In today’s competitive job market, you need a mix of strategies and tactics to make your organization stand out among candidates. In fact, successfully attracting talent takes much more than launching a careers page and posting open positions online. You also need to show candidates your culture and why it could be a great match for their skills and career aspirations.
A 2021 Willis Towers Watson survey revealed that most employers (73 percent) report having difficulty attracting candidates, and nearly the same percentage (70 percent) expect this difficulty to persist into at least 2022. To improve the chances of successfully finding and attracting the best candidates for your organization, take the following actions:
Source Candidates From a Diverse Range of Sources
While some candidates are likely to find your organization’s career page and apply directly, it can’t be your organization’s main source of candidates. In addition to the popular job posting sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed, you should also consider other sources. For example, social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are also potential candidate sources. According to a 2020 Jobsite recruiter survey, 60 percent used Facebook to find candidates, and 38 percent said they used Twitter.
Other candidate sources to consider include the following:
● Professional association job boards
● Staffing agencies with experience in your industry
● Employee referrals
● In-person or virtual job fairs
Develop Your Employer Brand
In our digital age, there are now many opportunities to showcase your organizational culture through employer branding. Whether through “day in the life” videos on your website or creative storytelling on your company’s Instagram page, you can engage candidates and provide information to draw their interest.
Not only can a strong employer brand help you connect with candidates who might not have otherwise noticed your organization, but it can also be an effective way to help you build a broader talent pipeline without blowing through your recruiting budget. According to LinkedIn research, a great employer brand can yield 50 percent more qualified candidates and a 50 percent reduction in the cost per hire.
Craft Transparent Job Descriptions
A well-crafted job description helps candidates determine whether to apply for an open position or not. But if the job description is vague, full of internal company jargon, or defines the position too narrowly, you could run the risk of putting off potentially great candidates. Job descriptions should provide candidates with a comprehensive view of a position’s responsibilities, qualifications, and opportunities. The more information you provide to help candidates see a connection between the position and their skills and interests, the better. For example, for maximum transparency, be sure to note if the position is on-site, remote, or eligible for a hybrid arrangement. If possible, you can also list the salary range for each position.
Involve Employees and Leaders in Recruiting
One of the best ways to attract candidates is to leverage your existing talent. Your employees can offer insights that tell candidates what it’s really like to work in your organization, providing a more real-world perspective than traditional recruiting materials and job postings.
Some of the ways you can involve existing employers and leaders in recruiting activities include:
● Include a diverse cross-section of company leaders in interviewing panels
● Add employees to your campus recruiting delegation
● Select some employees to act as “brand ambassadors” for your company on LinkedIn
Master Remote Recruiting
Due to the pandemic, remote recruiting has become commonplace for many organizations. And given the shift to fully remote and hybrid working models, more and more of your recruiting activities may remain virtual. As a result, you’ll need to master the ability to attract and engage candidates remotely, sometimes without ever meeting face-to-face. For maximum success in recruiting candidates from any location, be sure to educate interviewers in best practices for engaging candidates via video and assess your recruiting technology for accessibility across multiple locations and time zones.
Take Your Recruiting Function to the Next Level
Attracting the right talent is an ongoing challenge for most organizations. But successfully finding and hiring great candidates is possible, especially when you have reliable partners and robust processes in place to build and maintain your employer brand. As a trusted HR services provider, MarvelHR can help you develop and execute a talent acquisition strategy that helps you fill open positions and meet your goals for growth. Contact us to learn more.
