When you think about your competitors, what goes on in your mind? Do you think about besting their advertising or prices? Do you think about that competitive analysis you did when trying to determine whether your business would be viable? Or do you think about your employees?
But your employees aren't your competition, you say? True. But the companies that used to employ them are ... they are your competition for skilled employees. Just because another company is not in your industry or niche doesn't mean they aren't your competitor for whatever talent is in your local job market.
Human Resource Software
As an employer and supervisor, you need to keep your mind open to the possibilities of cross-industry job skills. There is a lack of this type of thinking in most companies and it lessens your ability to recruit a well-rounded team. The best way to broaden your recruiting options is to give serious thought as to exactly which skills are needed for the job. Then ask yourself if those skills are only used in your particular industry or niche. The answer, if you're honest, is usually no.
If you're hiring a brain surgeon, then the market will be limited to a specific niche. However, if you're recruiting accounting, HR, clerical, or marketing positions, it's easier to see that the basic job skills can easily adapt to any industry. Electrical engineers, software engineers, and other technical positions can also adapt with a learning curve.
Learning about a new industry can make the initial few months of a new job a little harder but, if you've hired a good worker with strong skills, it's certainly an easy way to widen the circle of candidates for your open positions. Keep in mind that even you started out without knowing much about your industry and had to learn what you now know.
I'm not advising that you hire everyone from other industries. There is a lot to be said for having strong industry knowledge within your company. However, as long as that knowledge is available and shared, don't restrict yourself from hiring skilled employees in other industries.
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