In today’s labor climate, it can be hard to find the Talent Acquisition, hardworking people you need to staff positions that have been vacant for too long. If you’re struggling, you aren’t the only one: the national so-called “labor shortage” has a number of workers resigning their jobs in the middle of the pandemic, choosing to re-evaluate what they want to do in a time of global crisis. Here you can get information about Talent Acquisition Today: An Introduction to Recruitment Marketing.
While a number of self-flagellating businesses and business owners would rather throw a pity party than consider the opportunities in front of them, savvy business owners will be able to see this labor shortage for what it is: an opportunity. An opportunity they can take advantage of if they employ the proper tactics and market themselves as the kind of company that can pull these people back into the workforce.
Covered Topics
The Labor Shortage and You: A Pool of Opportunity
Instead of pushing the narrative that “nobody wants to work,” a narrative which has become obnoxiously popular despite its inaccuracy and lack of efficacy, recruiters would do well to view the labor shortage for what it is: a national stepping back, of employees taking a moment to re-evaluate what they want to do for a living. According to the Washington Post, many of these employees are taking the opportunity afforded to them by the pandemic to consider switching careers.
While the most newsworthy stories coming from the “labor shortage” are concentrated around workers from lower-skill industries leaving their jobs, this is a phenomenon occurring in every industry. Skilled workers from every industry are considering switching careers, and savvy recruiters will take advantage of this time of transition.
Selling Yourself to Candidates: Marketing 101
Recruiters should view these employees much the same as any brick and mortar business views customers: discerning shoppers whose loyalty is to themselves first, with their loyalty being earned with time and effort. In order to take advantage of this so-called “labor shortage,” your company will need a solid recruitment marketing strategy. You’ll need to sell your brand, your corporate culture, and your benefits to these employees, and once you snag them, do what you can to keep them satisfied and motivated.
Looking to launch a successful marketing strategy? Here are a few good places to start:
- Define your brand, and what about it might sell to employees. Ask some of your most productive employees what they like about working for your company. Use their responses to clearly define what about your company might be attractive to prospective employees. Potential selling points might include a supportive corporate culture, paid health and dental benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
- Consider using employee testimonials as part of your marketing. Let your employees tell your story themselves. Record video testimonials and have your employees describe how your brand has impacted them in real-world situations, what life in the office is like, and the things that they love about your company.
- Review your recruitment technology to see if it’s easy for candidates to navigate and access. Candidates can quickly become discouraged if the application process is lengthy or packed with redundancy; instead of coming off as thorough or detail-oriented, it comes off as obnoxious, with a kind of redundancy that seems careless. Also, review your bio on career sites such as Indeed to make sure that it communicates your company messaging clearly.
- Develop a cohesive strategy. If people are looking to work for your company, you won’t need to do much to attract their attention. It’s the skilled people that are not you will have to work to snag. Consider targeting specific audiences, like students or people leaving the workforce, with your messaging, as well as setting up recruitment events and strategies to bring back Talent Acquisition people who may have left your company. Don’t be afraid to look into consulting services through an introductory overview of recruitment marketing if you find your recruitment strategy isn’t effective.
Take Advantage of These Troubled Times
The pandemic has changed the way the working world operates, potentially forever. But in its immediate wake, a significant slice of the workforce is re-evaluating their career options in a big way. Even though this means trouble for a large number of businesses in the short term, recruiters should see this as an opportunity, taking advantage of this time of transition to convince these employees that their company is one worth working for.
Those that do a little self-evaluation and optimize their recruitment strategies may find that when the dust settles and the earth stops quaking, they have the strongest foundation amongst their competitors.
