Ways To Attract And Keep Excellent Employees

8 tips to create a hiring process that attracts the best

Looking to improve employee retention and keep your best employees longer? It starts with the hiring process. In this article we’ve outlined eight tips for creating a hiring process and company culture that attracts the best of the best.

 

 
How do you improve employee retention?
 
While it’s easy to assume that finding and keeping great employees is all a matter of hiring the right person, the truth is that a company’s ability to attract and retain excellent employees is more often than not, begins internally.
 
For companies today, the challenge is not only finding good candidates, but creating a workplace that encourages them to stay for longer. Since some 81% of employees say that they would consider leaving their current role, should a better offer arise, this is an issue that’s especially relevant.
 
If you’re looking for ways to attract and keep a winning team, here are a few things that you can do to draw in excellent applicants and improve employee retention.
 

Don’t be vague! Having a detailed job description, that outlines the specific job title and duties that the new employee will be expected to perform serves two very distinct purposes.
 
First, being specific with the title and the required duties can help to weed out unqualified applicants or those who just aren’t interested in the role. Secondly, it will also help the employee tremendously once they begin the new job. They’ll know exactly what’s expected of them, and will be able to ease their way into their new role far more easily.
 
Having clearly defined duties will also help them to excel in their role, and will give management important benchmarks that they can use to track their progress.
 

As you know, hiring is an extremely involved process. It’s important to ensure that all applicants have been thoroughly assessed, and their references and credentials have all been confirmed.
 
While the average recruiter spends just six or seven seconds reading a resume, it’s important to invest some time up front to ensure that you find the most qualified candidates. Being thorough may require an initial investment upfront, but it can help to save time in the long run.
 

Instead of chasing down potential employees, let them come to you. While your company may not be as well-known as, say, Google or Zappos, you can still create a workplace that will attract the very best.
 
With the rise of websites like Glassdoor that allow employees to rate companies that they’ve worked for, potential applicants today are likely to have a look at your company, before they even submit their resume. It’s important to work to create a company that’s reputable, a place where people want to work.
 

Motivated employees won’t stick around for long if they’re not given opportunities to advance and grow.
 
Instead of looking to keep your employees in entry-level positions as long as possible, consider encouraging them to climb the ranks in your company. Forgo passing over existing employees in favor of new hires, and instead look to source applicants internally for management positions whenever possible. Doing so will provide your team with the motivation that they need to stick around longer; giving them less of a reason to abandon ship.
 

According to one poll, a whopping 72% of employees feel that their supervisor or management doesn’t care about their growth.
 
If you want to keep your best employees for longer, consider encouraging them to grow and develop their skills. Offering incentives for them to gain new credentials and qualifications, such as reimbursements for tuition, can help them to take pride in their work, and could provide the incentive they need to stay.
 

Some 97% of employees and executives believe lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project. Teamwork is crucial for your company’s continued success; and a vital part of improving the workplace environment and boosting productivity.
 

Achieving a work-life balance is high on the list of priorities for most employees, and a company that’s accommodating will instantly win favor with potential candidates.
 
Implementing a flexible hours contract, when applicable, can help to make it easier for your team to achieve that work-life balance. Additionally, allowing your team to work from home one or two days a week can also make your workplace far more attractive; and encourage your team to stay. Think tracking a remote workforce is difficult? Think again. With the right time tracking tools, it’s easy to keep track of remote hours; and verify that your employees are working when they claim to be.
 

When asked what leaders could do to improve engagement, 58 percent of respondents in one survey said that they could ‘give recognition.’
 
Management should be encouraged to show their appreciation to their team. Even offering a simple “thank you” can go a long way toward helping to boost engagement and productivity.
 
With the above steps, you’ll be able to not only attract great candidates, but also boost workplace engagement and morale; encouraging the best employees to stay longer.

Eric Czerwonka is an entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Buddy Punch. Visit www.buddypunch.com Connect Eric Czerwonka