Over the weekend I listened to a podcast about how this entrepreneur had built her business. It was an interesting story but at the end of the interview, the key takeaway she shared was don’t be afraid to get rid of staff who don’t fit or add value to your business.
She commented that she’d been guilty in the past of being too nice, don’t dealing with problems and as a result had kept people in her business to long. She realised at times she needed to make those hard decisions, which no one likes doing, but by doing so, she’d enabled her business to move forward and grow.
This got me thinking. We know recruitment is one of the ten most common HR challenges for small businesses. So the takeaway here is to avoid these problems by making sure you get the right person in that key position, in the first place.
Now I know that’s easier said than done, as there are other factors at play here. Brexit might have created uncertainly for business owners, but the latest research shows that 2017 is a wonderful year for jobseekers. According to research by Manpower, the UK has returned to business as usual, and the net employment outlook has risen to 7%.
Now that’s great for the job seekers but it makes it even more tricky for those businesses looking to attract recruit new staff.
So if you’re planning to recruit to grow your business, what do you need to be aware of? And how can you make sure that you capture the top talent and stay ahead of the game? Here, we share with you what you really need to know.
An ad in your local paper might not cut it
Traditionally, this is what recruitment often looked like… You drafted a basic overview of what you were looking for. You placed your advert in the local press. You sat back and waited for the applications to roll in, as they inevitably did. These days, you can’t afford to assume that this will work.
Think about who your ideal candidates are, and where they’re looking for opportunities. The answer is probably online. Sure, you’ll need to brush up on your skills and bring your practices bang up to date, but the alternative is much more stressful.
Your new recruits want to know what you offer
Even in times of economic uncertainty, skilled and talented jobseekers always have options. If you go into the process thinking that you always have the upper hand, purely because you’re the one with the job, then you’re going to make expensive mistakes and miss out on some golden opportunities.
You need to consider WHY people would want to work for your business. Your first answer here is probably going to be about the salary, and it’s true that’s a factor. Today though, people want MORE. They want better experiences. They want flexibility. These are the things that will not only attract then, but retain them for the longer term.
Of course, once you’ve got them onboard
Recruiting and selecting the best talent is an art form
It’s easy to think that recruiting new staff is pretty straightforward. You advertise the position, you sift through the applications, and you choose the best person for the job. In reality, things can be much more complicated. How do you know you’re speaking to the right people? Are you asking the right questions? They might seem switched on and motivated, but are they actually going to perform in the role?
Doing it on your own is often the roadmap towards making expensive mistakes. When you have expert help, you can ensure that you’re making the right decisions, complying with legislation, and driving your business forward.