Employers that show a positive company culture will attract the top talent. In our recruitment process, we notice that prospective employees value the importance of company culture. A positive culture attracts the right people for the right roles and hire faster as candidates are looking for more than a large salary. One thing employers can do is build a culture that aligns with people's values. Candidates are seeking companies where they can embrace their beliefs with those of the employers to work together on a common mission of purpose and success.
Many organizations say that their people are their greatest asset. It's important for organizations to be in tune with what is most important to their people. I see many companies focus on highlighting their brand and the impact the enterprise have while doing very little to share the stories and voices of the people who make all of this possible. Telling these stories externally and internally helps not only with recruiting but also retention. Stay interviews are a great, cost-effective starting point for organizations to understand what truly matters to their employees, pinpoint specific areas to enhance, and identify opportunities that remain to be addressed. The most compelling way to attract talent is to tell the story of why your people choose to stay.
I interview about 10 candidates per week and at least 70% of candidates are requiring some sort of work from home flexibility to consider a new role. To build a workplace culture to help attract and hire the right people fast then flexible work options is a must. Remote work options have become a key differentiator when recruiting and give employers access to larger candidate pools. According to our 2023 Salary Guide, 41% of senior managers said some employees have quit rather than return to the office. Many professionals now demand the flexible work options, and it is something employers need to embrace going forward in the future.
The one thing that employers can do to build a strong culture that not only attracts talented professionals, but also retains excellent employees, is to be creative! I have worked with a lot of employers this past year to individualize new hire offers to exactly what the candidate needs to be successful. If a candidate needs to drop their kids off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon, we have crafted in-office hours in conjunction with remote work hours to supplement this schedule. Additionally, candidates have multiple offers right now so offering a sign on bonus is an innovative way of telling the candidate that you value them even before they accept your job offer. Crafting a solid, individualized job offer from the very beginning will separate you apart from the crowd and sets the stage for a strong work culture from the start!
The best thing that employers can do is to compensate their employees at fair market value and offer remote/flex work options. Salaries have changed considerably, as have the prices for everything that we purchase today. Consumers are spending more for housing, food and gas -- top talent in the market place is no exception. Being abreast of current market conditions is paramount in todays workplace for employee recruiting and retention.
The most important thing employers can do to build a workplace culture where others will want to work is to show their employees that they care and value them! Employers have to recognize that their employees don't have to work there- they choose to work there. This is especially true in the current employment market we are in which is candidate driven and becoming increasingly challenging to identify strong talent. Showing employee appreciation should be top of mine and if they haven't already, employers need to implement this regularly. At the end of the day, all industry communities are small, even in big cities. By valuing employee appreciation, word will spread and others will take notice. As a result, employers will be giving themselves a step up from their competitors and will naturally attract others to want to work there.
Aside from flexibility, when you ask an employee why they have been with their employer over 10 years, many reply, “The People.” Building a work culture of community when people are in a remote or hybrid work environment can be challenging. However, having meaningful conversations outside of email and instant messaging is vital to building culture. I recommend that most employee interactions take place via video calls. One attorney I placed liked strategizing about her cases, which can be difficult to achieve in a remote environment. Through video, the team communicates about their case strategy, which is beneficial for all involved. Often, communication and tone are misconstrued over email. Live conversations with colleagues will foster a community of closeness, where employees want to stay because they feel connected to one another.
It's important for anyone interviewing to learn what a company stands for and what values lend toward that mission. The leadership team should also share these principles with all individuals regularly- especially those involved in hiring. The dialogue and action that follow help the mission become a reality and part of the day-to-day workstyle for employees. Paired with an organized and streamlined recruitment process, the culture is apparent from the interviewee starting an application to all the interactions along the way. It helps the interviewee form a more genuine connection with the potential company and its people, which ideally keeps growing as that interviewee finds a place to call "home."
Employers can build a workplace culture that will help attract and hire the right people for the right roles faster by acknowledging the increasing demand of work-life balance. We continue to see that candidates are willing to forgo higher pay for the ability to work from home. If a job doesn't require a candidate to be on-site for the work to be done, employers should strongly consider remote or at least hybrid options. This will open up the candidate pool to contenders with stronger skill sets, and ultimately a faster placement.
In today's competitive environment, transparency around salary and benefits can go a long way. Providing a salary range and highlighting benefits can help build confidence in attracting the right candidate for the role. A spirit of transparency can also foster a trusting environment and save time for both the candidate and employer. As both tenured professionals and recent graduates enter the job market, providing this key information sets the right tone for a positive workplace culture that values the empowerment of its people.
Talking to job seekers they are always surprised at the speed of which we are able to get them in front of great job opportunities compared to their own applications. Hiring managers should focus on improving interview process by cutting down on rounds of interviews to attract top talent. With every candidate receiving multiple job offers in this market it is important to move efficiently in the interview process to ensure candidates feel excited and wanted so they will accept your offer!