You can get your business off the ground without any employees, but if you’re looking for long-term success, then you’ll need to recruit a team of staff. That, however, is easier said than done. The working world currently favours job seekers, which means it can be more difficult for businesses to find and hire top talent.
The key to bringing great employees on board is to give them what they want. If you know what candidates are looking for, then you’ll be making your business a more attractive place to work. If you don’t, then you’ll be left with bottom-of-the-barrel candidates.
So what exactly do prospective employees look for? Let’s take a look.
Meaningful Roles
Some people want a job just for the paycheck, but they’re not the types of employees you’ll want on your team. The best candidates want to have meaningful roles that allow them to flex their passions and talents. When putting together job roles, try to make them as specific as possible, and make sure that’s reflected in the job advertisement. You’ll find that they help to attract employees who really care about what they do.
A Welcoming Family
People spend a significant amount of time at work, so it makes sense that they’d prefer to be happy there. Even the most mundane of jobs can be enlivened if there’s a good atmosphere in the workplace. You can ensure that’s just what your business offers by taking two steps. First, hire friendly, good people who know how to get along with others. Second, create events where people can get to know one another. Everyone might be friendly, but if there’s no opportunity to speak together, then the office is unlikely to have a friendly environment.
A Safe Work Environment
Employees should always be safe while at work. While some environments are naturally more dangerous than others, it’s essential that every precaution has been taken to minimise threats as much as possible. How you do this will depend on the type of workplace you operate. If you work in manufacturing, then it may involve installing a silica dust extraction system; if you work in a general office, then it might just be a matter of ensuring that the workspace is kept free of hazards and that emergency exits are clearly labelled. If you’re not sure what threats exist in your workplace, then get in touch with a safety consultant who specialises in your industry.
Competitive Compensation
You’ll want to hire people who love what they do, but keep in mind that they’ll still expect to be compensated well. The best candidates know their value, and won’t settle for a lowball salary offer. In addition to receiving fair compensation for their work, employees also look at the perks and benefits that businesses offer. These don’t necessarily have to be expensive perks — even low-value benefits can help to attract employees. It’s all about showing that the business truly values its employees, and doesn’t treat them as a cog in the machine.
