“Unicorn wanted? Equally honest..”  

Companies are looking for unicorns, but they don't exist

Don't get me wrong: I'm not into unicorns.

Ever since I was a little girl. In fact, I even got one tattooed. For me, a unicorn represents something special and magical. Something that stands out among the masses. I still like that feeling, but of course we all know the same thing: unicorns exist (unfortunately!) not really.

And yet we often see them in vacancies.

Companies are looking for candidates with 10 years of experience, preferably young and dynamic. Someone who works independently, but also functions perfectly in a team. Which is flexible, stress-resistant, commercial, technically strong and of course immediately available. Oh, and preferably all for a salary that would make someone enthusiastic in 2018.

The perfect candidate: The unicorn.

However, the problem often does not lie with the labor market or with the candidates. But with expectations that are simply no longer realistic.

The staff shortage everyone is talking about

We hear it everywhere: “There are no more staff.” But is that really the whole story?

Of course, the labor market has become tighter. Good candidates have more choice than before and think more consciously about where they want to work. But at the same time we also see that companies sometimes continue to look for a candidate who already owns everything: the sheep with five legs.

Someone who can be deployed immediately, does not need guidance and fits completely within the picture. However, in practice this ensures that vacancies remain open for months, while there are plenty of people available with potential, motivation and the right mentality.

Perhaps not only is there a staff shortage, but an expectation gap has also arisen.

The labor market has changed

While employers used to be able to choose from dozens of responses, nowadays it is much more about speed, personality and potential. Candidates look beyond salary. They want flexibility, development, atmosphere and appreciation. And perhaps even more importantly: they want to be seen as human beings, not just CVs.

We at BergWerk fully understand that. Because someone may not be “perfect” on paper, but in practice they can fit exactly within a team or organization. A CV does not tell everything.

Potency sometimes says more than experience

We regularly speak to candidates where an employer may initially think: “No, not enough experience.”

But that candidate can be the one who develops very quickly, fits perfectly within the team and stays put for years.
Motivation, eagerness to learn and personality are often much more difficult to learn than a system or work process.

Of course, certain requirements are important. But sometimes it pays to look a little less for the perfect picture and a little more for potential. Because you probably won't find that real unicorn.

Maybe we should stop looking for someone who can do everything, and look more at someone who wants to get somewhere.
Ultimately, this often results in much nicer matches for both employer and employee.

So no, despite my tattoo I still don't believe in unicorns.
But in people with potential.