QUALIFICATIONS SOUGHT IN TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES BY SME BUSINESSES (FURNITURE INDUSTRY SAMPLE)

Abstract

Nowadays, businesses are increasingly in need of employees who can adopt changing conditions in order to be able to enhance competitive capacity, who can understand technological applications and can use the same, who are productive, have communication skills, and can bear team spirit. Turkish furniture sector exhibits a strategical sector feature due to reasons such as its place in national economy, its provision of employment, its share in export and enhancement of its importance in the future. On the other hand, compared to other sectors which are affected negatively from globalization and of which competitive capacities are eroded day by day, it is seen that competitive position of Turkish furniture sector has been reinforced over time despite increasing global competition. Aim of this study is to detect what technical-professional employee expectations of said businesses by revealing opinions of employers in furniture industry relating to qualifications sought in technical employees and thus to contribute constitution of employee profile sought by the sector. Sought qualifications are having information in automatisation with computer programs (Autocad, CAD/CAM, Solidworks etc.), practical technical detail and construction, having an innovative and entrepreneur structure, being able to make innovative design and produce solutions, knowing more than one foreign language, and being able to use CNC machines. Consequently, training employees in accordance with expectations of changing and developing furniture sector and necessity of bringing permanent and innovative solutions to encountered problems are set forth.