The hiring process can be one of the most stressful aspects of owning and operating a business. And that was true even before the COVID-19 pandemic and national labor shortage in the US. Today, companies are struggling so much to hire and retain employees that it might feel impossible to maintain stable staffing levels. Let’s discuss some of the pains you may be facing and offer proven solutions so that you never again have to ask, “Why is hiring so hard right now?”
Common Hiring Challenges and How to Overcome Them
“I Have No Applicants”
One of the most common complaints we hear from business owners about the hiring process is that they simply can’t get anyone to apply. And, with 11.5 million job openings in the US, it’s easy to see why some people feel that way. Job seekers have so many options right now, and the competition is fierce to grab their attention. While we believe this problem can be solved by increasing employee retention and hiring the right applicants from the start (even if you only have a few to choose from), we’re happy to provide some tips on how to increase applicant flow quickly.
Offering a competitive compensation package is one of the fastest ways to get more applicants, as long as you are able to do so. Just make sure you promote this clearly in your job postings. Too many people make the mistake of waiting until the interview to discuss pay.
Patrick O’Rahilly, the founder of FactoryFix, shares his opinion on the matter: “I suggest complete transparency from the start. In fact, pay and salary rates should ideally be on the initial job posting. We’ve seen jobs that do not post a salary or pay rate receive only about half the applicants compared to jobs that do.”
You can also widen your potential talent pool by considering more teenagers and entry-level workers as well as retired citizens who are looking to get back into the workforce. These groups of people can be some of the most eager to learn, adapt, and help your business grow.
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“I Don’t Have Time for the Hiring Process”
Time is money, which makes the lengthy hiring process costly for individuals who normally need to focus on other tasks. For instance, the general manager of a fast-food restaurant that’s already understaffed might have to cover shifts for a cashier who called out or quit. So, they’re forced to operate a register and take customers’ orders rather than look through resumes and find someone for that role they so desperately need to fill.
However, let’s pause for a moment and rethink the idea of resumes. The tradition actually dates back over 500 years to when Leonardo DaVinci wrote a letter outlining his experience to earn patronage in 1482. Businesses can’t afford to rely on such outdated practices, especially during a labor crisis. It’s time-consuming, stressful, and ineffective.
Instead, streamline your hiring process with solutions like the Sprockets platform that shows you the best applicants without the need for resumes or interviews. Users spend 37% less time on the hiring process, on average. Think about how many hours that equates to in your work life and what a difference it could make to get those hours back!
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“My Employees Keep Quitting”
Employee turnover is another major reason why hiring is so hard right now. According to ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View, 7 in 10 workers have considered a major career change this year. Another study found that 55% of hiring managers said retention and turnover are the top issues hurting their ability to hire staff and grow their companies. (That means turnover ranked above hiring, in general, as their No. 1 struggle!)
We spoke with our very own talent acquisition manager, Katie Tumbleston, to get her thoughts on the employee retention challenges that businesses are facing right now:
“We are in the midst of real change when it comes to the dynamic between employers and employees. This change is and will continue to be uncomfortable for employers as they navigate how to best retain quality employees. They need to find answers and solutions for questions such as, ‘How much flexibility do we allow for start and finish times? Should we offer a four-day workweek? How much PTO do we encourage staff to take? How do we support both entry-level and more senior workers/staff in their growth? What perks and incentives can we provide to ensure our staff stay and continue to thrive with us?’”
It can take some time to ponder these questions and discover what’s right for your particular business, but there are a few key points to remember. First, start focusing on improving employee retention, especially when it comes to keeping your best workers. Also, make sure you keep current employees engaged with team-building activities as well as growth opportunities. More and more people are searching for meaningful careers — not dead-end hourly jobs. You can provide this to your employees, even in the fast-food industry.
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Make Hiring Less Stressful With Sprockets
The fastest, easiest way to solve all of these problems is with Sprockets’ hiring platform. It reveals which applicants will succeed like your current top performers, removing the guesswork and drastically reducing the time you need to spend on the hiring process. You can even get instant alerts when Sprockets finds your ideal applicant, then reach out to set up an interview or extend an offer in seconds. It’s trusted by top brands like Chick-fil-A and is proven to improve employee retention by 43%, on average.
Schedule your free demo of Sprockets today! It only takes 15 minutes to get started, and it will save you numerous hours in the long run.