As a small business owner, it can be hard to attract the right candidate. Not everyone is willing to give up corporate perks in favour of your labour of love. However, you do have something to offer that the big boys don’t. Here are some essential tips for nabbing the best employees.
1. Take extra care when it comes to JD
The job description you post may well be the very first thing about your company that your potential candidate comes across. Put in time and effort into making it a good one! If you do not know where to start, check out these copywriting tips to instantly make your JDs stand out.
2. Consider all candidates
If budget is an issue and you absolutely need extra pairs of hands to get a project done, consider bringing in staff on a contract or temporary basis. Alternatively, if you don’t mind training from scratch, hire interns. Most local polytechnics and universities welcome employers to take on their students as interns. If all goes well, you may even get to hire the intern as a full-time staff after his/her graduation.
3. Offer what your competitors won’t
Larger companies can provide bigger salaries and more benefits, but you have things that large corporations don’t or can’t provide.
Small businesses are known for offering more flexibility, the opportunities to take on projects beyond what is indicated job scope, a faster career advancement and a more relaxed, close-knit, family atmosphere.
Many workers will find flexible work hours and telecommuting opportunities very attractive. Some may be willing to give up certain monetary benefits if they can skip the daily commute or start and end their work day earlier or later.
4. Look at the right places
Large companies use standard hiring methods such as job boards and college career fairs. These can be expensive and time-consuming for small businesses, especially when you do not have a dedicated recruiting team. Instead, look for recruits in less traditional settings such as meetups. You can find many interest groups on meetup.com. You might even find passive candidates who aren’t necessarily looking for a job but may be interested in what you have to offer.
Job boards may not come cheap, but if you’re a startup, there are platforms which allow you to post your openings for free:
However, be aware that the marketplace is full of job seekers and many would apply for positions without even reading the role or requirements.
If your budget allows, consider getting help from a recruitment firm. Recruitment firms take the hassle and stress away from you. As a small business owner, you are probably too stretched to look through hundreds and thousands of resumes. Recruitment firms, especially those with a large pool of candidates, can help you find talents that fit your requirement quickly. This is especially so if you are trying to hire someone with skills in a niche area or if you are looking to diversify your team and have a very specific candidate profile in mind.
5. Stand out with your onboarding
The hiring process doesn’t just end when the new hire starts his/her first day at work. Onboarding is important in keeping your best employees, especially if you can’t offer the same financial benefits as larger competitors. A good way to start is by helping new employees feel like they’re part of the family. For more on this topic, check out this article on onboarding.
6. Speed is key
One great thing about small business is that you’re not restrained by complex policies and procedures that are characteristics of larger corporations. Speed is an advantage when it comes to hiring and this is good news for you since your hiring process can be so much faster than your larger competitors.
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