What do you expect from your business in the next 6 months? Despite
a weaker 2009, most small business owners in Canada are increasingly
optimistic about their business performance in 2010.
HSBC’s global confidence monitor gauging local economic growth shows that 27% of Canadian SME's plan to increase their capital spending, while only 15% see cost-cutting measures in the next 6 months. And there are plans for employment too: 22% of business owners of SME's in this country plan to hire in the near future, three-quarters said staffing levels will remain unchanged while only 4% plan to slash jobs in the first half on 2010.
This paints a somewhat different picture than south of the border where 33% of US small businesses plan to reduce their staff and 29% plan to hire in 2010 (according to a Forbes survey of 500 small businesses released in February this year) but 50% plan to invest in growth and expansion.
Hiring seems to be in the books for small businesses this year and many business owners know how difficult it is to find a good fit for their company. Small businesses usually have difficulties in hiring and retaining top talent that usually use them as a ramp towards more promising careers. But with big corporation layoffs in the past two years, the tables have been quickly turned and chances are that in "the new norm", highly qualified prospects will see small businesses as good places to work for longer time and often with more rewards, where there is a good fit with the company culture.
Even with the job prospects increase, finding good fits is difficult for small businesses that can't afford HR services available to big enterprises.
This was the reason why ClearFit, an on-line job listing service was launched in 2009.
As opposed to other similar, more established solutions (like Monster or Workopolis), ClearFit came up with a patented way that matches job candidates to companies for a low price. It sounds close to an on-line match-making service, but according to the company, whose clientele expanded rapidly from the first few months, for small businesses job fit is even more important than in Fortune 500 companies.
Another fast growing on-line job listing service for small businesses that wears a "made in Canada" tag is Mployd.
The Manitoba based company developed a service that has more
features at a lower price than the big competitors. Still in beta, it
offers design customization, messaging, applicant and job management
tools and geographic targeting for only $250/year.
For many small businesses who are often looking to hire temps for lower level positions and for which an advanced matching service may not play such an important role, a good solution (which is also free) is offered by the Service Canada job bank. Besides the contact information, businesses are required to provide their business number. There is also a "job match" feature that lists qualified candidates who have the skill set matching the advertised job.
