Happy employees make for productive and loyal employees. The current job climate requires that businesses put their employees' needs first or risk losing out on high-quality workers. From the high cost of turnover to the cost of low-performing workers, you want to hire right each time to avoid time-consuming and costly headaches.
When recruiting new employees, you need to hire someone skilled at the job. But you also need an employee to fit in with your company culture and operations. If potential employees feel that your company lacks organizational structure, they may run for the hills. Having a strong recruitment process helps you, onboard new employees smoothly, giving them a better first impression of your company and making them more likely to stick around.
Don't Hire People Just as a Warm Body in a Seat
Every business feels extreme pressure to fill roles as soon as possible. Whether you're replacing an existing role or hiring for new positions, you need the work to get done, so you feel intense pressure to get a warm body in that seat right away.
But don't let that pressure cloud your better judgment. Having a warm body only works when that person can do the job you've hired them to do. If you overlook too many red flags or settle for someone who doesn't have the skills and experience required to do the job, you could end up right back at square one — having to hire another person — within just a few weeks or months. Not only is this incredibly frustrating and expensive, but it's also entirely avoidable.
Taking your time, setting clear expectations, making a list of must-haves can all work to give you the right employee when you need them. When you make the right hire, you make it more likely that the employee will thrive in the role and stay with your company longer because they had a smooth hiring and onboarding process. Keeping your existing team happy and engaged has the added benefit because they don't have to pick up the slack or deal with an employee who isn't the right fit.
Develop a Solid Recruitment Strategy
Developing a clear and strong recruitment strategy helps you effectively and efficiently find the best employee for the job. That starts by looking at your competition. Find out what other companies are paying, the benefits they're offering, and their culture. You also need to look at worker trends in your industry and nationwide.
Putting all this together will help you create a clear and direct job description that attracts suitable candidates. Your job description will reflect your uncertainty if you don't know what you're looking for and how much you need to pay.
But you also need to be flexible with some of the skills required for the job. There is no perfect candidate who checks off every box. It's better to look for people with a good work ethic and moral standing. You can train and improve skills — you can't change someone's foundational beliefs.
It’s also recommended to work to hire more people than you need. New hires can be fickle and unreliable, and they may jump ship quickly if they receive an offer for more money, more time off, bigger bonuses, or any additional perk. Candidates have many options to choose from, and you must brace yourself for that possibility. New hires may not last as long as they had previously.
Ensure You're Internally Organized
Recruiting is a two-way street. You're interviewing the candidates, but they're also sizing up your company. One of the best ways for employees to know what it's like to work at a company is to go through their hiring process. If it's not organized and seems haphazard, they can expect the same as an employee.
You need to make a great first impression on all of your job applicants. They are grading you. Ensure your documentation is ready to go, your job descriptions are clear and direct, and your onboarding process is smooth. The more organized your company appears during the interview and hiring process, the better impression it gives to both your potential employees and your existing team members.
Act Quickly and Make Good Offers
When you know, you know. Don't fiddle around trying to put a square peg in a round hole. If a candidate is not suitable for the job, let them know you're moving in another direction. The same is true when you know an applicant is a right fit — act fast. In today's job market, you don't know how long that employee will be around before a competitor snatches them up.
It's crucial to have your recruitment process organized. Once you've made your selection, you need to quickly get an offer letter, conduct the background check, call references, and begin preparing for the new employee's first day.
Having a clear and organized onboarding process will make the new hire feel more welcome and comfortable with their decision to join your organization when they start. That will also help your new employee hit the ground running, making them more productive early on in their role, saving your company time and money.
A PEO Just Might Be the Answer
To help you get your recruitment process in order, you can rely on the support and services of a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). The right PEO can help your company get all of your processes in order, including your recruitment process, so you can focus on speaking with the best candidates for your open roles. Hiring the best people requires an organized approach that runs like a well-oiled machine.
Read more about the best tips on hiring new employees in today's job market.
