Attracting and retaining top talent is imperative for any company. Employees are also brand advocates and most want to feel that they are making a difference. Creating the right environment for skill sharing and growth can cultivate the essential motivation to deliver excellent work. To support this, employers need to have the right recruitment and retention plan in place with a focus on ‘what are the needs of the employee’.
Below are some top tips on attracting and retaining top talent:
1. Make the application process easy
When it comes to recruiting the best talent, businesses should focus on how they can create a positive experience. Is the application process well planned, easy to use and communication back and forth fast? Do you have your interview process in place, what are your core interview questions and who will be involved at various stages of the process?
The hiring process is time critical and we have seen many businesses lose out on some excellent people because they weren’t prepared enough or were to slow to respond to applications.
2. Be a Mentor
Employees who are just starting out want to ensure they are doing things right or have chosen the right career/business. Therefore, a mentoring/buddy program should be created, this is where employees can discuss their progress and any other concerns they might have. Senior employees would also highly benefit from something like this, so schedule monthly meet ups or luncheons where everyone can network, share stories, strategies and advice on dealing with other business challenges.
3. Offer Independence and flexibility
Some potential employees are attracted to roles that offer them flexibility and the chance to build their own confidence and learning. Offering independence can be a positive form of motivation for some employees as they can focus on ‘business outputs’ and not just ‘time inputted’. Offering remote working options can also be a huge benefit as it opens up a bigger talent pool that isn’t based on office location.
4. Outline Career Progression
Active candidates want to know if the role they are applying for will offer them the chance for growth. Be prepared as hiring managers to talk about the short- and long-term plans of the business. Offering an attractive career path to potential employees is important, this will support retention and business goals.
5. Lifelong learning
With technology and the world constantly changing, it is important that employees’ skills are up to date. Any necessary training for employees can be done formally or online through certifications. Other possibilities include time off to attend relevant events such as conferences or training events that give new insights into your industry.
“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough, so they don’t want to”. R.Branson
Hiring managers and business owners should focus on continuous improvement through up-skilling and digital transformation. For more information on how to recruit and retain top talent you can download our free e-book.
