The FINANCIAL — The majority of company HR managers interviewed by The FINANCIAL said they have already recruited and plan to recruit new employees for the current year.
“Since the beginning of the year, ProCredit Bank has hired over 170 employees. The job growth rate for the rest of the year will be moderate,” said Lela Kvantaliani, Head of the HR Administration Department at ProCredit Bank Georgia.
“Bank Republic has already recruited over 60 employees during the year and up to 100 individuals will be employed till the end of the year, with expected job growth rate of 9% in 2010,” said Ana Tikaradze, Human Resource Manager at Bank Republic, Societe Generale Group.
The current weekly open vacancies at Bank Republic are for Micro Loan Officer and Internship in Corporate Banking.
Novo Group, incorporating Mango, United Colors of Benetton, Sisley and Mexx in Georgia has also recruited employees during the current year and as Alexander Kevlishvili, HR Manager of Novo Group, declared, they plan to hire approximately 9 new employees in 2010.
UGT plans to recruit approximately 5-7 new employees before the end of the year. The current open vacancy at the moment is for Manager (Director) at UGT.
“The tendency of employing people depends on the increase of work capacity. The growth of work tempo consists of 50-60% compared to the previous year. 226 workers as well as 17 employees to positions have been recruited since 1 January, 2010,” declared Eka Machavariani, HR Manager at Axis.
This week there are the following open vacancies at ProCredit Bank: night operator, call centre operator, receptionist, lawyer in litigation unit (3 in total, head office and branches), paralegal in Batumi branch, senior accountant, programmer in the reporting department, internal auditor, and head of the marketing department.
The current tendencies in employing people will be the same for the following year, such as professionalism, strong knowledge of the field, experience and personal skills, said the HR managers interviewed by The FINANCIAL.
“The Bank’s working culture is a little different from other banks and envisages the internal promotion of staff. Therefore when recruiting the Bank pays a lot of attention to communication and managerial skills, as well as interpersonal skills and this is something ProCredit Bank employees learn by being here from the beginning and then they transmit these values to new employees,” said Kvantaliani, ProCredit Bank.
The most demanded professions are in the field of business and finance, IT specialists, sales consultants, service staff, as well as specialist in construction.
“In our field there is more demand for sales employees. However I wouldn't say that there is a shortage of workers in any field related to our business, but globally I would say that IT is the sphere which has such a problem,” declared Kevlishvili, Novo Group.
“Manager (Director), IT Specialist and Engineers are the current most demanded job professions needed in our field for the following year. Moreover it might be said that there is a shortage of junior IT specialists too,” declared Natia Gorjoladze, Head of the Human Resource Management Department at UGT.
For Radisson BLU Iveria service staff are the most demanded for the current year, moreover Ekaterine Lomidze, HR of Radisson BLU Iveria believes that there is a shortage of almost all types of professional workers in her field.
Tikaradze, Bank Republic, believes that there is a shortage of corporate bankers in her field and the current trend in employing people is for recent graduates from business schools.
“The Bank does not recruit middle managers from outside the Bank, but facilitates career growth of its own staff inside the Bank. The Bank believes that a successful manager in ProCredit Bank has to understand and share the Bank’s corporate values and business philosophy and be able to transmit it to the younger generation,” declared Kvantaliani, ProCredit Bank.
“While recruiting for sales positions of course the preference is given to youngsters, because people in this position will need some physical activity. In any other position youngsters and adults are of equal preference,” said Kevlishvili, Novo Group.
“According to our philosophy age does not matter if the person can do the job. However, if work demands physical effort, young people tend to be more successful,” said Lomidze, Radisson BLU Iveria.
“At lower level positions we usually recruit young people (students) and to top positions – more experienced adults,” declared Gorjoladze, UGT.
“At entry level preference is given to younger people, students or recent graduates as no work experience is required. However at management level more elder people are recruited as work experience is required,” declared Tikaradze, Bank Republic.
Regarding the CEO position at Bank Republic preference is for French citizens, while on the Board of Directors both French and Georgians are welcome.
“Top management at Novo Group consists both of Georgian and foreign citizens. The management team is very stable and has not changed over the last few years. Regarding new employees both foreigners and local applicants are of equal preference,” said Kevlishvili.
In the top positions and CEO levels at UGT preference is mainly for locals. At Axis, like UGT, Georgians are preferred for top positions.
However at Radisson BLU Iveria the management team is 50/50 locals and foreigners.
“The top management consists of 5 members, of which 3 are male: Mr. Philipp Pott, General Director; Mr. Sascha Ternes, Director; Mr. Avtandil Gogoli, member of the extended management board. And 2 are female: Mrs. Maya Meredova, Director; and Mrs. Keteven Khuskivadze, member of extended management board. Overall, 67% of ProCredit Bank employees are female and 33% male.
The vast majority of the bank’s employees are citizens of Georgia. There are 5 foreign nationals, including the top management,” declared Kvantaliani.
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