4 Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Talent in 2023

Introduction

As the business world evolves at a rapid pace, one of the most significant challenges facing companies of all sizes is recruiting and retaining talent that are top performers. While many businesses have found it difficult to recruit and retain talented employees, the reality is that future employees are waiting for the right company and culture to join.

4 Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Talent

The question then becomes, what can businesses do to attract and retain the best employees in the modern age? We offer in this article 4 strategies for recruiting and retaining talent:

  1. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits
  2. Create a Positive Company Culture
  3. Invest in Employee Development
  4. Embrace Technology and Innovation

So, without further ado, let us discuss each of the four strategies…

1.Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

One of the most effective ways to attract and retain top talent is by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages. In today’s job market, talented employees have many options available to them, so businesses must ensure that they offer compensation and benefits packages that are on par with or better than their competitors.

In addition to competitive pay and benefits, businesses can differentiate themselves by offering unique perks, such as flexible schedules, remote work options, and opportunities for career development and advancement.

2. Create a Positive Company Culture

Another critical factor in attracting and retaining top talent is creating a positive company culture. A positive company culture is one where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work. It is also one where employees have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with their colleagues.

To create a positive company culture, businesses should consider investing in employee engagement initiatives, such as regular team-building activities, recognition programs, and community outreach efforts. Additionally, businesses can ensure that their managers are trained in effective communication and leadership skills, so that they can create a positive and supportive work environment.

3. Invest in Employee Development

In addition to offering competitive compensation and benefits packages and creating a positive company culture, businesses should also invest in employee development. This can include providing opportunities for training, continuing education, and mentorship.

By investing in employee development, businesses not only help their employees grow and develop their skills, but they also demonstrate that they value their employees and are committed to their success.

4. Embrace Technology and Innovation

Finally, businesses that want to attract and retain top talent must be willing to embrace technology and innovation. In today’s digital age, employees expect to have access to the latest technology and tools to help them do their jobs more effectively.

In addition to providing the latest technology and tools, businesses can also create an innovative and entrepreneurial culture that encourages employees to experiment and take risks. This can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and attract employees who are excited about working for a forward-thinking and innovative company.

Summary

recruiting and retaining talent that's right for your position

In conclusion, while the challenge of recruiting and retaining top talent is real, there are several strategies that businesses can use to overcome it. By offering competitive compensation and benefits, creating a positive company culture, investing in employee development, and embracing technology and innovation, businesses can attract and retain the best employees in the modern age.

Future Employees Await

The future is bright for businesses that are willing to invest in their employees and create a culture that values and supports them. The future employees that businesses seek are already out there waiting for the right opportunity to join a company that will provide them with the tools, resources, and environment to thrive.

Improve Your Recruiting Strategy with the Help of Flexicrew Staffing

Let Flexicrew be a staffing partner for planning and recruiting talent for the coming year

Want to improve your recruiting strategy even further? Call Flexicrew to help create and implement your recruiting strategy to help you attract top talent as long as this job market remains tight.

Attracting New Employees – 4 Tips

Introduction

There are many details that employees may be looking for in a new workplace, so how can you make your business stand out and attract new employees?

4 Tips to Attract New Employees

This is a tight job market.  Employees seem to hold all the cards.  So, here are 4 helpful tips that will help your business in attracting new employees to your workplace:

  1. Getting the Word Out
  2. Job – Audience Match
  3. Make Your Job Appealing to Your Audience
  4. Attractive Compensation Package
1. Getting the Word Out

get the word out attracting new employees

Ensure that job seekers are aware you are hiring. The first step in attracting new employees to your business is getting the word out. To let the public know that you are hiring, you can:

  • Use job boards
  • Advertise on social media if you have a wide audience
  • Run ads
  • Ask current employees for recommendations
  • Have a “work for us” section on your website
  • Send out a newsletter to your email list
  • Connect with people at community events
  • Use job forums that are related to your job
  • Reach out to past employees that left under good circumstances
  • Use a help wanted sign outside your business
  • Host an open house
  • Billboards
  • Partner with a staffing agency

Attracting new employees requires a simple recruitment process

2. Job – Audience Match for Attracting New Employees:

    • It is not only important to let people know that you are hiring, but to let the right people know that you are hiring. When you are ready to find and attract new employees, identify who your correct demographic and skill set is.
    • You will save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you are pitching your available job to the type of employee you want to hire. For example, a general job forum may attract applicants that are not right for the job. Instead, try using a job board that is related to your industry.
    • Persuade people to apply for your job by making the process as simple as possible. Give people a step-by-step guide for how to apply to your job listing so they can easily turn in an application for review.
    • You are not only looking for people who are actively seeking a job, but also those who are passively looking for work. Community events, social media pages, radio, and television are better for reaching future employees that are not aggressively job seeking.
3. Make Your Job Appealing to Your Audience

Don't lose candidates. Make your job appealing to attract new employees

In our previous article, 6 Benefits Employees Want, we talked about some of the most important things that applicants want in their new job. Consider that list when you are putting together an offer package.

  • The specific audience you want to hire may have unique needs, so your job’s benefits and perks are not one-size-fits-all.
  • Understanding your target audience will really help you market your business well to potential applicants. Compensation is a major factor in attracting new employees employees, but it is not the only thing job seekers consider when they are looking for a new place to work.
  • Some job seekers are attracted to non-profits, for instance, because they believe in the work they are doing. They want to make a positive difference in the world, which can be more important than taking a higher salary.
  • A sense of belonging can also be a powerful tool in attracting new employees to your business. If you make candidates feel like they are part of a team of like-minded individuals working towards an important goal, they will be more likely to want to work for your organization.
  • Here are some things that may make your job more appealing to potential applicants:
    • Remote work
    • Flexible work schedule
    • A possibility of advancement
    • Prioritizing mental health
    • Inclusivity and diversity
    • Adjustments for neurodivergent employees
    • A sense of fulfillment in work
    • A sense of community in the workplace
    • A comfortable or aesthetically pleasing work environment
4. Attractive Compensation Package
Make your compensation package appealing. You can entice future employees by flexible hours, a sense of fulfillment, and a comfortable working environment, but there is no denying the importance of a good compensation package.
Compensation: Wages, Benefits, Perks

Compensation for a job includes three major areas: wages, benefits, perks.

  • Wages

Your particular business may have trouble keeping up with higher wages, but as much as possible keep your wages in competition with others in your industry or market.

  • Benefits

Benefits are a major consideration for job seekers. A job that has lower wages, but great benefits, can remain competitive in the job hiring market. Examples of benefits you can offer employees are:

  • Health insurance
  • Dental and vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Pet insurance
  • Sign-on bonus
  • Paid time off
  • A wellness program
  • Retirement benefits
  • Paying for education or certificates
  • Paying student debt
  • Free childcare on site
  • Financial planning resources

Attracting new employees difficult in tight job market

  • Benefits

Perks can also help people become interested in your job. Some ideas for perks include:

  • 4-day work weeks instead of 5-day work weeks
  • Personalized desk/work areas
  • Casual dress days
  • Mentor programs
  • Paid time off for birthdays
  • Free parking
  • A workplace gym
  • Free gym memberships
  • Healthy vending machines
  • Comfortable and appealing break room with amenities
  • Paid maternity/childcare leave
  • Room in the building for nursing mothers
  • Company picnics
  • Birthday parties
  • Game/activity rooms onsite
  • Access to amenities at the workplace during off-hours
  • Event tickets
  • Office library
  • Bring your pet to work options
  • Charity donations that employees are passionate about
  • Cleaning services for remote workers
  • Home improvement options for remote workers
  • Subscriptions (such as Audible, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime)
Correct Compensation, Benefits & Perks
  • There are many other perks that might be suitable for your working demographic. Understanding your workers will help you identify which perks, benefits, and wages will be appropriate for attracting new employees.
Conclusion

In, from our examples, there are many factors that employees may be looking for in a new employer. So follow our 4 tips to differentiate your business from other employers competing for attracting new employees.

Flexicrew Support

Flexicrew has counseled many employers and HR recruiters on correct ways for attracting new employees and successful recruiting methods. That improved their chances of attracting new employees who will work out.

Flexicrew supports employers attracting new employees
Flexicrew supports

If you would like support in recruiting your next new hire, please contact one of our professional recruiters who have many years’ experience in staffing.  We will help you allow your team to quickly recruit quality candidates for your open position.

6 Reasons Finding Employees is Hard

Introduction

This article will explore 6 reasons finding employees is hard, but first some background.

6 reasons Finding employees is hard

2020 was a significant disruption in the world of business. In a monumental way, it changed how businesses operated and employees interacted with their peers, their bosses, and the rest of the world.

There were supply chain issues, childcare issues, and many employees began working remotely.

Lately, unemployment is surprisingly low, but many jobs and businesses are struggling to find and retain workers. Even if they can find someone to work, their turnover rate is high, leaving them scrambling to find someone new to fill the position just filled and then just as suddenly vacated.

In this post, we will explain reasons finding employees is hard and why you might be having trouble with your recruiting efforts.

Anyone who wants to hire employees right now is aware that there is a labor shortage. According to Forbes Magazine, “Next to rising costs, the biggest complaint from American businesses is the shortage of workers.”

Main Reasons Why Finding Employees is Difficult

What are the main reasons finding employees is difficult right now? You will get various answers depending on who you ask, but here are some commonly agreed upon reasons why there is currently a labor shortage:

1. Wages vs Inflation

Wages are not keeping up with inflation. Salaries have been increasing in the US, but not quickly enough to keep up with the rising inflation. Many employees are seeking out higher paying jobs, leaving lower level paying jobs with a shortage of workers.

2. Higher Businesses Costs

Businesses are also battling with higher costs. Many businesses, especially small businesses, are struggling to compete with costs going up. Business owners may want to increase their employee wages, but the cost of goods has eaten up a lot of their extra profits.

3. The Great Resignation and the Great Reshuffle

Recruiting in Great Reshuffle

In 2021, 47 million workers quit their job in what many have called “The Great Resignation.”

    • According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the trend currently may be better described as the Great Reshuffle, in which many of those workers quit their jobs to seek out other jobs leaving some fields of work lacking employees more than others.
4. Childcare Issues

Childcare is on of Reasons hiring employees is hard

Although most schools across the US are open now, childcare and school closings were a major factor in families choosing to have one parent stay home. In households that had two parents working, many of them switched to a one-working-parent home at least temporarily.

    • This may account for some shortages in some industries that have traditionally been female dominated. For example, women make up 51% of restaurant workers and 71% of servers, according to Fast Company.
5. Boomers Leaving Workforce Permanently

Baby boomers are retiring. There is also a lot of evidence that shows that the baby boomer generation is retiring, and in some cases earlier than anticipated. Pew Research released this report in 2020:

    • “Millions of Baby Boomers retire each year from the U.S. labor force. But in the past year, the number of retired Boomers increased more than in prior years…
    • In the third quarter of 2020, about 28.6 million Baby Boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – reported that they were out of the labor force due to retirement.
    • This is 3.2 million (or 13%) more Boomers than the 25.4 million who were retired in the same quarter of 2019.”
6. Remote and Hybrid Working Conditions

remote worker dont want to commu finding workers is hardte as on of the reasons

Remote work has changed the market. 2020 led to a lot of people switching from working at a central location to working remotely. A lot of workers prefer to work remotely, making it harder for jobs that require in-person participation to compete for employees.

Other Reasons

There may be other contending factors that have changed the job market over the past few years. Certainly, stimulus money, increased unemployment benefits, and forced shutdowns during the pandemic affected the job market in many ways.

These factors may have subsided in 2022, but quite likely played a part in workers seeking new and different positions as things opened up again.

Another reason there are fewer available workers is the increase of interest in starting small businesses or working in gig work rather than full-time paid positions. Nasdaq reports, “Some 83% of the people surveyed by Intuit who want to start a business said COVID-19 has accelerated their plans to start their own business.”

Piecing it Together

Even when employers advertise jobs there are multiple reasons finding employees is hard

There may be many more reasons finding employees is difficult and businesses in most industries are failing to attract new talent.  But the above are among some of the biggest reasons. Some of them may be difficult to overcome for small to medium-sized businesses in certain markets or industries.  But there are still ways to find good hard-working employees even during these unusual times.

We will give you ideas to find good employees though there are many reasons finding employees is difficult in 2022.  Our next article, 6 Benefits Employees Want, will discuss the features that modern employees want in a job which make them more available to accept your job offer.

Flexicrew Gets the Reasons Finding Employees is Hard and Provides Support

We are quite familiar with reasons finding employees is hard right now.  Especially those who are efficient and hard-working. Many of them we have trained to do so to improve their job and career prospects.

5 most common recruiting mistakes Flexicrew avoids

If you need assistance finding individuals who possess excellent productivity qualities, contact one of our recruitment professionals Today.

5 Most Common Recruiting Mistakes Recruiters Make

Introduction

Avoid hiring mistakes employers make

Hiring managers often make these 5 most common recruiting mistakes when hiring new employees.  Admit it.  Are you guilty of making any of these simple recruiting mistakes?  in this post, we’ll address them and what you can do to side-step them.

How?

By understanding some common interviewing techniques and effective recruiting methods, hiring managers can minimize the chances of making these 5 most common recruiting mistakes.

Broad Errors Flexicrew Observes in Recruitment

common hiring mistakes

As a professional staffing agency, we monitor recruiter and hiring manager recruiting activities and see some overall simple missteps that are an everyday occurrence – but are easy to avoid.

  • Properly Evaluating Candidates

One of the most common mistakes hiring managers make is not properly evaluating candidates. Many times, a job candidate’s qualifications are less important than the interviewer’s perception of them. Instead of basing decisions on what is important, such as skills or experience, interviewers often focus on superficial characteristics, such as appearance or personality.

  • Applicant Screening

Another mistake hiring managers make is not screening applicants thoroughly. Many times, a simple Google search can reveal disqualifying information about an applicant. Hiring managers should also verify information about candidates through third-party sources.

  • Balancing Important Factors

Finally, interviewers often give too much weight to oral interviews. In reality, interviews with candidates only account for about 25% of the decision-making process. Written applications and feedback from previous employers are also important factors when choosing new employees.

5 Most Common Recruiting Mistakes

5 most common recruiting mistakes hiring managers make

Below are the 5 most common recruiting mistakes we observe hiring managers make that can adversely affect your hiring decisions and how to correct them.

1. Not Setting specific Hiring Goals

A common mistake made by hiring managers is not setting clear hiring goals for their department. Without knowing what they want, it becomes difficult to find qualified candidates. Try to define specific roles and responsibilities that match the skills and experience of the ideal candidate, and make sure that the job offer meets these qualifications.

2. Failing to Conduct Interviews Properly

When interviewing candidates, be prepared to ask probing questions and probe for information about their experience and skills. Make sure your questions are relevant to the job opening and that you take the time to listen to the candidate’s responses. Poor interviewing skills can result in a loss of interest from potential employees, which can impact your ability to hire the best possible candidate for the position.

STAR interview questions for the candidates

3. Not Considering References Carefully

Before making an offer of employment, be sure to ask references for both yourself and the candidate. Check their references thoroughly and be sure you understand their comments about the applicant. If you have any doubts about whether a reference will be positive, hesitate before offering employment – even if you’re 99% certain that the person is qualified for the job. A poor reference can damage your reputation as a fair employer, which could lead to lost opportunities in future hires.

4. Making Assumptions about a Candidate

When evaluating candidates, do not make assumptions about their character or capabilities based solely on their appearance or resume information. Instead, take time to get to know them better – ask them questions that will allow you to assess whether they would be a good fit for your position in question.

5. Not Following up After Interviews or Rejecting Candidates too Early

After an interview, it’s important to follow up with potential candidates promptly and offer them an opportunity to schedule a second interview if they’re interested in the position. It’s also important not to reject candidates too early – many times this can come across as rude or unprofessional. This could give your employer a black eye with that candidate and any other s/he speaks with.  Allow candidates ample opportunity to show their skills and qualities before making a decision.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can minimize the chances of making hiring mistakes and ensure that your hires are a great fit for your company who positively affect your results..

Flexicrew Support

We have advised many HR recruiters and functional hiring managers on correct interviewing techniques and successful recruiting methods.  That reduced the chance of their making these 5 most common recruiting mistakes.

5 most common recruiting mistakes Flexicrew avoids

If you would like support in recruiting your next new hire, please contact one of our professional recruiters with many years experience in staffing.  We’ll  help you prevent your team from making a recruiting Oops!

 

 

 

Avoid 5 Job Search Errors

5 Job Search Errors and How to Avoid them

Candidates often make routine job search errors.  This article goes over how to avoid 5 job search errors which are most common and can trip up even experienced position hunters.  After all, the job search process is a complicated, time-consuming, and often stressful endeavor. That’s why it’s important you keep things as simple and stay organized as possible.

Avoid 5 job search errors

 

Sloppy Organization Or Ineffective Communication

There are many missteps job seekers make during the job search process.  And most of them have to do with sloppy organization or ineffective communication. And candidates can easily correct them.  Therefore, it’s important to stay on top of your job search by setting aside time for research and networking every week. You should also keep a close eye on your resume and cover letter, making sure they are polished and consistent with employers’ requirements.

Follow some simple job search rules. You can avoid 5 job search errors and get the job you want, even if it takes a little longer than you planned!

It’s important to stay on top of your job search by setting aside time for research and networking every week.  Always prepare to speak with potential employers at any time.

Inadequate preparation before applying for a job. You should know exactly what type of position you are looking for and have a plan in place to get there. Keep track of your progress and stay on schedule so that you don’t miss any deadlines.

You must avoid 5 job search errors that are the routine types of mistakes that a candidate can unwittingly make during their search.

Some of the most common are:

Resume Missteps

Resume faults are one of the most common job search errors.  Yet, your resume is your best chance to get an interview. Resumes are used by hiring managers and recruiters to see what you have to offer. That means they’re going to be looking for things like typos or gaps in your work history. So, make sure you’re ready for anything that could come up when you’re applying for a job.

Avoid resume job search errors

Start by taking a hard look at your resume. If you find any errors, fix them. Then, of course, make sure everything is 100 percent accurate before you distribute it to potential employers.

There are a few things you can do to avoid resume-related job search errors. First, keep your resume short and easy to scan. Avoid writing it in all capital letters and using fancy fonts. Also, make sure your resume is error-free and free of spelling mistakes. If it’s not perfect, go back and edit it. And proofread your resume at least twice before sending it out!

Provide all the required information in your resume. Failures may include a lack of relevant education, work experience or specialized skills. If you’re not sure what’s required, talk to an HR professional who can help you.

Poor Fit

A poor fit with the job description. If you don’t match the requirements of the job, then you need to rethink your approach and make some changes. Failure to submit your resume at all. If you send it through the wrong channels, there’s a chance that no one will see it.

Not tailoring your resume and cover letter – Tailoring your resume and cover letter is all about making it relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, then it would be inappropriate to include information about your advertising or writing or market research experience.

1. Not Thoroughly Researching the Job Opening

Inadequate preparation before applying for a job is a deal-breaker. One of the first steps in any job search process is to completely research the job opening. It’s important that you should know exactly what type of position you are looking for before applying and have a plan in place to position yourself as the best candidate.   If you don’t know what you want, your application will end up looking unfocused.

Keep track of your progress and stay on schedule so that you don’t miss any deadlines.

Make sure you are aware of all the requirements for the position as well as any special qualifications expected.

2. Not Preparing Properly for the Job Interview

Before any interview, be sure to research the company thoroughly. This includes reading the company’s website, reviewing job descriptions, and speaking with previous employees. This will help you answer relevant questions and demonstrate that you have researched the position.

Also, make sure to bring copies of your resume, along with any relevant letters of recommendation. It’s also important to dress professionally and present yourself in a positive light during interviews; remember, your success as a recruiter may hinge on the impression you make on the hiring manager!

3. Failing to Ask Relevant Questions During Interviews

During an interview, it’s important to ask questions that relate to the position being filled. Ask about the company’s culture, what type of work they do, and what their day-to-day tasks look like. By doing this, you’ll be better prepared to judge whether this is a good fit for you and your skillset.

4. Giving Too Much Information Too Soon

It’s important not to give away too much information right away during an interview – this can show that you’re not prepared or interested in the position. Instead, wait until after the interview has been completed before revealing everything about yourself (unless specifically asked). This will keep the conversation flowing smoothly and prevent any awkward surprises down the road.

5. Being Unyielding or Dishonest in Negotiations

Many hiring managers view negotiation as a negative process.  However, it can actually be an effective way to land a great job candidate if done correctly. Be honest about what it is that you’re looking for in a position and don’t be afraid to ask for more than what is initially offered.  This will show that you’re serious about finding a new job and aren’t just wasting the recruiter’s and hiring manager’s time (and yours!).

Wrapping Up

Most of the job search errors have to do with sloppy organization or ineffective communication. By following these simple rules outlined in this article, you can ensure that you get the job you want, even if it takes a little longer than you planned!

5 Job search mistakes to avoid

Flexicrew Support

We all experience ups and downs in our job search. It’s not uncommon to feel stressed at times, frustrated with your job search, or unsure of what steps to take next. Flexicrew understands this and is committed to helping job seekers find the right position. We’re here to help you every step of the way. With a wide range of services, Flexicrew will assist you with your job pursuit.

Avoid 5 job search errors

Our staffing experts can help you find the right position that fits your needs and qualifications. We can also offer a variety of perks, including access to potential clients, assistance with resume writing, and more.  Contact us.  We’ll be glad to assist you in your successful search.

 

 

 

5 Steps to Control Recruitment Expense after Pandemic

Welcome to the first day of Autumn!

Employee wages and employment recruitment expense are a large chunk of any organization’s overall costs. During and post-pandemic it will be money well spent when employers start to vie for talent again to have an excellent, fast recruiting process either in-house or with outside support. However not every organization will have the resources to spend much for recruitment. Controlling talent acquisition expenses is not something that HR recruitment specialists are really faced with often.

Elements of recruitment costs

But maybe in the current climate your management has instituted across-the-board budget cutbacks which might linger when your business reopens or even after the pandemic.

Recruitment Expense Control

Below are 5 ways a talent recruitment professional can use to tamp down recruitment expense without impairing the talent pipeline.

1.Accurately Calculate Your Recruitment Costs

You must establish what your company’s  actual recruitment cost is before you can decide which elements to reduce or eliminate or remain the same. Include both direct and indirect costs when calculating your recruitment costs.

Examples of some direct costs include:

  • turnover
  • HR administration
  • job board fees
  • agency and advertising budgets
  • onboarding budget
  • processing costs

Examples of indirect costs can include:

  • loss of business while the job is unfilled
  • turnover (yes, this shows up both places)
  • additional training costs
  • reduced productivity while the job remains vacant
  • burnout of other workers who pick up the slack

It is important that you keep records – not just the recruitment costs but also what value recruitment brings to your firm. Consider your processes – their effectiveness, their duration, their use of personnel, their weaknesses and their return-for-effort expended:

  • interviewing costs
  • travel expense
  • time to review resumes
  • communicate with multiple applicants
  • conduct formal interviews
  • discuss candidates with peers
  • determine who will make the best fit
2. When Surrounded by Alligators, Don’t Decide to Drain the Swamp

Putting an entirely new hiring method or new recruiting software into operation will save time and money longer term, but a system-wide change should only be made if yours is truly not functional. The time and costs of a completely different method will be high before savings begin to show up.  Plus, new procedures require training and lead to some unexpected errors during the learning curve.   Rather, plan to modify your recruiting approach to revamp the most time-consuming components.

Hiring managers need to collaborate with HR recruiters  and help create a more consistent, less labor-intensive and faster-moving approach. You want to optimize the hiring process so more candidates accept your offers. Part of improving the recruiting process has the recruiter and hiring manager form  the basis of an offer early-on that becomes suitably persuasive to  the candidate.

3. Employee Referral Programs

Studies consistently show that employee referrals improve quality-of-hire and retention rates while lowering hiring costs. Yet, they are still underutilized.

“Employee referrals have proven success,” said Amber Hyatt, SHRM-SCP, vice president of product marketing for SilkRoad. “Employee referrals have excellent conversion rates from interview-to-hire, as well as typically longer tenure with the organization. Recruiting teams are very aware of the benefits of leveraging employee referral programs to cost-effectively recruit, speed the time-to-hire and secure top talent to fill hard-to-fill positions.”

Furthermore, “I find most organizations spend the least amount of money marketing and automating their referral program than any other single source they have,” said Tim Sackett, SHRM-SCP, president of HRU Technical Resources. “Yet, it’s their No. 1 source and their No. 1 quality-of-hire source.”

For employers looking to hire, especially while the pandemic still challenges, and particularly those needing to fill critical roles, employee referral programs are demonstrating real potential. By leveraging the influence of trusted friends and colleagues, talent recruiters can increase their odds of making a successful hire.

If you are just starting an employee referral program, it may not be necessary to offer financial incentives because in these difficult times people will naturally respond out of good will  or out of concern for a laid-off friend or family member.

4. Compress Time-To-Hire (TTH)

If you minimize the time it takes to hire, that will lower your cost-per-hire. Attention to time-to-hire could also result in an improved experience for the candidate. Way to do this are for the recruiter and hiring manager  to agree on the job description and advertisement before publishing, to pay attention to newer recruiting technologies, to combine first and assessment round interviews into one, and to have direct managers engage earlier in the recruiting process.

5. Reporting Automation

Reporting is essential for several reasons. First, it takes time away from your recruiters’ time that could be allotted to higher priority activities. Try reporting systems that lower administrative burden for those whose time would be better spent in interviewing. While this step does not lower hard costs, it does optimize the activities of your in-house resources. But you should budget for a productivity loss while transitioning your team to reporting automation from current more manual techniques.

Think about automating:

  • post-application messaging
  • nurturing workflows
  • social messaging
  • FAQs
  • automated help desk messages
Summary

Richard Fairbank, CEO at Capital One Financial Corp. is a billionaire and renowned businessperson.  He is an expert at using a combination of information technology and testing.  His recruiting comments are, “At most companies, people spend 2% of their time recruiting and 75% managing their recruiting mistakes.”  It’s likely that your HR department and operations supervisors do not reflect that quote, but you need to realize that more executives are paying attention to recruiting, its cost and value.

The question then is what are you doing to optimize your firm’s recruiting process to make certain you are keeping recruiting expenses down while adding value?

By using recruitment cost containment steps like those listed above, you will not only save your company money but produce additional efficiencies and usefulness within your recruiting function.  Or maybe even save your organization in these perilous times.

Recruiting Help

Flexicrew can help you quickly recruit the types of workers which will fit well in your organization while helping you contain recruitment costs.  Give us a call today to get prepared.

 

How a Staffing Agency Can Help During Recession

The U.S. economy is quite weak and no one seems to be able to accurately forecast when it will rebound.  Of course, the economy is tied to the pandemic, so who knows when a cure will be discovered and how long after the financial ecosystem will return to normal – if ever.

Businesses would like to find out what is the best way to deal with an extended recession. One way is by changing their recruitment strategy, knowing how the job market is likely to change. It is also necessary to plan to deal with the recession, while continuing hiring top rated talent.Staffing-Agency-Help-During-Recession

 

Reviewing Recruitment

Most business owners review the workers they require regularly and are aware of how many employees have to be hired and the expenses involved. To deal with the recession, it is important to be even more careful while hiring and accurately determine staff required at present and in future under different scenarios – positive and negative. This implies that a plan for talent acquisition should be created, which is based on the forecast for the business for the next few years.

It is important to understand how required staff will change during a longer recession. It is important to know which positions are crucial for the business, so that the budget can be adjusted without affecting essential staff. Businesses should also become more creative in finding new ways to fill the vacancies, like hiring a staffing agency to help with recruitment or promoting existing members of the team. In addition to reducing expenses, the results of the team are likely to improve since promoted employees are more engaged and productive.

Predicting Changes in the Job Market

At present the job market is fairly confusing and there may be major changes if economic conditions worsen further. If job security reduces, employees are less likely to resign from their current job and opt for new unknown opportunities. As a possible template, the SHRM study of the 2008 recession highlighted some of main findings for businesses. It is important to have enough staff, while ensuring that the morale and engagement of these employees is high. Though 55% of the businesses indicated that they had reduced their employee count to cut costs, yet 76% also had invested resources for training their teams to increase the productivity and skills. While reducing expenses is essential during a recession, that should be combined with policies for increasing employee retention and satisfaction in the long term.

Recruitment Strategy during Recession

A business should decide the skills, experience and profile of the employees who are essential, even if the staffing budget has reduced due to the recession. After this the business should finalize its strategy for recruitment. It is advisable to decide the most important positions for the organization, and other positions which may be filled, if the budget is sufficient. This will help ensure that the business hires only the most essential employees first, and the company can reduce its expenses, without adversely affecting business targets.

Single Staffing Agency for Efficiency and Budget Control

When the essential positions are finalized, the business should try to optimize the process of hiring so that expenses are reduced. One way is to use a single staffing agency for all the recruitment activities instead of using multiple staffing firms. The business can negotiate a better deal with the staffing agency to reduce expenses. After this a timetable for implementing the strategy should be finalized, so that the recession affect is alleviate for the business. Being unprepared for a recession leads to reduced profits. Hence it is important to plan ahead to protect the morale of the employees and the company, so that the business survives this recession.

Improve Your Recruiting Strategy with the Help of Flexicrew Staffing

Want to improve your recruiting strategy even further? Call Flexicrew to help create and implement your recruiting strategy to help you attract top talent as long as this recession lingers.

3 Key Reasons Recruiters Should Use Digital Interviews

Since the number of Coronavirus cases in the United States continues to increase, Human resources (HR) departments in employers are reducing personal interviews due to the social distancing norms which are still in-place in many industries.

The talent acquisition staff is opting to use digital platforms to interact with candidates applying for jobs and the use of digital solutions has increased significantly in the last six months. Surveys indicate that personal interaction with candidates is adversely affected by social distancing for 41% of the businesses, and 58% of the organizations claim that virtual interviews are used to alleviate the difficulty.

Although Flexicrew still utilizes some personal interaction, they are most often for drug screening and testing. Nevertheless we strongly encourage job applicants to interact with our recruitment staff digitally.

Benefits of Digital Interviews

3 important tips for organizations planning to conduct digital interviews for recruitment are discussed below:

 digital recruiting

Digital Interviews While Working From Home

The HR staff has to spend some time coordinating for scheduling in-person interviews but they help to understand the candidate and get to meet team members. Digital interviews can make the process easier since the HR and operations team members and candidates can connect from their homes to hold face to face interviews.

Additionally these online job interviews also offer more flexibility for the HR staff and job applicants. Scheduling problems and travel delays associated with personal interviews are eliminated by conducting digital interviews. Additionally more candidates can be interviewed digitally even beyond normal working hours.

Face-To-Face Interaction with Job Candidates 

HR staff can choose from a wide range of digital interview tools for conducting live and on-demand interviews for direct interaction with the candidates based on the company profile. In on-demand interviews, the candidate records answers to questions which have been finalized earlier. Alternately a live interview can be conducted virtually.

Additionally digital interviews are a very easy way to highlight a firm’s uniqueness and personality, allowing the business to record personalized videos which give the candidate relevant information about the company. This could help motivate the candidate so that he is more interested in the available job. Also the video will help to showcase the most interesting aspects of the culture of the company.

Continue Uninterrupted Hiring During the Pandemic

Employers are slowly realizing that virtual work has become the norm, since the number of people infected with Coronavirus continues to increase. Though the changes in the economy due to the Coronavirus epidemic have adversely affected many industry sectors, a large number of companies are also increasing hiring to meet increased demand.

Virtual interviews allow employers to continue hiring since they are cost effective and safe since there is no direct personal contact which could lead to Coronavirus transmission. There is an additional advantage that the business and candidate have more flexibility in choosing the time, duration and format of the interview.

Though it is a challenge for businesses to conform to the social distancing norms, it is possible to avoid infection and keep HR staff healthy without disrupting the work routine. Digital interviews are a very convenient way for businesses to continue hiring new employees, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. These interviews can greatly improve the time required to hire and help your business survive the crisis and deliver great recruiting results along the way.

Support

If your organization is interested in making use of digital interviewing, give Flexicrew a call to find out our experience, some tips we’ve learned and whether digital interviews are suitable for your situation.

The Complete Thanksgiving Recipe for No-Fail Recruiting

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 22nd in the United States and we’ve created a Thanksgiving recipe for no-fail recruiting.

Most workers have the day off to consume an enormous amount of turkey and all the fixings, watch football and have family squabbles.  Families will uncover family recipes they put away last Thanksgiving. Likewise, we uncovered a “Flexicrew family Thanksgiving recipe” for no-fail recruiting.

There are some similarities between preparing the Thanksgiving dinner and managing the recruitment process.

So let’s review the parts of our Thanksgiving recipe for no-fail recruiting and assign them to your work team.

Ingredients of Thanksgiving Recipe for No-Fail Recruiting

Turkey

Your hiring manager needs to get this menu favorite assigned to him. It’s the centerpiece of the menu. The hiring manager must plan, organize and oversee the recipe i.e. the recruiting steps or the turkey and the hire will be under or over-cooked.

So prepare in advance to get your main dish to the table on time. Ensure your hiring manager has the necessary tools to interview and select the right candidate for the open position.

Stuffing

You must have stuffing for this Thanksgiving meal. Likewise, you need to be stuffing your recruiting pipeline with qualified candidates.  And just like a good turkey stuffing there are a variety of different ingredients you should put into a stuffed recruiting pipeline.

The breading which is the main part of the stuffing, is really like defining a job description. If the bread isn’t any good, the stuffing will be a failure.  If you have an ill-defined position, recruiting won’t work out well.

On the other hand, when you add some seasonings you will find your desired recruit:

  • cilantro & celery (what positions you need to hire, what your competitors are doing, what potential candidates look like, and the salary you’ll need to pay)
  • nuts (performance profile defining the desired results of the job and the key processes to achieve results)
  • basil leaves (help-wanted ads)

Put the stuffed candidate pipeline together with the hiring manager, and let the Thanksgiving enchantment begin.

Mashed Potatoes

Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes makes the meal fall flat. And the same goes for your hiring process. You might even be able to hire without one, but having a hiring process that covers all of the recruitment steps rounds out the “meal.”

Gravy

Gravy can save the meal if you have dry turkey or flavorless potatoes.  Similarly, a recruiting/staffing partner can make up for a hiring manager that is overwhelmed with work or when there’s a sudden need to hire a number of recruits.

The hiring manager, the candidate pipeline and recruiting process don’t proceed very far without something to make it all more tasty. Having a quality external recruiting/staffing partner can be invaluable to your recruitment Thanksgiving table.

Green Bean Casserole

If all your tablemates like fresh, steamed vegetables, it is simple to satisfy expectations. They’re straightforward and easy to cook. Braised green beans offer a lighter, healthier option to balance out a table full of hearty, comfort foods.

Similarly, a well-crafted position description does a lot to meet recruiting expectations. That leads to successful hiring results, employee retention and a positive workplace culture.

If everyone prefers some type of creamy casserole but it ends up as thick globs or like cement, though, that’s different. That’s like an unclear position description which is hard to address. Hiring in that environment is a distasteful situation and retaining staff is impossible.

Cranberry Sauce

Which do you prefer?  Home-made or canned cranberry? It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for families to debate which is better.  In recruiting, do you choose recruit 1 or recruit 2? You might find that you’re having squabbles internally over which candidate to hire that rival family arguments over homemade or canned cranberry sauce.

If your stuffing and mashed potatoes (position you need to hire, job description, what competitors are doing, what potential candidates look like) are first-rate, you’ll have fewer staff disputes over the final candidate, even though there are different opinions.

So decide a few things in advance to simplify recruiting (just like buying ingredients in advance of Thanksgiving Day).  For example: who makes the final decision? Is it the hiring manager only? Or hiring manager with input from the team? Is it hiring manager plus HR? Knowing who the final decision maker is will help settle debates and slice away stress.

Blueberry Pie

Of course, dessert is the pleasant part. You’ve picked a favorite candidate, made an offer that was accepted, and you’re starting the recruit’s onboarding.  Getting to know a team member and launching a new connection can be like dessert – it’s pleasant. It may not always be a piece of cake, but it is as tasty as blueberry or pumpkin or apple pie.

Wrapping up the Thanksgiving Recipe for No-Fail Recruiting

Well that’s our Thanksgiving recipe for no-fail recruiting.  Okay, so some of that was pulling your (turkey) leg. Nevertheless, a successful hire takes some consideration, planning and cooperation just like a great Thanksgiving dinner. If you think about all of the ingredients and overlay them with a bit of humor, you’ll get to dessert and enjoy yourself along the way.

Make the Next Move for No-Fail Recruiting

To keep your business headed in the right direction you can start working with Flexicrew Staffing even before you have an opening to fill. We’ll get to know you, your business and your expectations, then, when a need arises, we’ll be ready to act quickly to meet it. For changes in workforce demand at Thanksgiving or ongoing staffing needs you can count on Flexicrew Staffing for workers with the skills to do the job.

Happy Thanksgiving!

8 Reasons Employers Should Recruit Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

Why recruit between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

For many businesses, Thanksgiving through New Year’s marks the start of a distinct period of business. They are involved in end-of-year wrap up, planning for next year, performance appraisals, and, contrary to what some think, recruiting.

Yes, recruiting between Thanksgiving and New Year’s!how-to-recruit

Do candidates and employers halt a job search or recruiting between Thanksgiving and New Year’s? Some do, but other companies want to fill spots between Thanksgiving and mid-January. They don’t care to wait until the January to try to fill open positions. But some believe if they have been unable to hire someone by Thanksgiving why knock themselves out – just wait until after January 1.

That sounds like a New Years exercise resolution: I’ll wait ‘till after the holidays to begin exercising since there is no way I can get toned before New Years now.

Why Employers Should Recruit Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

Despite the view of some employers, there are a bunch of benefits for progressive businesses to keep the recruiting ‘pedal-to-the-metal’ between Thanksgiving and New Year’s:

1. Kicking off a new project in January requires you to have workers in place before starting. Having a ready team in early January before beginning that new project means minimizing lead time for project startup, shorter delays and more effectiveness for your company.

2. Often unemployed tend to push off their job searches until after the end of the year. Consider that people who continue to look during this period to be assertive in their search, show signs of solid work ethic and willingness to work through hard times – both highly desirable traits.

3. Many workers need to make use of their personal days by year end – or lose them. So, taking a day off for an interview could correspond to that need. The candidates you are focused on hiring might be more at ease taking time off when no one expects they are looking for another job.

4. Most large firms complete seasonal hiring by this time and many others don’t trouble themselves recruiting this time of year. This makes the holiday period great for smaller firms to compete for candidates’ interest.

Four More Reasons to Recruit Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

5. End of year is a time some workers use to consider their career status. This could make them more open-minded for making career or job changes. With the New Year close at hand, many people are open to a ‘new’ beginning.

6. Business becomes a bit sluggish during the year-end period for some organizations. Employed candidates have more flexibility to explore a job switch since they have fewer responsibilities or rush to complete work than other times in the year. This provides those workers more time to investigate new employment.

7. Fewer businesses recruit this time of year. Therefore your open spot will have less competition from other employers and should get more attention from candidates than other periods of the year. Often your position will get noticed by people who are actively looking for a new job and not just waiting to start after January 1st.

8. Some college students finish their studies and graduate now. But obviously the big college recruiting days don’t occur until Spring. Now is an opportunity to find enthusiastic candidates ready to start work immediately with few other employers beginning to compete for their attention.

How to Recruit Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

Regardless of whether you actually do hire a new employee during the holidays, completing the essential groundwork for the position makes new projects start smoother. Establishing a recruiting strategy, characterizing the open job, developing a profile of the right candidate will help you be successful immediately after New Year. It’s much better to begin the first week of the year arranging interviews instead of trying to decipher who you need to hire right when you are trying to get that new project underway.

Prepare now, even if you don’t get someone started until February or March. There are many positions can take several months to fill.

Partner With an Award-Winning Staffing Agency

If you’re an employer, you only have so much time to dedicate toward recruitment, hiring and interviewing. Let Flexicrew Staffing, a five-time winner of Inavero’s Best of Staffing ® Client Satisfaction Award do the hiring for you. Flexicrew Staffing is ready to bring your company the best employees. Contact us today to start your recruiting engines.