Tip of the Week: 4 Ways Pittsburgh Companies can Attract Top Talent in 2017

Almost every organization is hoping to grow in revenue next year. Growth usually means new clients, or new markets. Perhaps you have been successful in attracting new clients, but if you wish to continue to experience such growth, then you’ll need to also attract quality employees.

Attracting top talent can prove challenging, especially when your budget is limited and your industry is competitive. However, onboarding a talented employee versus a mediocre worker makes for a world of difference. Therefore, it’s worth it to take extra measures in order to attract top talent. Here are four tips to help your business onboard the talented workers you need to succeed.

Offer Compelling and Unique Benefits
With the instability and changing markets surrounding healthcare, having it taken care of as a company benefit is a huge plus.  Expect candidates to value this as much or more than any other perk you can offer. Your benefits don’t necessarily have to be strictly financial, either. An offer of flexible work hours or plenty of opportunities for a good work-life balance can also be very effective motivators for a prospective employee to accept a position.

I suggest going beyond traditional healthcare and financial beneifts.  Make sure you plan on emphasizing all the benefits you can offer.  Do you have discounts on the products you sell? Is your location a perk?  Can you add a simple employee recognition program or incentive to open positions? Do your benefits relect how your organization is unique and special? Candidates will notice!

Challenge Them
Hard workers tend to relish a challenge that tests their abilities. Try including a difficult problem to solve that’s challenging enough to attract the caliber of worker you’re seeking, into the application process itself. This approach has the double-benefit of drawing in the caliber of talent you want, as well as setting a minimum standard that applicants must reach to be considered.  This can help you identify applicants that are viable candidates.

Clarify your big, hairy, audacious goals in the selection process.  Make sure your candidates know they'll be coming to work on a challenge that matters.  Candidates that are drawn to those goals will relate.  Would-be hires that don't align with your goals will lose interest and help you sort out candidates.

Highlight the Workplace and Culture 
Let’s face it, you could onboard all the talent you want, but if highly-demanded talent isn’t given a positively-charged workplace, there is nothing to stop them from going out and finding one elsewhere. Emphasize the strengths of your business as you work to onboard new employees, and offer prospects the chance to acquaint themselves with your business as they begin the interview process. For prospects looking to leave their current position, hold these orientations after regular business hours and to speak with your current employees, if possible. If a current employee is happy with their position, they will very likely have a lot of good to share with a prospect about the office working experience.  Imagine what it would mean to a candidate if they got to hear your happiest clients and employees raving about the mission you're on!

Provide the Latest Technology
I suggested challenging your candidates and employees, but their first challenge should not be working on antiquated systems!  In a recent study of Millennial workers (who will make up the majority of the workforce by 2020), it was discovered that 42 percent will seriously consider leaving a job if the latest technologies are not provided. In order for your business to attract and retain young talent, you’ll need to show potential workers that you’re serious about technology. For example, an office where workers can use their own mobile devices is a big draw for potential employees who are attached to their personal devices. Managed IT Force can assist you with implementing an attractive and secure Bring Your Own Device policy, as well as recommending the latest technologies that talented workers crave.  Think about it; picture starting your new postion and being all fired up.  Then you sit down on your first day at a 5-year old computer that pops an error message after logging in!  Contrast that with an employee equipped with adequate tools to take on the challenges you've identified.

By raising the bar for the quality of employees you onboard, you will see the overall quality of everything your business does improve as well. Better yet, if a talented worker lands at your company, then they’re not working for the competition!

Is there anything special your business does to attract the cream of the crop? Share with us your tips in the comments below.

Bonus Tip: Outsource as Much as Possible
Onboarding new employees can become a costly endeavor due to the salaries required. Furthermore, you may not be able to find qualified local candidates, which can make things more difficult for SMBs. In instances like these, it’s best to consider outsourcing to find the talent that you need. Furthermore, this isn’t necessarily a capital expense, as it’s part of your organization’s operational infrastructure. You can then invest the capital saved into other parts of your business.