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A 10 Step guide to attracting high quality applicants

Written by Logic Melon | Jan 1, 2019 12:00:00 AM

Attracting high quality applicants is the best thing your company can do to succeed. An accomplished high quality workforce can help you develop into new areas, adapt to industry trends and nudge ahead of the competition.

 

But, what can you do to make yourself an attractive employer to the best in the business? Here are our top 10 tips to get you on track:

1.      Define your recruitment strategy

Talk through your recruitment strategy with your team, then start integrating it into your policies. Decide whether you want to recruit high quality applicants on a consistent or as-needed basis. Then choose a job posting and candidate management system that will make the rest of your recruitment process a doddle.

2.      Understand your requirement

Take the time to understand the role you’re trying to fill. Ask yourself:

·         What are the immediate benefits of this job for applicants?

·         What are the prospects for long-term development?

·         What skills or experience am I looking for?

·         What type of person fits with the company ethos?

3.      Attract your ideal candidate

Imagine your ideal candidate. What would attract them to your role? Take a look at existing job listings and professional online communities, and speak to people who are already making headway in the industry for some inspiration.

4.      Develop your job description

Make the job description clear, original and engaging. Show that you understand what would make your job attractive to the type of applicant you want by highlighting unique features, such as:

·         Career development

·         Salary and perks

·         Recognisable brand

·         Creative control

5.      Market your role

Market your employment proposition like you would market your product or service; with a clear and memorable message. Publish your job description using both online and offline channels, and find a job board network with real reach and that packs a punch.  

6.      Use your data

Use data to tell your story. Ask your staff to fill out employee satisfaction surveys and shout the results from the rooftops. Find out what proportion of people who apply to work at your company are successful. If only a small percentage make it through your rigorous recruitment process, publish this statistic to show that you’re an exclusive employer who will only settle for the best.

7.      Simplify your processes

If your hiring process is clunky, overly complex or time consuming, the best applicants will quickly go somewhere else. Make the process engaging and straightforward to keep them interested, and allow candidates to submit their application using both online and offline channels.

8.      Sort and select quickly

Use advanced CV filtering software to shortlist the best applicants in the shortest possible time. This quick turnaround should make sure that the top candidates are still up for grabs, and appease any unsuccessful applicants so they don’t write a bad review of your company’s hiring process.

9.      Build your network

Keep an active presence on professional networking sites and open up communication channels to show that you’re engaged with people in the industry. Look for opportunities to establish partnerships with third-party agencies that could help save you time.

10.    Be a great employer

Why be good when you can be great? Make your company an enticing place to work. Candidates are more likely than ever to read about employer credentials online, and you want to give the right impression. Focus on developing:

·         A healthy company culture

·         Clear career progression routes

·         Transparent and flexible working practices

·         Supportive and assertive management

By following these simple steps, you can make your company the obvious choice for high quality applicants. Bringing in the most skilled staff will energise your existing workforce, and enable your company to adapt and evolve in ways you’ve never even imagined.