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Making Small Businesses Attractive to Talented Workers
If money talks, then small business owners may often find themselves speechless when it comes to their company payroll. Fortunately, a competitive salary isn't the only thing that attracts quality talent to a company. These days, it's more about offering a unique employment proposition.
According to Mel Kleiman, president of Humetrics Inc. in Sugar Land, Texas, today's working professionals seek four things from their employers. They want:
- great relationships with their bosses and co-workers;
- opportunities for growth ¯ as in professional development, not necessarily job promotions;
- interesting and challenging work; and
- work-life balance.
Simply because of their size, small businesses are well positioned to make all of these wants into realities. When it comes to recruiting valuable talent, they have many strengths to leverage. "Many cities are experiencing a tight labor market not seen since the late 1990s, but small businesses can increase their visibility to top talent by being proactive in their approach to recruiting," says Rhonda Allen, an Austin, Texas-based executive recruiting consultant specializing in venture-backed startups and emerging companies.
So, how can small companies enhance their appeal to talented business pros?
Be clear. According to Allen, small companies are best positioned to attract like-minded individuals when they can readily articulate their mission, vision, and values. Having these principles clearly defined provides a strategic guideline for approaching the tactical components of the business.
"Including employees in the development of these [principles] can provide insight into organizational opportunities and strengths, which is a strong foundation for leadership, organizational design, and attracting and retaining employees," Allen says.
Be accessible. Large corporations often have multiple barriers between the executive tier and the rest of the staff. If you practice an open-door policy and manage a small staff, be sure to highlight that workplace dynamic as you advertise job openings. The idea of working directly with executives to make a greater impact on the company as a whole can be appealing to workers with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Allen says individuals who are seeking upward mobility can take advantage of more opportunities for collaboration and the ability to touch all aspects of the business within a small company. "Consider putting candidates on a non-disclosure agreement to safely discuss the future growth of the company, department, and their roles," she says.
Be flexible. In keeping with work-life balance, offer employees flex options, such as job-share arrangements and telecommuting. These alternatives to the traditional 8-to-5 workday mean convenience for employees and cost savings for you.
Offer benefits. Simply because you're a small business doesn't mean you can't afford employee health insurance. Many companies have been able to upgrade their benefits to be competitive with larger companies by utilizing professional employer organizations (PEOs) or other outsourced benefit options.
"Now there are a lot of great alternatives out in the marketplace," says Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. "We've definitely seen an acceleration in health savings accounts. Not only does it provide cost savings to you, the employer, but you're also giving your employees more ownership and portability in their health care."
Keep it professional. Recognize that every interaction job seekers have with your company, no matter how brief, can affect the reputation of your business. Allen says to avoid negative talk about competitors when pitching to promising candidates. Instead, focus on what distinguishes the opportunity at your company from others.
Says Allen: "Understand that these individuals will talk about your company with friends and colleagues. You must invest in making their interview process a pleasant experience."
By understanding what today's workers want in an employer, small businesses can leverage their unique workplace environments to lure the right talent through the door. All it takes is some willingness to examine the points above and decide how your company can best present itself to the job market.
