and making 87.5 million of dollars exports revenues.

A sector that is mainly controlled by foreign companies

If there is something that observers have all noticed is the fact that the blue economy in Africa is mainly controlled by foreign companies. Statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) confirm that statement by showing that even though the potential is obvious in Africa, it is however a rather low fish producer and is only ranked 4 on the worldwide scale with 4 500 00 tons. Continental fish is mainly done in Africa especially in Africa’s big lakes regions (Uganda and Tanzania) and Nigeria for river fishing. This sector would benefit more from opening up to local fishermen so the blue economy can even more contribute in reducing poverty in Africa. It is therefore necessary to have a better participation of locals in the sector.

30Mar

Africa: more than 3 million jobs expected by 2025 thanks to e-business

In a world where economy is now highly digitalized, e-business have generated 1.462 billion of euros in 2014 with China and the USA on top. Africa is also part of the movement. Therefore, in the black continent, e-business have reached more than 50 billion in 2018. Despise the digital divide that defines the continent, this business that consist in buying and selling goods and services on the internet is booming in Africa. Indeed, only 26% of the population in Africa has access to internet. Moreover, e-business looks into being a real tool in reducing the unemployment rate. That is at least what a new study from Boston Consulting group revealed. According to them, a collaboration between the private and public sector in Africa could unlock the potential of e-business and boost up the economy of the African continent and create up to 3 million jobs by 2025.

From the conclusion of that report called « how can digital marketplaces propel jobs in Africa » and published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), digital marketplaces like Jumia Souq, Thundafund and Travelstart could create 3 million new jobs by 2025 in Africa. « Those ‘e-business’ websites that connect buyers and suppliers of goods and services, could also increase the revenues and facilitate the international economic growth all without disturbing the activity of the existing companies », the report added.

Africa is lucky enough to have a very young population and an emerging middle class which represents the perfect environment for e-business . However there are lots to do in order to give a real boost to e-business. The study of the e-business ecosystem in Africa helps us realise that this sector has a long way to go in the black continent. For example, in the report, for the digital marketplaces to really reach their full potential in Africa, public and private sectors must first work together to create a suitable digital environment. It also lets us know that in Africa approximately 58% of new jobs will be in the consumer goods sector, 18% in mobility services and 9 % in travelling and hospitality.

The obstacles that the expansion of e-business in Africa could be facing are, according to the report, the lack of infrastructures, of regulatory clarity and a limited access to certain markets. Policy makers, on the other hand, are concerned about issues related to securing citizens personal data and the possible risk of disturbance in the sectors of activity.

Nonetheless, despite the obstacles, we can hope for an evolution of e-business in Africa and in turn, the creation of new jobs in this continent that has become the main destination of investors. The Young Africans should therefore seize this good opportunity that e-business is offering to boost their chances of having a job. In order to do that, it is necessary to get a training in ICT.

23Mar

What is the purpose of an employee register in Africa?

It is legally obligated in Africa for employers to have an employee register that provides information about the history of each of their employees except for certain cases. Whether it is a big company, a SME or a small business, the rule is the same for everybody. Beyond the fact that it is mandatory by law, we can’t help but admit however that keeping this register makes it easier to manage staff.

An employee register: a legal obligation

From the minute you hire a new employee or a new employee leaves the company, as an employee you must think about filling up the employee register form. This obligation is something provided by the law that is also severely punished for any company that did not abide by it. The goal is to provide clear and detailed information about the work history for every employee that is up to date and available. The law also provides data protection or information for all employees in the best possible conditions. Those data must also be included in all the different steps of the employees.

A multi-use and long term tracking tool

An employee register is crucial for staff management. It allows you to always know about the work history of the employer and about any updates on his legal status. Moreover, in cases of inspection or disputes, the company can use this document as proof. The work inspectors, the staff representative, the employee representative committee can all have access to it. No matter what payroll software companies use, it should be available for at least 5 years. This time period starts from the day the employee leaves. But since the register keeps information of several employees it will have to last longer than usual.

What is an employee register about?

When it comes to the employee register what we need to know is that the law is very flexible about it and doesn’t require to use any formal template. However, certain elements need to be present to help have a better follow-up of the employees: first name,surname, nationality, current job, qualifications, date of new hire, date of poaching, events prior to hire, work authorization, type of contract (short term, long term, apprenticeship contract, seasonal contract, contract of employment, part time contract etc.).

Focus on the situation of the interns

If interns were not included in the register in the past, it has changed since 2004 because they are now obligated to appear on it just like any other employee of the company. But, their information would appear in a different chapter to avoid any mix-up. The name of the intern supervisor, the sending institution, and the host department are among the information that need to appear on the register. If any event was to happen during the internship, the employer had to mention it. Regarding posted workers, the company must inform the work inspection about his intention to move the employee or the employees before really starting the process. Also, the recipient business of the posted employee or employees must receive a copy of a certificate of posting. Just like the sending company, the recipient business of the employee has to enroll them in their own personal register.

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