As my colleague, Fabi Preslar says in her upcoming book, Fabulous F Words of Business Ownership, “It takes faith to hire that first employee and give them what feels like part of your income and all of your trust.” And, it still takes faith to hire the next employee and the next. You know hiring mistakes are costly and can put your business at risk. Small business owners in particular face what seem like insurmountable hiring challenges.
Here are a few hiring headaches and what you can do to cure them.
#1: Fighting for talent in a tight labor market.
The unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent in August. This means candidates you want to apply for your job openings are working somewhere else and not looking for a new job. To get that great employee, you must attract them to your company by showing them why working for you is better. This is where you’ll need to dust off your marketing skills and put them to work. Start by identifying your ideal candidate and what’s important to them. Get more help on how here.
#2: Competing with larger companies.
According to the 2017 Aflac Small Business Happiness Report, many people actually prefer to work for smaller companies, especially when it aligns with their personal values and beliefs. Being small is an advantage that too many small businesses overlook. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, focus on what you can. Every business has a story to tell—why it started, it’s mission, its values, and its purpose. Use your story to attract top talent.
#3: Working with a small budget.
Imagine how easy it would be to recruit with an unlimited budget. That dream doesn’t come true for most of us. I’ve been in your shoes and know how hard recruiting without a budget truly is. The good news is you can recruit great people without spending a lot of money. You’ll find some creative ways to do that here.
#4: Getting candidates with multiple job offers.
You are probably wishing for the days when a candidate was begging you to hire them. The tide has changed and now it’s often you who is begging a candidate to join your company. Candidates have many choices and they get to be highly selective about where they work. This means more work for you. When you show your value to your potential candidates, your business becomes more attractive to them. The most effective way to attract great candidates is to take the time to create a story that pulls in the best people and treat your candidates well. Here are ways to do that.
#5: Wearing too many hats.
You have so many things to do to keep your business running smoothly. Finding the time for everything is a constant battle. One of the best things you can do for your business is to say no. That’s right, just say no. When you look at how you spend your time, say no to anything that has a negative or a low dollar value. When you focus your time on your most important responsibilities, which are often not the ones that present themselves as the most urgent, you will find yourself with the time you need.
#6: Lacking expertise.
Sometimes you should call in an expert. The tight labor market means more hiring challenges and fewer candidates from which to choose. That’s when relying on an expert who has the knowledge, tools, and resources to quickly fill positions may be your best solution. A common mistake small business owners make is feeling like they have to do it all themselves.
#7: Receiving too many unqualified applicants.
There is a huge difference between attracting qualified candidates and screening out unqualified candidates. Who has time to read all those resumes? You, that’s who. If you are using a job description as your job ad, please stop right now. Instead, write a job ad that is specifically targeted to your ideal employee. Your goal is to catch the attention of the most talented people and make them want to learn more. Read how here.
There you have it. No matter your challenge, there is a solution. If you need help with your hiring challenges, you might want to get a copy of The YOLO Principle: The Ultimate Hiring Guide for Small Business. Or, if you’d like more personalized help with your hiring challenges, click this link to schedule a complimentary Insight session.