Manisah joined SME Centre @SMCCI in 2017 as a WSG Business Advisor, where she guides SMEs on their talent management programme and assist them in maintaining staff retention/growth. In this article, Manisah shares with us the importance of a good working culture and key HR trends to look out for this year.
- How does staff retention affect company culture and morale?
When employees do not fit within the existing company culture, they tend to poorly perform and show less interest in their work. This creates job dissatisfaction, which results in a high turnover. Staff morale will also be affected, and the company will struggle to keep up with a constantly changing environment.
- “Employees are a company’s greatest assets.” Your thoughts on this?
I stand by this statement. Employees are the face of the organization and the frontliners of the business. Employees operate the organization at every level and are your brand ambassadors. When they excel in promoting your brand, you become profitable because of them. They not only help you increase profits but brand value as well.
- Share with us the top 3 skills that employers should look into for their staff development in 2021?
I have picked these 3 top skills that employers should focus on their staff development:
– Teamwork and collaboration: Everyone is unique and has his/her own skill sets so the employer’s job is to nurture their staff’s strengths to help meet the company’s needs and goals
– Strong work ethic: A good employee is one that can work independently and professionally with minimal supervision. Employers should actively boost staff’s confidence and empower them to take charge of projects so that they can showcase their potential
– Critical thinking: Employees should be able to problem-solve and be part of the solution. I strongly encourage employers to invest more in this aspect as it will heighten productivity as well as foster healthier relations within the team.
4. What are some programmes that employers can tap on for their staff training and development?
Firstly, there’s the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme, which allows employers to support mid-career individuals to widen their professional networks. The individuals can gain meaningful industry-relevant experience by being attached to a host organization. In addition, the government supports a substantial huge amount of the training allowance funding during the program period.
There is also the Professional Conversion Programme, and is targeted towards PMETs who are looking for a career switch. This programme helps them acquire new skills and improve their competency. Additionally, companies will receive training and salary support.
5. How can job seekers enhance their employability?
Here are my 3 tips:
– Be Visible: Create your profile and update your latest resume at MyCareersFuture. It is a jobs portal that helps you search and apply for jobs based on your skills set.
– Get Assistance: Visit the Workforce Singapore’s Careers Connect which is a one-stop centre for Singaporeans to get career related advice and assistance such as refining your resume under the guidance of a dedicated team. You can discover your skills and strengths besides attending career preparatory workshops such as acing interview skills to help you prepare your journey in landing your next job.
– Have a Growth Mindset: The first step is to be out of your comfort zone. Develop a growth mindset to allow yourself to be open to learn new skills. You can sign up for courses under SGUnited Skills that has an array of certifiable courses for you to emerge stronger and better.