How SMEs can win the battle for talent

ONE of the key areas that hiring managers and headhunters generally look at in resumes is "branding". Resume branding is generally looked upon as the profile of the companies worked in, such as small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), multi-national companies (MNCs), government-linked organisations and not-for-profit enterprises, and also the industries these employers belong in.

Depending on the stage of one's career, it is usually more challenging for a job seeker with a "non-MNC branding" to break into the MNC space.

Interestingly, the converse is usually easier. A possible reason could be because hiring managers typically view work experience with MNCs as a relatively more attractive proposition. MNC training, systems and processes are generally considered more cutting-edge compared to SMEs, and thus, a job seeker with this experience is more desirable.