Most employees’ skillsets extend far beyond what their job descriptions require. Managers who create opportunities for employees to use their lesser known talents bring a new level of meaning to job satisfaction.
Hiring the most qualified people for the role is, of course, common sense. But who do you choose when presented with several candidates with similar glowing CVs? We suggest looking beyond their obvious qualifications and consider how their interests could provide valuable transferable skills.
When people can apply knowledge and skills from their hobbies, they will be more satisfied in their role and feel a deeper connection to your business. All of these positive experiences contribute to healthy retention rates and higher levels of employee engagement.
When employees have hidden talents, they may not be forthcoming about them because they don't realise how relevant they are to their role. This is why skilled managers are essential, as they can bring these talents to the surface.
If an employee wants to put their talents into practice, it uplifts the entire department or team — and can even boost wellbeing. Moreover, other employees may also feel inspired to share what they are good at, which is a win-win for your organisation.
Generally, encouraging people to bring more to their role than just what's expected on their CV results in a deeper level of fulfilment, which contributes to a healthy company culture.
When employees begin to use their secret skills, it's important to reward them for going the extra mile and running with the idea.
With Perkbox, managers can attach points to personalised messages of recognition. Employees can then redeem these points against thousands of rewards. So when we say there is a reward for everyone, we really do mean it.
What's more, because Perkbox works with international brand partners, global and remote employees can also benefit from the app and choose rewards that are meaningful to them.
While many transferable skills are learned through work, many people acquire them through their hobbies, volunteering, and their home life.
Examples of transferable skills include:
Communication is arguably one of the most sought-after skills organisations want in their employees. People with hobbies such as acting may excel at presenting as they use this skill every time they set foot on a stage.
Today, everyone has some form of social media account. However, some employees may have a successful account they manage while working for you. Because of this, they could be natural marketers and positively influence how you approach advertising on social media.
People who take their hobbies seriously and spend a considerable amount of time on them outside of work may be able to juggle tasks well and be very capable project managers.
Previous experience working in retail or hospitality can mean a person has learned to work well with others. Even if their role seems solitary in your organisation, they may have hidden qualities that could make them an exceptionally good manager.
Even if a person does not need IT skills for their current role, knowing they have a solid understanding of how to use web analytics tools — or simply Microsoft 365 can prove very useful. An example is a content writer who can also use SEO tools and content management systems.
If an employee has shown they have an additional skill or talent, nurture this interest with a course.
Fortunately, there are plenty of online courses and qualifications employees can take advantage of.
Perkbox, for example, offers thousands of discounts, deals, and freebies, including courses on business leadership and management, personal development, and wellbeing.
A tech company's HR manager hired several developers to build a new technology platform. A few months after hiring these developers, the HR manager learned that one of the new hires was highly rated for their presentation skills.
The HR manager asked this employee to run an informal training session about presenting and speaking in public. The team found the session helpful, and there was a noticeable lift in communication and cooperation afterwards.
Perkbox is an all-in-one employee experience solution that focuses on the core elements of employee experience to increase motivation and engagement.
The real-time recognition feed facilitates employee recognition, so peers can recognise each other no matter where they are in the world. Celebrating a secret skill or hidden talent has never been easier.
Additionally, when employees have gone the extra mile — managers can attach points to each recognition they send. Employees can save or redeem these points right away on thousands of rewards. The more points they have, the bigger the reward they can claim.
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