Recruiting Communication

Meaningful Career

Today's job candidates want their careers to have meaning and purpose. They want to work for a company that believes in and shares the same values they have. They want a job where they feel fulfilled and valuable. No one wants to be in a role where they aren't valued. Candidates want a job that's feels like they're getting more than just a paycheck. It's important to show that your employee's work is appreciated. They should feel like everything they do is connected to something more than just the bottom line. 

Flexibility

The ability to take time off when needed, work a non-traditional day, and do it from the place that best fits your employee’s needs are all very important things in today’s recruiting market. According to the Harvard Business Review, "true flexibility aligns employers and employees to achieve mutual gain in meeting both performance and work-life needs: It is a means to compete in the market over the long term, and it gives employees a say and some choice in how flexibility is implemented on their teams and in their organizations." 

Having flexibility within your job, also tells candidates a lot about the company and how much they do or don't trust their employees. Everyone knows there will always be bad eggs who ruin it for everyone in any scenario, but it's important to not let those few people distort what works and is most important to the majority. The employee experience people have a lot of the time roots in feeling a mutual trust between the employee and their employer. So, building a foundation of trust within the company will resonate even through the recruitment process. 

Social Responsibility 

Are you really committed to making the world a better place? As a business it's important to care about more than just the bottom line. Promoting volunteer programs, ethical business behaviors and engaging in charitable giving are all ways to participate in and uphold your social responsibility. In turn, talented candidates are more likely to join a socially responsible company and consumers are more likely to buy goods and services from these companies as well. Let's face it, no one wants to work for or purchase products or services from a company who doesn't show they care about others. 

Empathetic Leaders

Show that your leaders have a human side. An EY consulting study, shows that "employees overwhelmingly expect empathy in the workplace, but many feel it’s disingenuous. The vast majority (86%) of employees believe empathetic leadership boosts morale while 87% say empathy is essential to fostering an inclusive environment." Be authentic, take the time to listen and try to understand where they are coming from.

Employees can always feel when something isn't coming off as genuine. It's like having the glass shatter from beneath you when you had such high hopes or connected with a specific person or team well during the interview process. No one wants to feel like they've made a mistake in choosing where they work. We all just want to be accepted and treated kindly by those we work with and for, and that shouldn't be a big ask in a candidate's eyes. 

Company's Reputation

It's no secret, companies with a strong and positive reputation are going to attract better people. These people are also more likely to stick around during a tough time when they feel proud of the company they work for. A good reputation can also lead to adding loyal customers for your products and services. Does your reputation align with the high-quality people you're trying to recruit and with your customers? Communication is a significant factor in building your company’s reputation. 

Inclusive Community

Creating a sense of belonging and a community that cares and welcomes all is essential in today’s workplace. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs are becoming more and more controversial. Some say they can cause even more of a divide than they help diminish it. We aren't here to debate that today. However, who doesn’t want an inclusive community at their place of work? It takes all different kinds of people, minds and skills to have a well-rounded team, and there's no way you can find that without having some diversity in your company.  

Do your best to eliminate biases during the hiring process. The goal is to hire the best person for the job regardless of background. Then be sure to welcome them with open arms into the workplace. 

Financial Support

Let's be honest, at the end of the day and plainly, people have jobs to make a living. People want to feel like they're being fairly compensated for their work and the expertise they're bringing to the table. It's important to communicate that your company goes above and beyond when it comes to financial support. Your company does much more than just paying a salary. You have a robust total compensation package of financial offerings. Make sure potential candidates and your current employees know all the great financial benefits your company has to offer, because they start to add up!

Opportunity

People want to feel like they're working in a place where their potential isn't being capped. The opportunity to grow and build a career is always at the top of the list for today’s job seekers. According to LinkedIn's Learning Report, "94% of employees said they would stay at a job longer if they were offered pathways for career development." It's obvious that opportunity within a company is important to most candidates. However, offering it can also increase motivation, productivity and can lead to more engagement in the workplace.  

Imagine being able to increase retention, and cut down costs for replacing employees who leave for a role that to them feels like a next step in their career? According to an article in Enrich Financial Wellness, if you're paying someone a $60,000 salary, and they leave, on average, that will end up in a loss of $54,000–$120,000 to the company, just to replace them. Overall, it's worth it to invest in your current employees and show them they have a realistic and feasible path of growth with you. Communicating the opportunities available at your company is a must. 

Health and Well-Being 

Health and well-being seem to gain more importance to employees every year. You have programs, benefits and services that show you care, and they provide support for the whole person – from physical and emotional, to social and financial. Gym memberships, wellness screenings, health initiatives and on-site clinics are all programs that job candidates appreciate. How are you letting these candidates and your current employees know about all these amazing employee benefits you offer?

Fair Pay

Last, but not least, is fair pay. Everyone wants more money. I mean...who wouldn't? However, what is important is that employees and job candidates know they are receiving competitive compensation for their work. People tend to be more engaged and motivated when they believe they are being paid fairly. This is just a fact. Fair pay is essential for attracting and retaining talent. While we know profit margins are significant, it's your people who help get you there and it's important to fairly pay employees at every level within the company.