In order to counter the shortage of skilled labour companies need to intensify their Human Resource efforts as well as deal responsibly with and plan ahead for available competences. This conference publication describes company strategies and instruments for Competence Management that is specifically adjusted to the requirements of small and medium-sized companies. The authors show tools for the recruitment of skilled labour through the internal Human Resource development of existing members of staff and options for optimising the external search for employees. The measures presented have been tested in practice. In parallel to this publication and as part of the series "Leitfäden für die Bildungspraxis (Guidelines for Educational Practice)", the guide "Competence Management for small and medium-sized companies" is published for business practitioners.