While hiring new employees may seem simple on paper, in reality, it can be a very complicated process. Employers must deal with a gauntlet of obstacles to acquire and retain top industry talent. Here are some of the biggest hiring challenges that employers face, and strategies for overcoming these challenges.
Finding and Acquiring Top-Tier Talent
There’s almost never a shortage of workers that meet base requirements to fulfill a position. However, attracting and acquiring elite talent is significantly more difficult. A recent survey from Glassdoor Recruiting Outlook found that “48 percent of hiring decision-makers don’t see enough qualified candidates for open positions, and 26 percent see the situation getting harder in the next 12 months, as the U.S. economy picks up. This somewhat alarming statistic goes to show that outstanding talent is hard to find and even more difficult to secure.
Low Tech Recruiters/Lack of Online Presence
In 2015, high skilled workers are more likely to search for positions through online job boards, social media or online networking rather than a newspaper ad or more traditional medium. If a recruiter is out of touch with new technology or the company lacks an online presence (e.g. social networks and a high ranking in search engines), it’s probably going to be a struggle to find the right talent.
Employee Retention
Another major issue that companies face is holding on to top talent. With many industries becoming increasingly competitive and workers more inclined to explore their options, many of the elite employees end up leaving in search of greener pastures. This is especially true with the rising number of millennials comprising today’s workforce because they’re often quicker to jump ship for better opportunities than baby boomers or Gen Xers. The problem is that employee turnover often hurts efficiency, kills productivity and costs businesses money.
Strategies for Overcoming These Challenges
Fortunately, there are multiple ways to leap over recruiting hurdles and assemble a team of professionals who are in it for the long haul. You can kill two birds with one stone and find great talent while adapting to new technology by making search engine friendly job postings. For example, incorporating keywords that a suitable job candidate would search is a smart move. It’s also good to become active on a few social networks if you’re not already. LinkedIn, in particular, can be a big help.
In terms of increasing employee retention, it’s smart to offer some key benefits like healthcare coverage and retirement options. Some other ideas include:
- Offering job advancement opportunities
- Offering flexible scheduling or telecommuting options
- Offering other job perks like discounted childcare and lunches
Although recruiters are faced with several challenges, they can usually be overcome with the right approach. By being proactive, you should be able to construct an excellent team and create a thriving company culture. To learn more about finding the right staff for your business, contact us today.