Finding and Retaining Quality Employees

Finding good quality employees is probably the single most important thing you can do to ensure that your business runs smoothly. Hourly employees make up over 60% of the general workforce; however, retaining quality employees may be difficult. Employers must be willing to offer competitive wages and a benefits package if their intention is to attract and retain quality employees. There are many online job boards where employees can look for jobs and can also post a resume that can be viewed by employers.

Campus Recruiting

One of the ways that employers can get in touch with future employees are to post job openings on campuses. Also, make sure that jobs are posted on your company website and use your printing resources at work to print up flyers and put them around break rooms and other areas.  That way, current employees can either apply for the new position themselves or let others know about the job openings available.

Most companies work with customers in some shape or form. Make sure that those that you hire are good communicators. Employers may also want to reach out to past applicants through email to see if they are currently seeking a new job. Some employers may want to offer a short interview process on the phone before scheduling a proper in-person interview. This will help streamline the interview process and save time. Make sure that those you do hire seem like the right fit for the job. Don’t let the desperation of being short-staffed cause you to hire someone who isn’t fit for the job or the culture of the company.

Screening Tips

Some things you should look out for as a hiring manager are people that lack confidence or don’t have the experience you’re looking for. On the other hand, you don’t need someone who is arrogant or has a holier-than-thou attitude. Make sure to ask some creative questions during the interview. You want to make sure that the prospective employee can think quick, especially by using creative questions that they haven’t heard before. If you take them out of the office or conference room to see how they interact with others, you’ll get a better sense of their personality.

Instilling a Good Culture

It is up to the head of the company and the hiring manager to ensure that there is a diverse workforce of capable people who feel valued and respected. Employers should make sure that expectations are clear. There should also be a way for employees to voice their concerns, whether this is in person or anonymously through the use of a suggestion box. At staff meetings, you can offer the employees a chance to voice their opinions and also be part of the decision-making process.

Employee Engagement

Employees want to know that their opinions matter. Employees also want to know that there is room for advancement and growth. Regular staff meetings are an asset to companies. This can be a time to recognize employees for their achievements, and also to make clear new expectations or projects that are coming up in the future. Employees spend a lot of time every day with each other. There should be a feeling of closeness and mutual respect among coworkers.

Differentiate Your Company

Employers offering incentives to current employees are likely to have a good response and an easier time finding a new employee. Another way for an employer to have access to many people at one time is to set up at a job fair. While conducting interviews with prospective employees, one of the most important qualities is a great personality. Skills can be taught, but a miserable attitude can be an ongoing issue.

If it seems that you’re still having trouble recruiting possible employees, one thing you might want to try is to work with a staffing agency or recruiter. You may also want to seek out non-profit organizations or offer an internship program. This may help attract students or those who are newly graduated to your business.

Retention Helps

Once you do find new employees, retaining them is also important. Make sure every employee feels respected and offer incentives and rewards for a job well done. It’s important to recognize individual contributions and achievements, as well as team wins. One way to ensure that employees feel respected and appreciated is to offer an incentive program. Incentive programs don’t have to be expensive. It can be an employee of the month program, a shout-out in the company’s newsletter, tickets to a local event, or an extra paid day off.

Finding and retaining quality employees is difficult. But following some basic guidelines will help you build a strong and productive team.