Finding good employees has always been a struggle for businesses of all sizes and that is especially true in today’s labor market. Instead of simply posting a job description and hoping a qualified candidate will apply, planning ahead can improve the process before you even have an open position to fill—taking the “finger crossing” out of the equation.
Check your online reputation
Job candidates are searching online for information about potential employers before applying for open positions. Beyond the information you can control, such as your website, blogs and social media pages, be sure to check online review sites like Glassdoor.com. A large number of negative reviews could deter a great job candidate from applying. Spend time reading reviews to gain insight into how employees really feel about working for your organization. Be sure to take the information for what it is, because employees (like customers) are more likely to leave a review when they are upset.
Review your compensation plan
Conduct some research to determine if you need to make a change. You can do some online research using websites like Glassdoor.com or Salary.com. Helpside also offers salary survey reports to clients. These can give you an idea of the low, middle, and high range of pay for similar positions in your area.
Revamp your benefits offerings
Employee benefits can be a great way to enhance an employee’s compensation package. In addition to traditional group benefits like medical, dental and vision insurance, consider other benefits that appeal to employees such as retirement plans, paid time off, flexible work arrangements, and professional development programs. Make sure you emphasize these in your job postings.
Use technology
Use technology to reach the largest number of potential job candidates. Posting jobs to online job sites and social media pages can give you a good reach. Allow potential employees to apply online or at least email in a resume or job application in place of using paper documents.
Ask current employees
Make sure to let current employees know you’re hiring. Employee referrals can be a great resource for filling open positions. Offering a referral bonus can be a great incentive for employees to recommend a potential candidate.
Think outside the box
With a tight labor market, you might need to get creative. Consider reaching out to former employees. Ask around in trade organizations and professional networking groups. Look into your current workforce to see if you could hire from within. Reach out to groups that support veterans or others re-entering the workforce.
Don’t wait until you have a critical vacancy to fill to begin thinking about your hiring process. Preparing ahead of time will help you find the very best employees. Ready to get started? Download our free hiring checklist:
Download the Checklist
If you need more help revamping your hiring process, reach out to the HR experts at Helpside at humanresources@helpside.com.