Dear Desperate for Talent,

It’s a candidate’s market out there! With so many job opportunities, it can be tough to keep employees on board. Likewise, with so many companies hiring, it can be hard to find and retain employees who are a good fit for your company.

But if you’re like most of us, retaining talent is one thing you never want to compromise on. The truth is that there aren’t any shortcuts when it comes to keeping your best people happy – but there are some things you can do differently in order to help make sure they stay with your company for the long haul.

Increasing employee turnovers

Lately, the number of people quitting their jobs has been increasing like crazy. This shows that more employees are leaving for more lucrative opportunities AND employers have more positions to fill than ever before.

So, now we’re witnessing the power balance shift in favor of candidates. This means that employers need to do more than ever before to attract and keep the people they want. Essentially, it’s a candidate’s market right now – which is why you always have to be thinking about your company culture (it can’t just be ‘we’re great, so come work with us’).

You also need to be more accommodating and flexible – ESPECIALLY in a post-pandemic world. In a competitive market, it’s hard to keep good employees. With more opportunities than ever before, people are looking for a company that they can enjoy, feel respected by, and excited to come into every day.

How to make your company stand out during the hiring process

Take a look at open job positions; do you stand out? Chances are, you’re offering the same value as your competitors. This means you need to make an extra effort to appear as THE company potential candidates want to work with.

To stand out, you need to offer candidates something they can’t get anywhere else.

This may be:

• a culture that is enthusiastic and energetic, but not chaotic; a company where people are happy to work together
• community involvement opportunities for employees (i.e., volunteer days)
• flexible hours or remote working options; the ability to telecommute
• team-building events to help break the ice and build relationships
• a generous vacation policy (i.e., two weeks of paid time off for every year worked)
• opportunities for advancement
• training programs (help your employees get to the next level)
• employee appreciation (what is your company doing to show appreciation and that they value their employees?)

Offering these benefits will not only bring you candidates who are excited about the work they’ll be doing, but also candidates who will feel invested in your company’s success.

Retaining talent in a competitive market

It can be challenging trying to retain talent today, but it’s not impossible. Firstly, figure out what sets you apart and make sure you capitalize on that. You should also talk to your current employees about what makes them want to stay and work for your company. Is it the kind of work they do? The team with whom they’ll be working? Do they feel like their opinions are valued or that there’s a sense of community in the office environment?

Retaining talent is especially important when you’re competing against other companies looking to poach the same employees. Ask your team what they think about the company and ask for their input on how to make it a better place to work, too!

So, there you have it. We’re operating in a candidate’s world, and we need to go out there and find the best people so that they’ll work for us and stick around for a long time.

Sincerely,
Jenny