The U.S. labor market continues to experience unprecedented trends. Even with 6.4 million jobs created in the last year, the unemployment rate stays steady at 4%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
As people leave their jobs in droves and wages increase to keep essential workers in place, the labor market has become tighter than ever. While this is good news for workers, it has become a burden for employers.
But it doesn’t have to be. As times changes, so must your approach to workforce management. Below are three new hiring trends to keep you ahead of the competition:
1. Offer Competitive Pay
With 432,308 job openings in the Georgia alone, job seekers are feeling more empowered and willing to hold out for better pay.
To compete with everyone else trying to fill their empty desks, consider revisiting your pay structure. Offering a competitive wage may be all you need to get quality candidates in the door.
- Research the median rate for each position in your local market.
- Set a range your willing to offer for each position.
- Decide how raises are determined and communicate that to potential candidates.
This also means evaluating your current employee salaries and adjusting them to the industry standard.
While the quits rate has eased up some, many people are still “ghosting” their jobs for greener pastures. “Employee ghosting” is a modern trend where employees stop coming to work without giving notice.
To avoid this costly headache, it’s important to remember retention is just as important as recruitment. A worker who knows their worth and earns it will do more for you in the long run.
2. Adjust Your Expectations
While paying well is important, even a good salary can’t overcome what is probably the biggest setback to hiring: unrealistic expectations in your job requirements.
Being too rigid with your deal-breakers limits your pool of candidates and might even turn away someone who meets the requirements. As mentioned, it’s a job seeker’s market and an over-demanding employee is a red flag.
We know you want high-caliber candidates, so here’s how to set realistic expectations and improve job descriptions:
- Revisit each position’s requirements and ask yourself if any of them are really a preferred quality.
- Are you willing to provide training? A company that offers training shows it cares more about good people than perfect resumes.
- Keep job descriptions concise and relevant. Don’t list every foreseeable task you can imagine them doing.
Combining three jobs into one will only lead to a stressed-out staff and possible retention issues.
3. Streamline Your Hiring Process
Competitive wages and realistic job requirements will get them in the door, but a disorganized and time-consuming hiring process is yet another reason for them to keep looking.
How many rounds will you conduct? Know your timeline and communicate that with each interviewee. Transparency in your hiring process shows you care about their time.
Leverage your technology:
- Auto-response emails keep communication flowing.
- Use software like Calendly to schedule interviews.
- Conduct first round interviews over the phone or through video.
Have a clear written strategy where everyone on your hiring team knows their duties and deadlines. That way, you can move swiftly through the hiring process and decide as quickly as possible.
Proactive Hiring
Proactive hiring means anticipating future roles created by the growth of your business. With this method, you can assess the talent you’ll need before you need it, giving you time to recruit the perfect fit.
- Determine areas of projected growth.
- Identify new roles this growth will create.
- Fully define these roles before recruiting.
Knowing what you need from a potential worker will save time and energy for you both. Because onboarding the wrong person out of urgency hurts you and the employee you have to let go.
Entrust Your Workforce Management To Employ Partners
Not every company has the resources for an effective recruitment process. Let a staffing agency like Employ Partners take the hiring process off your plate.
Employ Partners is dedicated to finding the perfect fit for our clients. We understand the local market and will tailor our approach to the needs of your business. From accounting and human resource positions to light industrial and warehouse staff, we’ll find the right person for the job.
With over 60 years of collective knowledge in the industry, we know we don’t succeed until you do.
Remember
Candidates are in the driver’s seat. Treating the hiring process as a partnership instead of a necessary evil sets the tone for a positive work culture that will entice top talent.
By offering better pay and being less rigid with your requirements, you increase your chances of finding the right fit. And by partnering with Employ Partners, you free yourself up to do what you do best—run your business.
Get in touch with Employ Partners staffing agency today!
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