3 Tips To Attract More Job Applicants in 2021
For small business owners and franchisees, today’s job market can be very frustrating and difficult to navigate. While you may not be able to compete with big box stores to increase your payroll, we suggest leaning in to things you can control. Below are a few tips to attract more job applicants:
1. Disclose compensation on job postings.
First and foremost, we recommend listing the compensation range within the job posting. In a 2020 CareerPlug candidate experience study, it states job seekers would prefer to learn about compensation sooner rather than later. This proves to be more relevant in today’s landscape being a candidate’s job market.
As an employer, you have to be as upfront as possible at the start of the hiring process. Potential candidates who go on to apply for the available position will know what to expect, and it saves you time as the employer. You wouldn’t want to go down the path of interviewing and providing an offer just to be told later the compensation does not meet their expectations.
In addition to listing the compensation, consider adding all of the extra benefits this may include such as employee discounts, flexible scheduling, opportunity for promotions or bonuses.
2. Offer a Signing bonus
While employee referral programs are nothing new, a way to incentivize your current staff to bring in their hard-working friends to work in exchange for a bonus--you may want to consider offering a sign-on bonus to the new employees themselves.
When you consider the cost of time you spend recruiting, it’s not too unheard of to divert some of your hiring budget to get the employees faster. For employers who are nervous about implementing a cash bonus program, you can put in place a stipulation that the bonus will be paid after a set amount of days and or in increments. You may also consider offering an elevated employee discount or gift cards in lieu of a cash bonus, it’s just another way to stand out from the many available job postings and to reward talent once you find it.
Keep in mind, you do not want to overshadow your current staff who have stayed with you and in most cases working overtime to make up for the gaps in staffing you currently face. Consider offering them the same bonus as a way of showing appreciation for their efforts.
3. Show candidates that your business is a great place to work
One thing you can control in this ever-changing job market, is the story you tell about your business. Ask your current staff to write a testimonial or record a short video to post on your social media channels. This could be a favorite memory of a team builder, holiday party, or employee contest--showcase how they had fun being part of the team. Job seekers want to check out who already works there and want to see what they can expect should they begin working for you as well. Add photos and videos of your staff and include potential growth opportunities and measures you’ve taken to address Covid-19 safety protocols.
Key takeaway: Don’t wait to apply these tips to your hiring process; be proactive and stay on top of the factors you can control as you search for new employees. Remember, if you need help in advertising your job openings, give us a call as we have hiring packages in place customized for the small business owner.
We’d love to hear from you, what strategies have you employed to find your perfect candidate?
