Vera Petrovicheva of Usetech: 5 Ways To Attract & Retain Talent

“When we love what we do, we become more motivated and productive and are more likely to succeed.” — CEO at Spacetwin

Aspart of our HR Strategy Series, I’m talking with top experts and execs in Human Resources to teach people who are looking to advance their careers or find job opportunities what hiring managers look for, while also supporting business leaders in their hiring and retention strategies. Today I had the pleasure of talking with Vera Petrovicheva.

Vera Petrovicheva has worked in HR and IT recruitment for over 10 years in large organizations with up to 14,000 employees. With a wealth of experience and training, Vera helps companies attract the right candidates to meet their business needs.

Thank you for joining us! First, please tell our audience what brought you to this specific career path?

Thank you for this opportunity!

The IT field is constantly evolving and vacancies in this area are always open. Recruiters have to keep up to date with all the new technologies and trends, which makes the job very interesting and dynamic.

I also have the opportunity to work with talented people. IT companies attract the best talent, which means that recruiters can work with the best candidates.

Can you share the most interesting or funny story that happened to you since you started this career and what lesson you learned from that?

I can’t remember any one situation. Every interaction with my team opens new opportunities or teaches me something. I am grateful to my team and the company for the fact that every day I can interact with people and learn something new from them.

Are you working on any exciting new projects at your company? How is this helping people?

I am happy to tell you about some of the company’s projects. One of them is directly related to the HR sphere. This is the Teal HR product — employee motivation and engagement software solution.

We implemented six essential pillars of personnel engagement: peer-to-peer recognition; promotion of essential behavior; virtual coins redeemable for rewards; internal communication; employee surveys; assessments, and 1:1 meetings. Teal HR is suitable for companies between 50 and 10,000+ employees.

Wonderful. Let’s jump into the main focus of our series. Hiring can be time-consuming and difficult. Can you share 5 techniques that you use to identify the talent that would be best suited for the job you want to fill?

Sure, I can share 5 techniques I use to identify the talent that will best fit the job opening.

1. Analyzing resumes and work experience. I pay attention to the job seeker’s professional experience, accomplishments, and skills they have acquired in past jobs.

For example, if I’m looking for a project manager, I pay attention to project management experience, use of project management tools, etc. Or it’s project analysis. I analyze the projects the candidate has worked on to assess his professional potential.

For example, if I am looking for a Mobile Developer, I can study the applications he/she has created and evaluate their design, functionality, and user interface.

If I’m looking for a Big Data specialist, I can study the projects he or she has been involved in and assess his or her ability to work with large amounts of data and use tools to analyze it.

2. References. I ask for references from previous employers and colleagues.

For example, if I’m looking for a Big Data specialist, I can ask past employers about their experience working with big data and using relevant tools.

3. Evaluating Communication Skills. I assess a candidate’s communication skills to make sure they can work well in a team and communicate with customers.

If I’m looking for an analyst, I make sure to assess their ability to communicate with customers and understand their needs.

4. Evaluating analytical skills. I assess a candidate’s analytical skills to make sure they can work effectively with data.

For example, if I’m looking for a Mobile Developer, I might ask questions about his or her approach to analyzing user data and identifying trends.

5. Potential Assessment. I pay attention to the applicant’s potential (ie. their ability to learn, develop, and adapt to new work environments).

For example, if I am looking for a trainee, I pay attention to his or her academic achievements, interest in the profession, and willingness to learn.

With so much noise and competition out there, what are your top 3 ways to attract and engage the best talent in an industry when they haven’t already reached out to you?

1. Attracting talent through social media and professional communities. For example, LinkedIn and other platforms can help you find and attract qualified professionals in the IT industry.
2. Actively participate in IT events and conferences. Attending such events can help attract talent in the IT industry, as well as network with them and learn about new trends and technologies.
3. Creating an engaging work environment and company culture. This may include providing flexible work schedules, opportunities for professional growth, participation in various projects and initiatives, bonus programs, etc. It is also important to create a team that will be involved in working on interesting projects and will have the opportunity to realize their ideas and creative potential.

What are the 3 most effective strategies you use to retain employees?

1. Providing opportunities for professional and career development. This may include training, coaching, mentoring, participation in projects, etc. It is important that employees feel that the company invests in their development and helps them realize their potential.
2. Creating a comfortable and supportive work environment. This may include providing flexible working hours, the ability to work from home, organizing corporate events, etc. It is important that employees feel valued and respected within the company.
3. Providing bonuses and perks. This could be a financial bonus for meeting goals, extra days off, health insurance, the ability to use the gym, etc. It is important that employees feel that they receive not only a salary but also additional bonuses and privileges for their work.

In your experience, is it important for HR to keep up with the latest trends? If so, please share an example of what this might look like.

Yes, I believe it is important for HR to keep up with the latest trends in their industry as it helps them stay on top of new and effective ways of working and attracting talent.

For example, one of the latest trends in HR is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the recruitment process. AI can help HR professionals automatically screen resumes, conduct initial interviews, and analyze data to determine the most suitable candidates for a particular job opening.

AI can also be used to manage employee training and development, providing personalized training programs based on data about each employee’s performance and needs.

Another trend is the increasing focus on employee mental health. HR professionals can use various methods to support mental health such as providing stress management training, organizing meditation sessions, etc.

Overall, keeping up with the latest HR trends helps companies attract and retain talented employees, increase productivity and performance, and create a comfortable and supportive work environment for all employees.

What are some creative ways to increase the value provided to employees without breaking the bank?

1. Create a corporate blog: this can be an easy way to talk about new projects, achievements, and benefits of the company. Employees can leave comments and ask questions, which will help strengthen team spirit.

2. Organizing internal events: it can be a conference, seminar or training where employees can learn about new developments and technologies used in the company.

3. Regular updates: send out news and updates via email or internal social media. This can be information about new clients, projects, achievements, etc.

4. Opportunity to communicate with top management: organize meetings with the company’s management so that employees can ask questions and express their ideas.

5. Promotion within the company: talk about career development and training opportunities in the company. This can be an incentive for employees to work more efficiently and improve their skills.

6. Create an internal video: create a short video about the company, its history, mission, and values. This can be a good way to show employees that they work for an interesting and meaningful company.

7. Organize internal contests: it can be a contest for the best idea, the best team, or the best project. This will help to stimulate employees’ creativity and strengthen team spirit.

What is your favorite “Life Lesson Quote” and how that was relevant to you in your life?

“The only way to do something great is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

This quote reminds me of the importance of passion and love for my work and hobbies. When we love what we do, we become more motivated and productive and are more likely to succeed.

We are blessed to have some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have a private lunch with, and why?

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur, engineer, and founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and other companies working on electric cars, solar energy, and spaceflight.

I would like to have lunch with him because he is one of the most innovative and influential entrepreneurs of our time.

I’d love to learn more about his approach to business and find out how he handles complex challenges and obstacles.

Great choice! Thank you for sharing your insights with us today.