You may start your business all on your own, but after a while, you’re going to find that you need to bring other people on board if you’re going to step up and reach your company’s potential. You’ll do this first by outsourcing some of your duties to third-party companies, and then building a team of workers. But of course, it’s not just a matter of finding people to work for you. It’s about finding the best possible talent. These are the workers who are going to determine whether your business can reach the next level or not — don’t take any chances by hiring subpar employees. Get the best talent. Below, we take a look at some tried and tested ways to make sure you end up with the best staff possible.
What Can You Do For Them?
Your job description is going to have a huge influence on the type of people who apply to work with you. There are two different approaches you can take. You can have a job description that’s full of things that you’re looking for, and the requirements that each applicant should have. This is the normal approach, it’s the standard — but it’s not a very good one. The other is to publish a creative ad that outlines what you can do for the applicants. The best talent already know how good they are — they’re not going to work for a company that only demands, and doesn’t give. When you’re working on your next job ad, look at through the lens of someone who’s seriously talented — would they be inspired to work for you, based on what they’ve read?
This approach will also work as a pretty handy filtering system. When the job description just lists a few basic requirements, you’ll be overwhelmed with replies — everyone will think they can do it. When it’s obviously a level above, people think twice. A less ambitious person will not waste their time applying for a job they’re not ready for.
Salaries and Other Benefits
There’s an old saying that rings true: “if you offer peanuts, you’ll attract monkeys.” If you want to hire the best talent, then you need to be realistic — you can’t expect the world if you’re not going to back it up with a competitive salary. There is a pretty established correlation between the amount of money you’re willing to offer, and the quality of the worker you attract. It’s possible, of course, that you don’t have money in your budget to offer a super high salary, but that doesn’t have to be the end of the world — there are other ways you can pay your workers. For example, you could offer benefits such as bonuses, or shares in the company, or whatever you’re able to offer. Workers, especially younger ones, are able to deal with lower wages if there are other plus points to working with a company. Whatever you do, make sure you’re not offering insulting low wages, or trying to take advantage of the employee. The best talent won’t sign up to work with you for a lower salary if it’s obvious that the company is doing well financially.
Showing You Care
The workplace has changed in recent years, for the better. Now, we have a better understanding about the effects that work — and just modern life — can have on a person. There’s been a sharp rise in mental health issues and work-related illnesses, and it’s important that companies take into account their share of responsibility for these increases. While it may once have been accepted to treat workers just as employees, it’s better practice these days to treat as humans first, workers second. And how do you do this? By showing them you care.
You can have an interest and care in their personal life; if they’re going through a difficult period, don’t tell them to “leave their troubles at the door” — do what you can to support them, even if it means additional time off work. You can also initiate a telehealth system at work, and show that you care about their mental and physical health. Essentially, it’s about thinking about your staff as individuals, rather than just people who can complete a task for you. Employees really do respond to this type of attitude — it’s mutually beneficial. Show that you care, and they’ll show care for you. It’s a win-win.
Flexibility and Modern Practices
We are living in a new world. Over the past decade, there’s been a giant shift in working culture. Lead by Silicon Valley, we’re seeing less rigid working hours and locations, and indeed, even the workplace has been transformed — they’re now more like creative hubs, rather than soul-sapping offices. Anyone who’s anyone wants to have more flexible working conditions, and if you’re not offering them, then you can’t attract the best talent — that’s about all there is to it. As such, you’ll want to look at revamping your employee working environment if it’s currently stuck in the past. You might wish to have people in the office sometimes, but they don’t have to be there every day — the internet has made that possible.
Similarly, take a look at your workspace: is it fun, on any level? If not, look at adding something to make it a more enjoyable place to be. A ping pong table, chill out room, or high-end kitchen and social space will all contribute something.
Employee Referrals
Your employees are going to be a great source when it comes to finding the next best worker. When you put a general job ad out there into cyberspace, you’re waiting and hoping that someone talented sees it. You don’t really know this person, even after a few meetings — only a feel for who they are and what they can do. If you have an employee referral system — in which you compensate your staff for bringing talent to the table — then you’ll be able to bring on board the best talent. You’ll have a much better understanding of all that they can do, and who they are as individuals, too.
Honesty
Nobody likes it when someone says one thing, and then does another. You don’t know where you stand with that person. As such, it’s important that you are honest from the beginning with a potential employee. Don’t promise the world, if you’re not able to deliver it. The best talent will appreciate it much more if you say the drawbacks of working with you as well as the benefits.
Be An Excellent Employer
We’ve listed a whole bunch of things you can do to make your company appealing to the best talent. But the truth is, there is no formula when it comes to what you can do. The factors at play when it comes to working environments and relationships are too complicated for there to be simple things you can do. While the above will, of course, all help, the most efficient way to get people to work for you is to be an excellent employer. And this starts with being a good human being. If you’re trying to take advantage of people, or prone to anger, or don’t care about other people, then eventually it’ll show. If, on the other hand, you’re what your current employees call a “fantastic boss,” then word will get out. There are websites where employees can give anonymous feedback about their boss. If yours is all glowing reviews, then people will want to work for you.
