How to Capitalize on Soaring Hiring Rates
A report from LinkedIn in late Q4 showed that hiring stayed consistently strong in 2017 from 2016 — by over 10 percent. With intense hiring, especially in automotive, manufacturing (15.7 percent), oil and energy (30 percent), it’s important to invest in hiring practices that help companies maintain that trajectory for the upcoming year and beyond. There are many things companies can do to attract talent, especially in this apparent hiring influx. BirdDogHR has several tried-and-true tips and tricks to help successfully hire and retain the employees of managers’ dreams.
Work From the Inside Out
Employer branding is a huge part of a company’s talent acquisition strategy, but it doesn’t work if it doesn’t match up with company culture. Businesses need to practice what they preach in order to retain the best possible employees during this hiring spike. Company culture is the bread and butter of any organization and is what engages employees and makes them want to stay, so investing in company culture and honest employer branding is the way to go in order to retain those top hires.
This is not the time to embellish the truth. If your company has an awesome benefits program, flaunt it and give concrete examples of success stories. If your business has a once-a-year wellness lunch-and-learn, don’t boast about the gym memberships your company doesn’t really provide. New hires can quickly see if the branding and reality don’t match one another.
Applicant Experience Matters
During this spike in hiring, the applicants hold the power. They are often interviewing at multiple businesses and fielding multiple job offers at a time. Investing in the applicant experience makes employers stand out and will help you secure the most qualified and enthusiastic hires. It’s simple: if you treat applicants well throughout the hiring process, they will be more likely to stick around if you offer them a job.
Because every company’s employer branding looks different, they may engage in different strategies to meet this goal. Some companies might set aside a lunch for an interview, whereas others may send a handwritten thank-you note from a hiring manager. Other options include a tour of the workplace during a second or third round, and some companies prefer to do a practical interview with team members. The one thing companies have to prioritize, though, is communication. The clearer the communication is throughout every step of the hiring process, the more satisfied a candidate is going to be with their experience.
Development Opportunities Drive Retention
Most applicants are looking for career paths and development opportunities when they search for open positions. This is the time to showcase the potential for upward mobility in the open position. Would the candidate be leading a team for important projects? Helping candidates understand expectations and opportunities for professional development will help them better understand their position within the company and may help them make the best decision regarding their employment.
As mentioned before, this is not the time to inflate the reality of your development opportunities. If this job does not have the potential for upward movement, don’t say that it does. Rather, highlight the importance and depth of skills that can be developed while holding the position. Leadership, specialized skills, and collaboration are all great and can be developed within many positions, but make sure that you are being truly honest with the candidate.
Even with trades industries seeing the biggest year-over-year increases, statistics aren’t the only thing companies should be relying on to secure their superstars. By investing in company culture, the applicant experience and employee development, managers can continue to capitalize on the trends of the last year and launch their company into a future of hiring success.
The BirdDogHR Talent Management System can help you make the most of the hiring spike while helping federal contractors remain compliant with OFCCP standards. Contact us or schedule a demo today for more information.
