Recruiting skilled applicants can be difficult, especially if you’re a small business or start-up. You may be competing against larger firms with more established reputations. Additionally, the labor shortage in the country isn’t helping. Thankfully, there are ways to make your company more attractive to job seekers. Here are some tips for setting your business up for success in attracting top talent.
Employer Brand
Your employer brand is how you’re perceived as an employer—it’s your reputation. Job seekers will research your company before applying for a position, so they must ensure that the information they find is positive.
Creating employer branding assets such as an “About Us” section on your website or writing blog posts about your company culture can help attract job seekers who are a good fit for your business. You can also use social media to share photos and stories about your company culture, highlighting what makes your business unique.
Your company’s unique value proposition (UVP) also sets you apart from other employers. Why should someone work for your company? What can your company offer that different employers cannot? Communicating your UVP will help you attract skilled applicants looking for more than just a paycheck. They want to work for a company that aligns with their values and where they can see themselves thriving.
Remember that potential applicants are looking for more than just a job; they want to know that they will enjoy coming to work every day and feel like they are part of something larger than themselves. By sharing information about your employer brand, you can give job seekers a better sense of what it would be like to work for your company.
Positive Work Environment
In addition to working on your employer brand, creating a positive work environment for your current employees is crucial. If your employees are happy, they will be more likely to stay with your company and recommend it to others as a great workplace.
Additionally, unhappy employees can damage your business’s reputation—something you don’t want when you’re trying to attract top talent. There are many ways to create a positive work environment, but some things you can do include offering flexible working hours, providing opportunities for professional development, and making sure that employees feel like their voices are heard. When job seekers see that your current employees are happy, they’ll be more likely to apply for a position at your company.
Benefits and Perks
In addition to a positive work environment, top candidates will look for outstanding benefits and perks when choosing a job. Offering these benefits can help you attract the best applicants and make your business more attractive overall. Here are three unique benefits that will grab the attention of skilled applicants.
Dental
Many millennials care about how they look. Offering dental benefits can help your company stand out and make it more attractive to young professionals. You can also pay for specific dental procedures. The most common right now is dental implants. These implants are often more affordable than other types of dental restoration, making them a great perk to offer in your business.
Fitness
Another benefit attracting millennials is a gym membership or other fitness perks. Giving employees the option of working out during the day helps them stay healthy, and they may be more likely to stick around because of these perks.
Paid Time Off
Finally, providing paid time off is another great perk attracting candidates looking for job flexibility. Whether for vacation, maternity leave, or just personal time, allowing employees to take paid time off gives them options when choosing jobs—and makes you seem like a flexible employer!
Employee Referral
Lastly, you can also use employee referrals to help attract top talent. Many employees would be happy to recommend their friends and colleagues for open positions within your company, which can help you find the best applicants for any vacant roles.
To do this, offer an incentive or bonus to employees who refer someone who is hired. It’s usually around $1,000 to $5,000. You may even consider creating a specific program or policy for employee referrals to make it easier for you and your employees.
Attracting top talent doesn’t have to be complicated—if you invest in your employer brand and create a positive work environment, skilled applicants will be drawn to your company. Job seekers are looking for more than just a paycheck. They want to feel like they’re part of something larger than themselves and know they’ll enjoy coming to work every day. By focusing on these areas, you can set yourself up for success in attracting the best and brightest applicants.
