Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 526 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM WS is a world leader when it comes to agricultural plant breeding companies. The company has a long tradition of family ownership, and has operated independently for some 160 years. Thus, while rooted in tradition, the company is also cosmopolitan, and continues to grow internationally. Lon g-ter m pl a n n i n g, i nvest ment i n resea rch a nd development, and a corporate culture that focusses on employees are the basis of the company’s business success. ‘KWS fits employees who are authentic and wish to be actively involved in the company. New employees soon recognize the company’s special culture and realize within this flat structure, every contribution is vital’, says Jaana Saarteinen-Erben, Head of Corporate Human Resources at KWS. With activities in more than 70 countries, KWS offers good prospects with respect to employment abroad. Employees seeking internationality as a crucial criterion, thus find a host of possibilities at the company. This is also the case for those individuals who are looking for a career path with the option of taking on responsibility. Here, supporting programs, such as training and workshops are on offer in all areas and levels. ‘On the other hand, employees will find understanding if their life situations should make it necessary for them to focus more of their energy on other areas of their lives. Those are the foundations that make KWS an attractive employer and that we use for recruitment’, says Saarteinen-Erben. ‘Honesty and authenticity are crucial in communication with potential employees, in order to keep mutual expectations realistic’. However, with a shortage of well-trained candidates, finding the right employees can be a challenge. To find suitable employees, KWS precisely defines the target group in order to understand where to find and how to approach potential employees. This means cooperation on an international scale with universities and other institutes. ‘On top of this, KWS supports numerous scholarships and projects’, says Saarteinen-Erben. ‘In all these activities, communicating at eye level is decisive’, she says. Moreover, the company puts emphasis on being transparent in its positions on important industry issues. In this day and age, people are well informed and demand answers, including those on difficult topics. ‘They are not only interested in their new role, but also in the working environment’, says Saarteinen-Erben. ‘Thus, a good corporate culture is also the basis for successful recruitment’. At the same time, it is important for a global company to develop various offers, since target groups differ nationally. Human Resource Development When it comes to its HR approach, KWS considers sustainable and holistic development of their employees’ individual potentials an essential element, which applies to both professional and social skills. This translates into several different approaches: • EMPLOYEE-SUPERVISOR DIALOGUE KWS has developed a new form of employee-supervisor dialogue as group policy. The employee-supervisor dialogue is therefore one of the tools that creates a common foundation in the face of continuous growth and increasing internationalization. It creates an essential prerequisite for a successful, goal- oriented working together and fosters collaboration. ‘It gives the opportunity to discuss, beyond the day-to-day work activities, about goal relevant cooperation, the realization of agreed targets. It focuses on the employee’s development and growth, as she or he is asked to formulate her or his needs’ and interests’, says Saarteinen-Erben. Together the employee and supervisor can determine appropriate tasks and projects to build the employee’s capabilities. • COMPREHENSIVE SEMINAR PROGRAM Employees have the opportunity of choosing suitable additional training measures. The human resource development sector is, as an in-house service provider, at the side of every employee to point out all opportunities at a methodical and structural level and in terms of content. Focus on Personal and Professional Education Although KWS employs many successful tactics when it comes to recruitment and retention, its focus on continuing education, both professionally and socially, is particularly attractive to today’s talent. By: Marcel Bruins HR PROFILE