One of the toughest parts of running your own business is finding people to work alongside you. The small talent pool forces business to compete with each other, not unlike an arms race. And even if you’ve received applications from the right people, the applicants are probably fielding offers from other companies as well. Not only do you have to compete for customers, but you also have to compete for talent. That’s why you need to make changes to your hiring process if you want to attract the best people to your business.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. You probably already have a process that works. Your current employees are happy, and you have no trouble keeping them. But things are different if you’re looking for people with niche skills. A referral-tracking program probably works for most jobs. Except you’re not looking to fill just any job. You need someone with a skill set that’s absent in your organization.
With businesses expanding at a breakneck pace, the supply of talented workers hasn’t kept pace. At the end of the day, the best people will go to the best organization, so you need to transform your business into a place people want to work for. Sounds simple enough? Here are a few things you can do to make your business more attractive to potential employees.
1. Give them what they want
Giving the applicants what they want sounds suspiciously like surrender. But in a world where applicants have their pick of jobs, you want them to consider your company as a serious option. The only way to do that is to make them an offer they can’t refuse.
In a job applicant’s market, companies have to compete for the limited pool of talent. You need to understand that these applicants know that they hold all the power in the hiring process, and it’s up to you to present a package lucrative enough for them to consider. If you’re unwilling to concede an inch, you’ll find it more difficult to hire people.
Industry standards are shifting all the time, and it’s time that you examine the changes your competitors have made. For instance, you may need to offer more money or benefits to remain competitive. You also might want to consider investing in office upgrades to improve work conditions. Some companies have expanded their cafeterias and even built rest and recreation areas for employees. It all boils down to what you’re willing to do to attract people.
2. Strengthen your image
One aspect you might have neglected to consider is your company’s image. Just as people prefer Coca-Cola over no-brand soda, applicants want to work for a company with a solid reputation. Even if you’ve improved your offer, applicants would still prefer to work with your bigger and more established rivals. You need to strengthen your corporate image to improve your value. After all, appearances are everything in the world of business.
A strong marketing strategy should improve your brand’s image in the industry. A corporate image takes time to solidify, but it’s nothing that money can’t fix. You can expect faster results if you invest in your marketing team. If you want to go one step further, you can even hire outside consultants to work on the campaign.
3. Foster good relations in the workplace
Toxic work dynamics can quickly destroy the advancements you’ve made to your hiring process. No one wants to work with people they dislike, so it’s important to nip conflicts in the bud and to foster a culture of openness and camaraderie in the workplace. If people started leaving your company due to workplace conflicts, you’d find it more difficult to convince people to stay, let alone hire new talent.
Thankfully, the solution is simple. Most workplace conflicts become toxic when management fails to intervene. If you and your managerial team catch problems early on, you can resolve issues before they turn into a full-blown crisis. Invest in sensitivity and conflict resolution training for all your employees to improve office relations.
The bottom line
You don’t have to overthink your hiring strategy. If you run a tight ship and your employees are loyal to you, then your company will develop a good reputation in the industry you’re in. How you treat people matters is equally important as what you can offer to them.
At the end of the day, all the money in the world can’t replace respect and kindness. As long as you invest in your employees and your business, you shouldn’t have trouble attracting the people you want.