Online job portal JobStreet recently kicked off its Southeast Asia-wide virtual workshop series titled “A Stronger Workforce During the Pandemic: The Resilience of SMEs.” The initiative aims to guide SME hirers in upgrading their workforce and improve talent attraction and retention amid the quarantine economy.

The local virtual workshop was attended by hirers from several industries such as manufacturing, BPO, advertising, financial services, and more. They learned more about the changes and trends in the local job market, as well as how to move their workforce forward amidst COVID-19.

JobStreet has rolled out the virtual workshop in Malaysia and the Philippines, while other countries are scheduled to roll out their sessions within the year.

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JobStreet revealed that job seekers today look for hirers that offer job security, readiness for remote work, and stance on relevant social and environmental issues. For hirers to meet these demands and attract talents, SMEs were advised to highlight how the company has adapted to the pandemic, provide other benefits if employees are required to report on-ground, and take a proactive stance on social issues that matter to the business.

The virtual workshop also tackled improving talent retention among SMEs as jobseekers now value flexibility in work hours as well as work-life balance and recognition more than ever. Investing in virtual tools while balancing governance and flexibility is one way to go for hirers. JobStreet also recommends organizing work chats, buddy systems, and engagement activities even virtually.

Enhancing efficiency

“SMEs must rethink the way they structure working spaces in these trying times,” said Philip Gioca, country manager, JobStreet Philippines. “The best approach is to execute a human-centric culture within the company, and at the same time, enhance their efficiency by utilizing necessary tools and implementing benefits suited to their work setup.”

Attendees also had a sharing session during the workshop, where they were able to share insights on retaining and attracting employees.