Category: Recruiter

Talent2africa > Blog (EN) > Recruiter
15Oct
L’Afrique, nouveau terrain de jeu des géants de la tech

Fitting into a new company: essential tips

You finally got your dream job after many interviews. You have signed your contract with a lot of enthusiasm. However it is not a done deal just yet. You still have one step to go through that is as important as the one before, which is fitting in the new company.

 

This step might seem easy but it is not because obviously adjusting to an unknown world is not a peace of cake especially for those who are just entering into the work world. This is why it is not a waste of time to look into the necessary tips to successfully fit in a new work environment.

First, one of the most important things for the new hire to do is to be aware of the challenges this represent. If not it will be difficult to properly adjust. That way, according to Catherine Berliet, coach and co-author of Manger au quotidien, three steps are vital to successfully fit it a new company.

The first one being, according to her,  well prepared for the new job by carefully reading the job description in order to know precisely where you will take actions.

The second one consists of a SWOT which stands for Stenght,Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. The goal is to put in writing the necessary elements that would allow you to quickly be efficient in your new job.

Finally, the third step according to Catherine Berliner still, consists of putting interest in the Dow and the don’ts. Which means all the aspects in terms of culture, its values and its creation etc. Basically, it means for the new hire to spot the  appropriate dress-code that is put in place, the way people are talking and the way they are operating internally.

In this adjustment phase, it is essential to open up to new people, to go to people to make it easier to communicate  and develop contacts. It is even more important knowing that on the first days, your new colleagues will judge you. Be nice and honest without putting yourself in the spotlight and risking to sound arrogant.

You can also read Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

11Oct

Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

Artififial intelligente has found the way to our everyday life and got quite comfortable in doing so. It’s an amazing reality. The future of the planet revolves around artificial intelligence. “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”,said Vladimir Putine the President of Russia.

In the working world, some are a bit scared of it, while others, in the other hand, do see some potential in it. Artificial intelligence has changed all the habits in Africa. In that side of the world, more and more young people have taken upon themselves to take advantage of everything that artificial intelligence has to offer.  For that reason, some kind of excitement happened in the “Black” continent over the rise of artificial intelligence especially in the entrepreneur field.

Artificial intelligence is made of a set of functions that the computer can execute better than the actual human brain or the human intelligence. The same is true for the analysis of massive amounts of data for example to proceed risk assessment. AI makes the machine learn about those mass data on its own and self improve.

With the huge potential that AI offers, Africa surely plans on relying on it to be on the same level as the rest of the world, because there are more and more investments made in that sector. From the health field, the education field to the environment field, mainstream AI based apps are very popular considering the fact that the smartphone business is booming in Africa.

 

In fact, according to Koundi a Deloitte Africa associate, the number of machines which are by the way around 350 millions, should double by year 2020 in Africa. Prices dropped from 80 dollars to 30 in less than two years, thanks to the launch of machines specifically made for Africa.

With this in mind, Betelhem Dessie was able to mention that AI could be the lever that allow the African continent to rise to the top next to the Northern countries. It would be, in other words, some kind of fast track to development that will make people forget that Africa has missed out on the first two revolutions, the industrial one and the post-industrial one.

Africa has considerably felt the impact of AI in the job market just like any other region in the planet. Today, despite the numerous advantages AI has to offer, there is a risk that a lot of jobs will disappear in Africa. This is, in fact, one of the main concerns that critics have toward this revolutionary trend. Despite the fear it might have brought, AI has been well received in the “black” continent. 

It is safe to admit that the way young African entrepreneur have been getting excited over it goes to show that Africa does plan on relying on AI to secure an economic take-off.

You can also read Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

09Oct

Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

Les relations professionnelles ne sont pas toujours cordiales, comme toute autre relation. La plupart du temps, la vie au travail nous obligera à travailler avec des collègues difficiles à gérer. Qu’ils soient collègues ou employeurs, les personnes difficiles dans une entreprise peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur votre humeur. Si vous contrôlez la bonne attitude à adopter, ils peuvent faire de votre vie un enfer. Il est épuisant de les traiter émotionnellement, mentalement et physiquement à moins de connaître le jeu auquel ils jouent. Malheureusement, vous trouvez ces types de personnes dans toutes les catégories de travail, des petites entreprises aux PME en passant par les grandes entreprises. Mais comment traitons-nous avec eux? Découvrons-le!

Préparez votre retour

Un collègue difficile trouvera du plaisir à provoquer chez vous une attitude défensive, fâchée, effrayée ou même triste. Son but ultime est de vous briser afin de contrôler vos émotions. Ne lui donnez pas ce pouvoir parce que c’est à vous de le laisser gagner ou de l’arrêter tout de suite. Même la plus petite expression sur une émotion le laissera penser qu’il a le contrôle sur vous. Pour éviter que vous deviez préparer votre retour et surveiller vos arrières. Ayez 2 ou 3 phrases en tête que vous pourriez utiliser lorsque vous sentez que des attaques malveillantes vous arrivent. Vous allez le mettre en échec.

Choisissez de rester calme au lieu de vous mettre en colère

La plupart des personnes difficiles se nourrissent des explosions de colère de leurs victimes. Ils auront le sentiment d’avoir gagné à la minute qui leur est réservée quelque chose qui montre l’état émotionnel de la victime. C’est la raison pour laquelle vous ne devriez jamais casser sous la pression, peu importe ce qui se passe. Lorsque vous êtes avec lui, soyez sur lui. Pour ce faire, vous devez être capable de gérer votre propre colère avant de lui parler. Dans tous les cas, ne vous inquiétez pas et répondez calmement. Il va se perdre …

Ne vous sentez jamais coupable d’une personne difficile

Certaines personnes difficiles à manipuler sont si douées pour vous faire sentir coupable de quelque chose qu’elles ont fait. Ne tombez jamais dans ce piège parce que vous n’êtes pas le problème. Vous êtes la victime en fait. Malheureusement, si vous ne l’obtenez pas, vous pourriez parfois vous sentir coupable. Il est également important que vous vous souveniez que vous êtes manipulé pour vous faire du tort sur vous-même.

Vous pouvez également lire Culture d’entreprise: un défi majeur dans le processus de recrutement

07Oct

Corporate culture in Africa: A major challenge in the recruitment process

All companies no matter how they are demand for their partners concerned to agree on a minimum set of rules and values. The same applies for the professional relationships. It is actually taken very seriously in that department. This reality makes the recruiter takes into consideration the corporate culture of his company when he is doing his hiring. In other words, in the process of hiring qualified people, he will have to make sure that those people will be able to adjust to the values of the company. What it means is that the corporate culture is now a legitimate part of the hiring process.

It could be difficult to give a simple definition of corporate culture because the term is very large. We can however say that it is linked to all aspects of the company, whether in a formal or non formal way, to its traditions as well as its inside dynamic that has been implemented throughout the years.

Corporate culture is not limited to a simple theorical concept with no real impact on the company’s functioning and organization. The least we can say is that it plays a central part in the recruiting process, both for the company and the candidate.

Some studies were able to show that hiring candidates in line with the corporate culture reduced turnover by 30%. It naturally implies that hiring candidates that don’t share the same values as the company could have a negative impact on its productivity.

In a more general way, corporate culture is a mix of different elements. The more noticeable ones being the dress code and the interpersonal relationship between co-workers. The work environment also represents a major part of the corporate culture depending on whether the employees are working in an open space or in enclosed offices.

Other elements are less noticeable like the work atmosphere, the managing style, or the interpersonal relationship in the company. The corporate culture is not the same if employees say hi by giving each other hand shakes or kisses.

What ever the case is, it is obvious that an employee who is in a culture that fits him feels more comfortable and has a better chance of having a long lasting collaboration with his employer.

In the other hand, a candidate coming in a company he doesn’t share the same values with will have a hard time feeling happy and adjusting. He will not have the type of behavior he is expected to have. Therefore, it would be difficult for that person to feel like he belongs. In short, there is a good chance that he will go somewhere else.

You can also read Companies, train your employees for the jobs of the future

03Oct

Companies, train your employees for the jobs of the future

Technology innovations have yet to turn the professional world upside down. The changes that they are bringing are forcing workers to get out of their comfort zone and throw themselves in the fast growing job market of the future. It is even more true knowing that a study made by World Economic Forum revealed that 65% of the children who have started elementary school this last years will do jobs that don’t exist yet. Therefore technology innovations will result in the creation of new jobs. One should be prepared to not miss the progress of the world. It is essential for companies to get their employees ready for tomorrow’s jobs. For that to happen,one has to think about a new way of training.

 

Train your employees to become thristy for knowledge and go-getters 

Training your employees to jobs that don’t exist just yet is a hard task to handle. It is necessary to have them ready to open up to new skills. The main goal of the employer will be to boost the curiosity of its employees by training them into people who are thirsty for knowledge and go-getters. Naturally,this new approach is totally different from the classic training concept based on the short term, for the simple fact that the speed evolution of jobs in the companies makes it impossible not to have planned trainings in the future. You must make your employees want to acquire some knowledge.

Prepare your employees to consider a career change in a peaceful manner 

It is a knowed factor that technology innovations will result in creating new jobs, however on the downside some professions will also have to disappear because of the digital era. The employees will have to get use to that new reality and acquire new techniques that will allow them to quickly retrain in new jobs. A worker will now be able to go from one profession to the other all through his professional life and acquire new skills. It is in the companies’ best interest to keep the employability of their employees in the years to come in order to set themselves aside eom the bunch.

Make it easier for employees to have access to training 

Training employees have always been something necessary for companies to do but sometimes it tend to be underestimated or ignored by employees who are more interested in making profits. Today, the way things are going,  getting training for the jobs of the future is becoming a viability for the company. It is necessary to look training differently and make it more accessible. The companies will have to handle the school education now. Training should not be viewed as an obstacle. It is something that has to be the company’s own decision to prepare the employees.

You can also read How to become a successful negociater as a salesman ?

11Sep
bien être au travail

Well-being in the workplace: Where do we stand in Africa?

Following the succession of suicides of some workers that shook France in 2007, the topic regarding quality of life in the workplace is not something that Management takes lightly anymore. People merely talked about it before but these dramatic event that occured, make them realise how well-being in the workplace plays a key role in motivating the worker. It is not a secret anymore that nothing great can happen if the worker is in a working environment where he is feeling down and is stressed out constantly. Actually, some companies have understood it very well. That is the reason why they put in place some mechanisms to encourage the well-being of their employees. The same is true for African companies. However it is sad to see that it underlines a deeper issue that doesn’t seem important. Many African companies have yet to find a way to deal with the matter effectively.

A wake of interest from the World Health Organization about the concept of well-being at the workplace.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is very much concerned with the issue of well-being at the workplace and gave an official definition to describe it. It is defined as “ A state of mind where there is a quite good balance between the skills, needs and aspirations of the worker and the pressure and opportunities at the workplace. Basically “well-being at the workplace”refers to all elements that could potentially have an impact on the working conditions of the employees. It includes security, hygiene of the premises, health protection of workers, the physical and mental effects of the tasks carried out, workplace ergonomics etc. According to the Administrator of Syntec and president of the consulting firm Stimulus, David Mahé who published a look out about stress at the workplace “there is 2 types of stimulation, one that gives meaning to what we do and another that is about duty. Being committed is about the meaning and the enjoyment.”Despise all that, in Africa, many companies struggle to adapt to that reality.

 A theoretical approach of the issue of well-being at the workplace for many African companies

Officially in Africa, many companies talk about the interest they have on the well-being of their employees. However, if we pay more attention to it, we notice that there is a gap between the declarations of interest and the reality. Progress is not for pretend anymore. African companies really need to commit themselves to finding ways to improve the working conditions. It is about, putting the human being in the center of the values of the company for its own sake and for the sake of the co-workers.

You can also read Professional retraining in Africa

18Sep

Women in Africa Forum

The 2018 Women In Africa (WIA) forum — The initiative that seeks economic development in Africa and accompanies women in the continent launches the second WIA forum this year. The second WIA forum meant for the 27th and 28th of september 2018 will be held in Marrakech, Morocco.

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10Aug

Find 7 trending HR Recruitment methods

Recruitment methods that have been trendy in the last decade As we all probably have noticed, the world is moving fast. Tech has evolved so much in the last decade that we can hardly…

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