3 Tips for Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

Getting the right people in the right positions can be a huge challenge for any business. Hiring the wrong employee can cost countless dollars in labor, onboarding and training costs, which is why startups and businesses in their infancy cannot afford to make any hiring mistakes. It is imperative for your business to ensure you hire the right employees, and once they are onboard do everything you can to retain top talent. After all, these employees are in high demand and it will not take long for them to jump ship if you do not recognize their contribution and reward them appropriately. To help you achieve this goal we have compiled 3 tips to attract and retain top talent.

1. Be a Company that Makes a Difference
   The key to recruiting top talent is to create an organization that people want to be part of. Employees need to feel like the work they do makes a difference in their community. If your company has the resources, consider supporting a local or national charity. Choose a nonprofit organization that supports or embodies the overall goals of your organization. For smaller businesses with tighter budgets, consider allowing employees to participate in a company-wide giving campaign. For retail businesses, choose a product that somehow relates to the cause or organization your company supports and donate a portion of the proceeds from that item to the organization.
2. Rethink Your Hiring Methods
   Talent acquisition experts like Jason Hanold know that recruitment is about more than just skills. During the interview and selection process, hiring officials should be looking for culture in addition to the required knowledge, skills and abilities. This is a critical part of determining whether or not a candidate has what it takes to excel in your work environment. A great way to facilitate this unique type of vetting is to involve employees in the hiring process. If the candidate is interviewing for a sales position, consider having a few employees from the sales team sit in on a panel interview. Not only does this let the employees know that their opinion is valued, but it also allows them to help identify candidates that are most likely to fit in with the culture of the department.
3. Remove the Fear of Failure
   Many new and small businesses face unique difficulties during the hiring process. Top recruits may be reluctant to pursue a company that has no proven track record or guarantee of success. The best way to overcome this challenge is by addressing this issue during the interview. Be honest with candidates about the company’s plan for success and how they plan on achieving it. Not only will this allow candidates to enter the job with clear expectations, but it also allows them to understand where they might fit into the scheme of things.

In conclusion, recruiting and retaining best candidates is about more than just filling vacant positions. These 3 tips will help you better define your hiring processes and find candidates that are right for your company.