The Secret Formula to Grabbing Top-Tier Talent

Whether you're looking to fill a vacant position or just expand your company with new employees, the recruiting process can be overwhelming. Where do you look? How do you attract attention? How do you filter through to only the very best applicants?

Let me share with you some of the secrets that can help you attract and hire amazing employees who are passionate, skilled, and fit the culture of your company.

Tip #1: Be as Clear as Possible

Before you start posting job ads or reaching out to candidates, you need to have a clear idea of what it is you're looking for. What kind of person do you want joining your team? What are the skills, experience, or qualifications that are absolutely essential for the role? What are the personality traits, values, or goals that best fit your company's vision and mission? As you answer these questions, write everything down in short bullet points. From here, you can build a detailed job description that perfectly outlines your criteria to use as a guide to finding the perfect candidates.

Tip #2: Get Creative With It

Job boards and career fairs are a great way to get your position out there, but don't be afraid to also break away from more traditional recruiting techniques. Thinking outside the box can help you expand your reach to the more qualified and interested candidates. For example, you can post about the position on social media, along with glimpses into your company culture that a prospective candidate might find appealing. And of course, it never hurts to network! Try reaching out to fellow industry experts, former university colleagues, or any other connections you have that might know the perfect candidate or can help you spread the word about your position.

Tip #3: Make It Fun

Don't forget, the recruitment process isn't just an opportunity for you to evaluate candidates, it's also an opportunity for candidates to evaluate you. You need to make it a positive and memorable experience that showcases your company's brand and personality. This can be as simple as putting together a warm and friendly atmosphere when they come in or avoiding mechanical, automated emails and forms in the application process. You can also take a pointer from Tip #2 and apply some creativity. Maybe gamify the application process with a quiz to evaluate skills and strengths. Or put together a fun video presentation to showcase your company's culture and values. Remember, your perfect candidate might be someone else's perfect candidate as well. It's vital that your company sticks out from the competition!

Tip #4: Be Honest And Straightforward

One of the most important things that candidates look for in a potential employer is trust and integrity. From posting the job to meeting with applicants, you need to be honest and transparent about the expectations, goals, challenges, and opportunities that come along with this position. Make sure not to oversell or undersell your company or the role. If a new hire feels blind-sighted by exaggerations or oversights, that can significantly affect their desire to stay or produce valuable work at the company.

Tip #5: Follow Up!

The number one frustration with any job search is getting ghosted by potential employers. But this is where you can stand out! Remember that the recruitment process doesn't end once you make an offer or hire someone. Make sure to promptly follow up with every candidate that you interacted with. Thank them for their time and interest, and even provide feedback or guidance for improvement. Just one quick email can play a major role in shedding your company in a positive light and increasing your chances of receiving more applicants for future roles.

These are some of the tips that have helped me recruit the best talent over the years. Following these tips will help show your candidates that you care about them as individuals, demonstrate your company’s unique value and culture, and most importantly, build long-lasting trust and rapport for high employee retention.

Happy recruiting!

Sam Lowinger is the Executive Officer of Brand’s Paycheck, where he's been providing innovative payroll and HR solutions for more than 15 years. His mission is to help business owners ease the everyday burdens that come with running a business, allowing them to concentrate on taking their business to the next level.