If you asked someone to envision their ideal workplace a few decades ago, the answer would be vastly different than the one you would receive in 2019. The change in employee values is largely due to the introduction of a large demographic of young professionals entering the work force who prioritize making an impact in a flexible company and improving their community, above earning the highest salary possible. Hiring managers are facing this sentiment for roles that have become increasingly technical, requiring more specialized employees. Needless to say, these trends have made the search for top talent all the more challenging.

Attractive salary and benefits may easily entice people to join your company, but will generally not aid in employee retention efforts. Core values and additional offerings are paramount to a company retaining star-studded employees who can drive the organization forward. Here are a few facts about employee engagement and values:

• 77% of employees consider flexible work arrangements a major consideration when evaluating future job opportunities. (Source: Zenefits)
• Engaged employees
  are 59% less likely to seek out a new job or career in the next 12 months. (Source: Gallup)
• 70% of millennials say they would quit a job if it lacked high performing and fast technology. (Source: Jive Communications)
• 89% of employers wrongly believe their employees resign because they want more money. (Source: Leigh Branham, author of The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave)

Most companies do not have the luxury of having the brand of Apple or Amazon. If most of your candidates are being introduced to your business when they apply, identifying and communicating your embodied company values to champion an impactful mission will prove crucial in attracting new talent. Beyond attracting new talent, it is critical to stay apprised of current employee needs, ensuring those needs are addressed with the adoption of your company’s core values and employee offering policies. Adapting these values with your current employees will enhance retention and improve overall work experience.

At CENGN, we drive our attraction and retention strategy with emphasis on three main core values: impact, collaboration, and sense of belonging.

Impact

The CENGN team seeks those who are truly passionate about advancing global technology for Canadians. Our organization is the engine of growth for Canada’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. We achieve this by:

• Strengthening the technology of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and helping them move products to market faster through our infrastructure, technical, and business support services
• Training industry professionals and students on new and relevant technologies
• Fostering collaboration with our multinational members and partners

CENGN employees are in a unique position to truly make an impact for our stakeholders including the SMEs we serve, professionals we train, and the Canadian tech ecosystem with whom we collaborate. Our employees’ belief in our mission enable us to grow Canada’s tech economy and ICT sector.

Collaboration

One of the many reasons people enjoy working at CENGN is the opportunity to collaborate with members, partners, and clients in our ecosystem. Our globally recognized collection of members and partners along with our customer base of innovative startup companies offer employees insight into trends on cutting-edge technologies relevant in the industry now and in the future. Working with a variety of companies and organizations is a key to success and we leverage every partnership we can. Recognizing what makes your organization unique and valuable will make your organizations more attractive to new talent and give current employees something to be proud of.

Sense of Belonging

Our small but mighty team is comprised of approximately 30 full-time staff and 15 students who enjoy a flexible work environment where employees are empowered to manage their professional and personal priorities through alternative scheduling. In addition to value-add perks, such as an unmatched RSP plan, robust health benefits, competitive vacation structure, fitness credits, and referral incentives, we also promote fun! Each month the team gathers for a variety of activities whether its board games, archery tag, Pictionary, or our famous potlucks where we all get to showcase our culinary talents. We also take the opportunity to recognize outstanding achievements from individuals and teams through our CEO Wow Awards. With 1/3 of the workforce being students, there is a strong emphasis on mentorship, continuous learning, and an organization that is open to change in order to improve.

These are just a few of the values and features of an agile, flexible and dynamic workplace offered at CENGN. Sound interesting? Check out our available positions here!

About the Author

CENGN, Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks, drives technology innovation and industry growth through our testbed, technical expertise, talent development, and partner ecosystem. Through our projects, CENGN enables small and medium Canadian Enterprises to test and validate promising technologies, removing barriers to product commercialization and accelerating market growth.

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