Recruiting Process for Truck Drivers

In a world where everything is always on the move, the demand for professional truck drivers only continues to increase. And this isn’t just the case with the transportation industry either; nearly every sector has a need for transporting goods and products of all kinds. If your company requires a truck driver as well, you may be wondering about the hiring process needed for this type of position. To help you make the best possible decision, here is everything you need to know about hiring truck drivers, from critical skills to onboarding techniques:

Creating a skills profile

Just like any other recruiting process, hiring truck drivers should also begin with a list of necessary skills and qualifications. The most important thing each applicant should have is a heavy vehicle license that enables them to operate trucks, along with any other certifications that are legally required in your area. Previous experience with similar companies is also preferred, as well as great mechanical knowledge and safety skills to ensure smooth operations. You might also want to look for particularly detailed and adaptable candidates, to ensure they can handle the often changing conditions that can be expected in this job.

Writing a job description

Once you know the type of employee you are looking for, the next step would be to write a detailed job description to attract candidates. The description should include the necessary technical and soft skills, preferred experience, a list of key responsibilities, employee benefits, a description of the company and culture, reasons for this role being filled, and other important information. It’s recommended to advertise the job posting on as many different platforms as possible, such as your website, social media, job search sites, and even industry magazines, in an effort to expand your outreach and appeal to top talent.

Thinking of interview questions

After the right job description attracts suitable applicants, the candidate will have to go through an interview process. Here, you will have to ask specific and intentional questions that will allow you to make the right selection. This can mean talking about the candidate’s qualifications, driving experience, and history, as well as the tactics they use for handling long shifts and drives. It might also be wise to ask about the routine checks they perform before driving a vehicle, and the safety precautions they take each day. Similarly, you can ask about planning procedures, delivery accuracy, logging habits, and anything else that might pertain to the position.

Conducting a practical test

In countries like Australia, truck drivers often have to pass a practical test during the application process as well. Here, companies tend to find truck hire in Brisbane for their needs. Not only is hiring a truck a safe and reliable solution, but it also helps to remove some of the liabilities and resulting costs for companies in case anything goes wrong during testing. You should also consider doing the same. These practical tests will enable you to examine candidates’ knowledge and skills in a more direct manner, helping to narrow down the applicant list even further.

Performing a screening

Across the US, on the other hand, screenings are a common practice when recruiting. This process often includes checking the commercial driver’s license, medical certificate, employment history, and similar aspects for performing a thorough background check and verifying each applicant’s records. The main purpose of this screening process is to confirm and establish who each candidate is, as well as to obtain their driving histories for the past few years. Pre-employment alcohol and drug testing is frequently performed as well. If at all possible, you should consider conducting the same checks for your truck drivers to ensure safety.

Choosing the right fit

Hard technical skills aren’t the only important factor. You will also have to select a candidate with the right soft skills to ensure they are a good fit for your company. Of course, this will mostly depend on your industry, your business, as well as the specific requirements of the role the candidate is supposed to fill. However, some of the most common skills companies look for include packing and loading capabilities, adaptability to road and weather conditions, attention to detail when on the road, good communication and collaboration skills, working well with a team, etc.

Orientation and training

Once the most suitable candidate has been selected and hired, it would be best for them to go through employee orientation. This process should include an introduction to your business, and necessary education regarding your company policies and procedures. The program can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your operations, but it’s crucial for ensuring the new hire can easily assimilate into your work environment and perform their job optimally. If necessary, you can also consider additional training at this point, in case you’d like the new employee to become a better driver or gain new skills and capabilities that are needed for their role.

Bottom line

Regardless of the position, the transportation industry always has high standards to ensure the safety and security of their employees. To adhere to these requirements, follow the advice above and create a streamlined recruiting process.

How to Recruit and Train Top Machining and Manufacturing Talent

One of the main challenges in manufacturing is talent acquisition since there is a significant skills gap in this industry. It seems that this problem will become even more challenging in the coming years and we can notice that it is not the only thing problematic in this domain of the manufacturing industry. It is noticeable hard to retain talent so this industry seeks a solution when it comes to long-lasting and skilled talent.

Who is hiring?

Considering the fact that the machining and manufacturing industry is experiencing a skilled labour shortage, it would be fair to say that everyone is hiring in this field. Being short on knowledgeable talent, businesses in this industry are actively looking for reliable employees. If you’re looking for a job in a milling machine shop, you will be introduced to a long list of job listings for positions such as Milling CNC Machinist or Machine Operator. On the other hand, if you’re an employer in this industry it’s a quite harder situation and you should start thinking in a different direction. Employers should consider providing efficient training for new employees and at the same time working on the employee engagement of existing employees.

Capitalizing on new talent

A great solution for manufacturing businesses is to look at the pool of newly unemployed workers, which is unfortunately pretty deep these days. The thing is that entry-level positions are pretty difficult to hire, and the idea of recruiting this talent for these jobs could grow into a win-win situation. It is important to assure these candidates that you will keep your patience and will invest in training them in this new field.

Investing in onboarding

Every employer (especially in this industry that highly values new talent) should consider the recruiting process to be a serious investment. Investing in work programs such as mentorships can give great results. This way you will provide your new employees with effective training and guide workers through on-the-job education. Before implementing this idea into your onboarding process you should consider providing your mentors and leaders with training in managing employees from other industries.

Managing Talent Pipeline

To attract top talent you should make sure that your company is the best place to work. This means that you should work on employee satisfaction. For the most effective talent acquisition, building an early pipeline is really important. Besides pinpointing the highest quality candidates, offering paid apprenticeship programs is a great idea, since this could lead to later hiring.

Today more than ever, the art of building things is trying to reintroduce itself to talent. Since the evolution of the manufacturing industry is intense, it is important that your recruiting strategy reflect that.

Healthcare Recruitment Strategies: How to Attract Candidates

While labor shortages have been hitting many industries over the last few years, healthcare has been experiencing noticeable issues even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 20% of healthcare workers decided to leave their workplaces in 2020, with the infamous nursing shortage beginning long before. Clearly, labor shortages are affecting healthcare in quite significant ways, but there are still some tactics providers can use to attract and retain quality talent. To that end, here are some efficient healthcare recruitment strategies that might help you attract great candidates as well:

Focusing more on social media

Social media has become an unavoidable aspect of our lives, but it turns out it’s just as crucial for recruitment as well. A significant percentage of the workforce considers social media to be an efficient place for finding new and rewarding career paths, a fact that can be especially beneficial if you’re looking for younger candidates. LinkedIn still remains the best platform for finding great industry professionals, but even websites such as Facebook and Instagram can be helpful, by sharing positive patient reviews, highlighting employee achievements, and conveying compassion through community involvement. Using LinkedIn automation tools can help you by reaching out to right candidates in the healthcare industry and will help you engage with them without wasting your time on the platform.

Making job postings accessible

If a candidate finds your medical practice to be appealing and is eager to apply to an open position, consider how easy it would be for them to actually find your job postings. To increase visibility, consider including a ‘Careers’ section on your website that lists all current openings and serves as a space for online recruiting. You can also post these same listings to social media platforms for higher outreach. Then, aim to optimize the ‘Careers’ page for a more candidate-friendly recruitment process that makes it simple to search through job openings and reduces the steps needed to complete the application process.

Communicating the company culture

While clearly communicating the company culture might be important for any recruitment strategy, it’s particularly crucial in healthcare. This will help to demonstrate the type of workplace you provide, the typical pace of work that can be expected, and the usual relationships between coworkers, among other factors. With this picture, candidates will have a better idea of whether they are actually a good fit for your team, encouraging them only to apply for a position if they know it’s the right option for them. In turn, you won’t have to weed out inexperienced applicants or explain to a care facility nurse why patient recovery might not be suitable for them.

Showcasing your unique work

In countries like Australia, the best cosmetic surgeon in Melbourne will often let their work speak for them. Along with building a strong social media presence, this also means showcasing the work they’ve previously done on patients on their website, as well as describing the general work environment through images and videos. This has shown to be quite an effective and inexpensive way to attract candidates without having to contact them directly; they are often engaged and interested enough that they reach out to you. As long as you follow patient privacy laws, you can consider implementing a similar work-first strategy as well.

Seeking advice from your staff

In cities across Europe, on the other hand, it’s common for the entire staff to join the healthcare facility’s recruitment efforts. Employees are often offered incentives that motivate them to share job postings on their social media channels as well, thus reaching out directly to potentially interested connections. The current staff can also help by being more careful about how they represent your practice online. If you’d like to ask your staff to aid in recruiting, consider implementing a detailed social media policy for your employees. For example, they shouldn’t share privileged information, belittle patients or colleagues, talk about controversial topics, etc. This will help to ensure more streamlined operations.

Accessing untapped channels

When it comes to recruitment, it often pays to be creative. Accessing untapped channels can provide you with highly skilled and experienced candidates you might not have been able to find otherwise. For doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other highly specialized roles, this could mean leveraging employee referral programs, revisiting previous runner-up candidates, hosting professional seminars, and looking outside typical sources, like contacting international or recently retired professionals. In terms of unspecialized healthcare roles, keep in mind that you’re competing with all other high-volume employers. Tactics you could utilize here also include referrals, along with more unique methods such as hosting public job fairs and partnering with volunteer groups in an effort to make a big impact and convert top talent.

As the demand for qualified professionals of all skill levels continues to increase, healthcare recruitment will likely get even more challenging and competitive. Use the recruitment strategies mentioned above to streamline your processes and ensure you can always deliver the highest quality of care to your patients.

Tips for Buying a Recruitment Business

Starting a brand-new venture is an exhilarating decision, but it might prove to be too much for so many in the current economy and competition. The fact that the recruitment industry is growing is inspiring many to kick-start their agencies, but if you’re more inclined to purchase an existing agency, then you might stand a better chance to succeed. You can use the business’s current reputation, expand on its image and client base, and not to mention the key people that have brought the business to life.

There are many options you can consider, from investing in a franchise that might be location-specific, all the way to purchasing an entire agency to expand the business with your expertise and know-how. Some mistakes are inevitable, but you can definitely avoid most. Here, you can learn more about buying an existing recruitment business, to make the most of your investment and set your new company up for success under your own leadership.

Consider keeping the core decision-makers

Assuming that you’re looking to purchase a stable business with a strong bond with the local community, you should keep in mind that people make that business much more than the brand name alone. It might be tempting to let go of everyone in charge and all the core staff, but this is not always the most prudent way to go about the purchase. Instead, consider discussing the option of retaining some, if not all of the key workers, especially decision-makers.

You can still run the business and grow it as the main investor and the CEO, but the existing recruiters and managers staying on will be your greatest assets. They are the ones with all the client connections and successful case studies. Talk it over with the seller and see if there’s a way to work it into the contract. 

Do your homework

You might be excited about the transaction and the negotiations might have been long already, but you should never land on a deal before you do all the necessary research. Collecting industry data to understand the trends and forecast any changes, understanding the existing client relationships with the agency, and getting to know the staff properly will decide the future of the business.

Think of it as another workplace and assess its levels of safety, both for the short and the long term. Can you say with some professional certainty that this business has a strong future with the local community and its existing client base? Are there any gaps in the onboarding/offboarding strategies the agency is using both internally and in the talent selection process for their clients? Make sure to understand the ins and outs of the business before you buy it.

Get location-specific legal guidance

Knowing the industry is one thing, but the process of buying a business has so many intricate, legal steps that you should always ask for professional guidance on the matter. Not to mention that each country has its own unique legal frameworks in place for such transactions precisely. If you’re looking to buy a Sydney-based business, you’ll need to work with experienced lawyers in Sydney whose expertise will help you protect your investment.

They not only know the local market, but they also know what kind of potential legal difficulties you might be looking at upon inspecting the company. Working together with financial experts, you can see if the company has a clean track record, with no fraud looming in the background, and of course, all taxes and contracts are taken care of. 

Consider a non-compete

Once again, when you work in a competitive city like Sydney or New York, there are many recruiting agencies to go around, which both means having many opportunities, but also many competitors. You don’t need another one when the seller decides to use their expertise and the recently obtained wealth to start yet another business in the same sector to compete with you. 

Make sure your purchase agreement has a non-compete agreement or a clause attached to it, so that you can protect the intellectual property you’re buying with the business itself. This agreement is one way to protect your newly acquired business from losing relevance immediately upon purchase, or coming across yet another setback on your way to growth.

Analyze your motivation and goals 

Having ample funds at your disposal to invest in a venture is a great way to advance as a professional, but you should be certain that you’re doing this for the right reasons. Ask yourself: are you experienced and respected enough in this business to run a company of that size and scope? Do you have the funds to keep the business running smoothly upon purchase?

Will you really, measurably benefit from purchasing this agency? Do you understand what it takes to run an agency, especially if this is your first attempt at running a business? Such questions might sound harsh, but they’ll help you evaluate your goals and driving force before you make the purchase. 

From the fine print in the agreement all the way to your financing plan, preparing yourself properly for the purchase will help you get started with your new company on the right foot. Remember, despite the fact that the industry itself is flourishing and there’s plenty of business to go around, it’s still up to you to make sure your company thrives, despite its pre-existing reputation and success. Use these tips to be certain that you’ve done all the work before you sign on the dotted line. 

The Importance of SEO for Recruitment

In today’s competitive market, being visible in search engines is critical for any business to thrive. So is driving web traffic to company career pages and social media accounts. Search engines and social media networks have become the top two resources when it comes to looking for employment opportunities.

But, there is more to this. Nowadays, people searching for a new job are screening their potential employers thoroughly. Before an applicant decides to send a CV and apply for a job, they will review the company’s website and social media pages.

Bear in mind that according to a study from MRINetwork, a bad reputation influences job seekers’ decisions significantly. If a company has a bad employer reputation, 69% of the job applicants said they would reject their job offer.

And with online search becoming prevalent in finding work, recruiters need to learn how to effectively use SEO to stay ahead of the competition and attract top talent.

How SEO works?

The purpose of search engine optimization techniques is to help businesses rank higher in search engines and improve their online visibility. Google and other search engines utilize algorithms to assess the importance and relevance of webpages.

Websites and pages that provide their readers with a lot of quality information about what they are searching for are more likely to get shown in the search results. The position of a certain website depends on numerous other factors too.

The overall quality of the website and how many and how often people visit it will also influence the ranking position.

Good SEO is a priority if you want top results. Optimizing many facets of the company website like keyword research, domain structure, and internal linking can impact the recruiting process and your efforts to find the best candidates for the job.

For example, due to bad internal linking, applicants may struggle to find the application form or the contact page on your website.

How can SEO help improve the hiring process?

Data from Australia indicate that the hiring time has nearly doubled in the last ten years. On average, it takes 68 days to fill in a vacant position. This can lead to diminished team productivity and a decline in revenue.

These data imply that recruitment teams and experts in Australia and all over the world need to think more strategically about how to hire the best talent.

Since many factors impact search engine rankings and Google’s algorithms keep changing, your company can profit from hiring an experienced SEO agency in Sydney. Search engine professionals specialize in optimizing websites and web content so they can help you boost your brand’s visibility and entice the most talented candidates to apply to your open positions.

Marketing and HR experts should work closely together, as their joint efforts can result in great benefits when it comes to brand messages. When HR departments are isolated, it can negatively impact the recruitment process.

HR plays an important role in internal and external brand communication. For example, a company’s website showcases its ethics, values, and goals, and it can attract either right or wrong job seekers for new positions.

That is why the design of the homepage and social media posts should reflect the voice of the HR.

Ensure your hiring efforts are successful

There are some valuable techniques every company should embrace to improve its hiring process. Using optimized keywords and phrases, page URL, page title, meta description, tags, and page length should all be taken into consideration when posting a vacant position online or publishing an article.

When crafting a job listing, it is vital to consider what specific terms and phrases you want the candidates to find you by. The description of the vacant position and the title need to include not less than three keywords relating to the most relevant qualifications your enterprise is looking for.

A clear job listing is a must, but you also need to inform the applicants about your company’s values and ethics. As mentioned earlier, people looking for a job are searching online to learn more about your organization’s reputation.

Make sure to tailor your job descriptions as well as your website to reflect the core values of your business. Including a page URL to the” about us” page or the official social media accounts increases the trustworthiness of the company.

It also helps the candidates to form an opinion about the company when deciding whether to apply.

The conclusion

Hiring workers with the right skill set and experience for the job can make a huge difference to the company’s performance and its profit. And even when unemployed, high-quality, engaged employees will carefully choose their next work engagement and employer.

So, finding qualified employees is all about creating more searchable job postings and proving that the company culture has something to offer them.

To achieve this, recruiters must invest in SEO. Crafting effective SEO strategies leads to quality candidates quickly finding open positions and applying to them. It also helps in developing a positive employer brand.

In other words, for a successful recruitment process in today’s tech-oriented world, a functioning, well-thought-out website with valuable content and user-centric design, adequate social media presence, and proper SEO techniques are essential.

HR Onboarding Techniques for New Companies

A startup’s onboarding process can be less process — and more improvisation. But as your company scales, a system is needed to get your new administrative hires started on the right foot. A Bamboo HR poll found that employees who quit in the first six months of being hired felt that the job wasn’t what they expected. More than half (54%) said they quit because they didn’t want to do the job any longer, or their role wasn’t what they expected from the interview.

Considering the amount of time and effort it takes to find and onboard a new hire, retaining staff should be a priority. And it all starts with the Human Resources manager and team — the employee’s first point of contact for onboarding. Across all industries, HR managers are hired for their abilities to communicate and present information. Here are some techniques and security tips for new HR managers to present the best possible onboarding process for their new hires.

Best Cybersecurity Practices for HR Professionals

The HR department is responsible for sensitive employee information, including:

• Social Security Numbers (SSN).
• Medical records.
• Birthdate.
• Home address and family member information.

In most cases, the sensitive information is kept digitally in computers or on the cloud. This practice is generally safe, but there are vulnerabilities you should look out for to prevent the data from being compromised.

Comply With Recordkeeping Regulations

Keep updated on federal, state, and local privacy laws on how records should be kept and make sure you and your department are following the rules. Regulations may change, so it’s essential to review your company’s process, compared to current laws, and update the company privacy policy as needed. Consider the following regulations:

• Employee record retention: The S. Department of Labor outlines how long a company’s HR department should keep records. Employee payroll documents and collective bargaining agreements must be kept for at least three years. Time cards and employee schedules must be kept for at least two years.
• Medical records location: The Americans With Disabilities Act requires employers to keep confidential medical records such as health exams, worker’s compensation history, and leave requests separate from employees’ personnel files.
• Data breach reporting: HR professionals in California must notify employees if the company reasonably believes their personal information was accessed by an unauthorized individual.

Know the Proper Method of Disposing of Sensitive Paperwork

Disposing of employee data is a combination of company policy and federal, state, or local regulations. Know how long you should legally retain documents and data, as well as how your company disposes of it.

Sensitive records may need to be burned or sent away to an outside service to be destroyed in compliance with federal regulations. Following your company’s guidance on the disposal of data and documents is essential to avoid data being reconstructed, read, or distributed illegally.

Look Out for Internal Cybersecurity Threats

Most HR employees are aware of the danger of external cyber attacks from hackers, phishing, or viruses. But company software or an employee’s access to internal systems can also create threats.

An example of an internal threat is email. You send a requested employee file to the wrong email address and end up compromising your hire’s private information. To minimize internal threats, follow these steps:

• Never use or disclose an individual’s full social security number in correspondence.
• Turn off the auto-fill feature that remembers numbers or email addresses in your email and word processing programs.
• Regularly run virus and malware checks on your company computers.
• Take your cue from the healthcare industry and keep software and operating systems maintained and up to date.

Best HR practices for New HR Employees

Onboarding new hires is a critical aspect of the employee’s future in the workplace. The HR department is responsible for reinforcing the company’s image, projected during the recruitment process. Getting off on the right foot is essential. The HR department should implement specific practices to ensure new employees know what to expect on their first day and beyond.

Start the Onboarding Process the Day Before the New Hire Starts

The reasoning behind this step is so that everything is organized before the recruit arrives. Have employee handbooks and documents ready. Set up and equip the new hire’s work station. Create logins and email credentials beforehand. Make sure staff know about the new hire’s arrival and assign a mentor in advance. Having the important elements prepared in advance allows onboarding to go more smoothly on his or her’s first day.

Create a Welcoming Environment

The new hire’s first day sets the tone for the employee’s time at the company. A welcoming environment and a little creativity during the onboarding process doesn’t take much effort but makes a big impact on new hires. There are several elements that can create an ideal work environment — the office space, the initial point of contact, and the support team available to guide new employees. Consider these ideas:

Set the Stage With Good Lighting

The dark corner without a window can be demoralizing to staff. In fact, a study found that employees think good lighting is the No. 1 office perk. If your office environment lacks natural light, replicating the effect using certain lighting techniques can make a difference:

• Create different lighting zones including overhead lighting, ambient lighting, and desk lighting
• Use lightbulbs of a specific temperature (6500k) to replicate natural outdoor light and switch to LEDs to avoid overloading the office’s electrical system
• Use light or white colors for surfaces and walls to reflect light and provide a brighter environment

Get Creative With Employee Perks

The best way to welcome a new employee to HR or other administrative role is with a surprise or an unexpected detail. Most new hires know what to expect on the first day — a pile of paperwork to be completed, handbooks to read, and an overload of information. But imagine welcoming them with a gift basket featuring a massage gift certificate, snacks, or a gift card. The small gesture could break the ice and shake the first-day nerves off.

Personalize the New Hire Welcoming Process

You’ve staged a well-lit environment that encourages productivity and created a thoughtful welcoming gift as part of the new hire onboarding process. Ensure new hires know what team members they can reach out to if they have any questions. Personally welcome each new employee and introduce them to key support staff, available to guide them through the initial work stages, to set recruits up for long-term success.

Onboarding for Future Success

Developing an effective onboarding process takes time. The effort will be worthwhile — your new hires are investments into your company’s future and should be given the best start possible.

Protecting their privacy with proper record keeping of their personal data, providing an environment that’s bright and conducive to productivity, supporting their growth in the company, and delivering on the promises made during the interview process will likely increase your chances of nurturing a long and successful work relationship.

Image Source: Pexels

How to Build a Positive and Healthy Company Culture

If you think back to the different companies you’ve worked at over the years, each likely left a different impression on you. This is because every company has a different company culture consisting of different of unique values, ways of operating, and management style.

Company culture matters because it not only helps create a unified workforce, it can also be a key to success. In fact, Deloitte’s core beliefs and culture survey discovered 94% of executives and 88% of employees agreed that distinct workplace culture is imperative to run a business successfully. The survey also found a correlation between those who described themselves as being happy at work and their company having a distinct culture.

Positive company culture can lead to more engaged employees who are fully-present and passionate about the work they do. After all, ultimately, employees want to have a positive experience when working at an organization — and it’s your job as a leader to provide that. HR plays a significant role in creating an office culture as it begins with hiring candidates whose beliefs and values fit into that culture. As Jessica Herrin, founder Stella & Dot states; “shaping your culture is more than half done when you hire your team.” On that note, here are ways you can build a positive and healthy company culture.

What is Company Culture?

When you think of company culture, what first comes to mind? Perhaps it’s a state of the art gym and having access to unlimited snacks, or maybe it’s the daily flexibility and laid-back atmosphere. While these can be elements of company culture, there is so much more to it.

Edgar Schein, author and former MIT professor defines company culture this way: “Culture is the deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic ‘taken for granted’ fashion an organization’s view of its self and its environment.”

In essence, company culture is about deciding what your values and beliefs as a company are and ensuring you have a team of people ready to live by them. Harvard Business Review concludes that there are six components of great corporate culture, which include:

1. Vision
2. Values
3. Practices
4. People
5. Narrative
6. Place

When all of these elements are fused together, you should have a differentiated culture, improved performance, and a lasting organization. But how do you go about creating a company culture that supports the fulfillment of your overall mission and business objectives?

Hire the Right Team

Your staff are the people that will embody and create the company culture, so they’re a good place to start if you want to improve it. It is imperative that you hire new employees based on cultural fit as they will create your company culture.

A job interview is a good way to help you hire for culture fit, but you have to go beyond the information you find on their resume. Ask questions that will give you a sense of their values such as what motivates them to do their best work, or whether or not they’re still friends with old colleagues. Behavioral assessments are another good way to see how they approached work situations in the past and if they’ll fit well with your team.

Once you hire the right people, you also have to familiarize them with the new culture. Shoe and clothing retailer Zappos did this by creating The Culture Book, which consisted of employees’ definitions of company culture. This is a single example of how you can get new recruits to understand your company, what you value, and how to function within the confines of these beliefs daily.

Prioritize Job Satisfaction

Satisfied employees are likely to be happier, better engaged, and more productive. For this reason, if you want a positive company culture, you need to ensure your employees are satisfied. Monster composed a list of top ten companies based on worker satisfaction, and one member of this list includes a holding company run by Warren Buffet. Just a few of the reasons his company made it there are reportedly because of the fun atmosphere, great leadership, diversity, and flexibility.

To achieve employee satisfaction, you need to find out what their needs are and how you can help them create a balance between work and their personal lives. Know that it also doesn’t have to be a guessing game as you can get feedback directly from your staff to enhance their employee experience. For example, if you receive feedback that there isn’t enough opportunity for growth and development, you could put training programs in place. If not, your most valued employees could choose to resign in favor of another company where they see themselves growing. Seeing as turnover causes employers hundreds of thousands every year, it’s a cost worth avoiding.

Next, acknowledging employees for the contributions they make to your organization is important. Research by Gallup found one of the main reasons an employee leaves a job is because they don’t feel appreciated. Recognize yours in a way that’s meaningful to them, such as by verbally praising them or sending out an email. For those that like to be recognized with rewards, you could offer employee stock options or another form of physical of financial incentive. It’s a way of rewarding them for helping the business meet their objectives which can have good returns in terms of productivity.

You can learn more lessons about company culture from successful organizations like Apple, Virgin, and Airbnb. Two key lessons incude the golden rule — essentially, focusing on how essential it is to treat your staff how you want to be treated. Doing so not only ensures your employees are happy, but it’s also a way to preserve the reputation of your company.

Lead by Example

When it comes to company culture, it’s critical that you lead by example. Good leaders should be able and always willing to listen and show empathy, as these are integral components of a healthy business setting. Being empathetic towards employees sends a message that their feelings matter and they are seen as well as heard. This, in turn, can help you develop a staunchly loyal and more connected workforce. Additionally, you’re teaching them how to behave and treat others within your company. When you see others embodying positive company culture, champion and encourage them.

Building a positive and healthy company culture isn’t a single day’s work. It requires the upholding of core values and consistency, and at other times, it requires tearing down values or old traditions that don’t resemble the company culture you’re aiming to build for the sake of integrity. At the end of the day, positive company culture is an impetus behind a thriving business.

Image Source: Unsplash

Creating an Employee Benefits Package that Will Attract and Retain Talent

As you may have heard, our economy is doing quite well, and the unemployment rate is lower than it has been in many years. This boom has led to more opportunities for qualified applicants to find their dream jobs, and now is the ideal time for companies to bring in the best and brightest. However, there is a lot of competition among companies, often in your same industry, so you need to come up with a benefits package that will not only attract the top talent but keep them with your organization for the long haul.

Times have changed, and meager benefits such as free coffee and soda or the company lunch now and then are no longer enough to draw in the best people for your business. Instead, you need to think bigger, with benefits that both make a candidate’s professional life better and improve their personal lives as well.

Flexible Scheduling

The idea of driving into the office every day to work eight hours with a 30-minute lunch is no longer as appealing as it used to be. In fact, over 88% of candidates reported that having a flexible schedule was one of the most attractive factors when considering a job. People want to have a work-life balance, so they are not too stressed at the office, and they have time to care for their loved ones.

Flexible schedules could mean split shifts where an employee comes in a few hours in the morning and then returns later that evening. It could also entail a modified week where employees work four 10-hour days and have a three-day weekend. With either of these routines, people can schedule their appointments or set a predetermined day to spend with family. This schedule could also help the company: when employees know that management trusts them to work flexible hours, they can also be more productive.

The opportunity to work remotely for at least half of the week excites about 63% of applicants because it lets them skip a costly commute, save money on clothes, and allows the chance to work from the comfort of their own home. Providing this opportunity creates a feeling of trust between the employer and the employee and can also increase productivity and improve their health. Again, this benefit is a win-win for the company as it cuts costs on office space, utilities, and equipment.

Health Plans

These days, health insurance is more important than ever. When a company provides affordable, comprehensive, and easily accessible health insurance, they show that they genuinely care about the health of their workers, and potential candidates see that. In some cases, the only place that a person can afford health insurance is at their job, so it makes a big difference. 

A good health insurance plan shouldn’t drain the paycheck and should offer plenty of options and plans from which to choose. Great health plans will have a soft spot for pre-existing conditions. So if a warehouse worker had a bad back and wanted to go to a new job, they would want to know that if they were injured again, they would still be covered with the health plan, or at least under workers’ compensation insurance. 

Wellness programs are also great perks and could include complimentary gym memberships, smoking cessation programs, or healthy food or snack options at lunch. Some companies also have a wellness plan built into their health insurance premiums, so if the employee passes regular health assessments, their monthly payment would be lower. This is a unique benefit, so candidates will surely notice if your business includes this perk. The point is showing the potential employee that you genuinely care about their wellbeing.

Benefits for the Future

Getting a new job is no small task, so when people look for a place to work, they want a company that they can stay with for the foreseeable future. They also know that life happens, and things can change as the years go by. A company with great benefits understands this idea. If they offer perks that encourage employees to live their lives to the fullest, then the employee will appreciate the business even more. 

For instance, companies that offer extended paid time-off programs give the employee the impression that they are free to live a life outside of work. The time off also provides the employee the chance to refresh so they can return to the job more focused and productive. Your business should also offer a minimum of six weeks of paid family or paternal leave for both mothers and fathers. Again, this gives the impression that your company cares about their outside life and offers parents a chance to cherish their children, so they are happy when they return to work. 

A good retirement plan shows the candidate that you are hoping to retain and mold them at your company for the rest of their working career and people like that kind of job security. Retirement plans might include a pension plan or a 401k with an employer match. Some of the more highly ranked 401k plans include an incentive like a 6% match after the employee puts in 1% of their income or matching 100% of their first 6% of contributions. Companies that want to draw in more talent for the long term should highly consider such options. 

In the end, a company that genuinely values its employees will stand the test of time. People want to know that they are not working for a faceless organization, but instead, a business that truly appreciates its top talent. Incorporate these benefits now, and you could see an uptick in quality candidates.

Image Source: Unsplash

Tech-Savvy Hiring for a Remote World

There’s no denying the business world is going remote.

Over time, advancements in technology have grown to such an extent that the need to drive back and forth from an office is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In fact, some reports state that 70% of people around the world work from home at least one day per week.

Luckily, this revolution has provided human resource teams with a slew of new tools that make acquiring the best remote talent easier than ever. Video software, translation services, and applicant tracking systems are all helping companies around the world find the top talent, and the businesses that utilize them the best may come out ahead.

Preparing Your Business for Remote Work

Introducing remote employees into your company is not a process that can be taken lightly. Before you even begin to think about your staffing needs, you first need to ensure that your current systems are properly designed for remote work. It can be quite an undertaking, which can be made easier with professional user testing.

The process usually involves hiring a firm to find individuals with testing experience who will sign onto your systems and perform tasks and tests that you request. One of the most significant advantages of remote user testing is that you can use either local testers or individuals from around the globe. This independent testing will mimic the work environment of your future remote employees and give you validation that your systems are working correctly. Remote testing is also less time consuming, as you are not wasting resources by bringing individuals into your office.

In most cases, HR won’t be able to see the remote tester actually working through the tasks live and will instead get a recording at the end along with any follow up questions. Once findings are recorded and tweaks are made, a second round of testers should come in to ensure that all systems are ready to go. Testing should also be completed down the road as system updates are implemented.

Applicant Tracking Systems

Once your remote operations are up and running, it is time to find your employees. The first step of that process includes sending out a job listing and then receiving applications. When you open the flood gates and hundreds of resumes come flowing in, organization is key. This is where applicant tracking systems can save the day.

When applicants send in their resumes, the tracking system files and sorts the applications in order to present them to HR and the hiring manager in an orderly fashion. The manager can then use the system throughout the rest of the hiring process to set up phone interviews, collect background information, and send out final hiring paperwork.

As technology advances, so do the tracking systems, and current models can compile the resumes as well as “read” and rate them based on how well they match the job description. The significant benefit of using these systems is that they cut down on administrative tasks, and the quicker you can get your remote candidate through the process, the less likely they are to look elsewhere and opt for a different job. If you are looking to expand your remote operations over time, then you want to cultivate this positive candidate experience to create good word of mouth and avoid future turnover.

Advancements in Video Interviews

With the proper candidates selected, the selection process then moves onto the interview phase, and if you are looking outside of the local area, then in-person interviews may not be feasible. Luckily, advancements in video technology are making the process easier and as seamless as if the individual were sitting in the same room. One current trend is providing potential first-round candidates with a “one-way” interview where questions are supplied, and the applicant can answer them via video on their own time. This way, the candidates can feel less nervous and more natural, so that HR can get a better idea of their personality before the face-to-face video interview.

As time goes on, more advanced video interviewing software is coming into the limelight. Video packages, such as that developed by MyInterview, allow you to not only talk to the candidate live, but the software also uses machine learning to analyze the applicant’s answers for professionalism and reasoning skills. Another advanced program is VidCruiter, which offers a suite of tools, including a system that ranks candidates based on qualifications and intuitive filters that specify the candidates that you should interview first.

When reaching out to candidates on an international level, it is important to find the best candidates while keeping expenses in check. There are also potential language barriers to overcome. Calling the applicant with the help of an over-the-phone interpreter could help you to fill in the blanks. The last thing you want to do is miss out on a great employee simply because you can’t communicate properly.

The remote landscape is growing at a steady pace, and if employers want to stay ahead of the pack, they must utilize these remote hiring tools.

Image Source: Pexels

How to Plan a Successful Networking Event

Building your company’s profile can be a challenge. The marketing department only has so much control, but the overall image of your business can impact how well you attract and retain top talent.

Fortunately, you can make a big splash without having to run a significant PR campaign. By planning and hosting a successful networking event, you can position your company as a leader in your community and your industry.

What makes networking so powerful? And how can you ensure that it will be successful? Here’s what you need to know.

The Power of Networking

You may be tempted to think that networking is best suited to a time when you, as an individual, are looking to break into a new field or a new position. The truth is that a strong network can give you a competitive edge at every stage in your career, and this includes every stage of a business. Keep this in mind as you plan your networking event. Help people get the most out of the experience by providing tips on how to network successfully.

You can emphasize the practice of soft skills such as eye contact, positive body language, and listening. Encourage attendees to ask targeted questions and show genuine interest in the people they meet. Most of all, be a valuable resource for those who attend and continue to keep in touch after the event is over. Your organization should be building long-term relationships, after all!

As you think about who to invite and who should speak, consider those who have a lot of awareness of your industry and its challenges. These could be people within your company, or you can invite speakers from other areas within the business. Be sure to include people with a variety of backgrounds, such as cultural, gender, educational levels, and more.

A successful networking event can help put your company on the map with potential customers, employees, and others in your community. People love to talk about the great events they’ve been to, so you gain exposure well beyond the attendees.

Make it Easy to Sign Up

The tech behind your enrollment and reminders can be one of the best assets you have for your event. Not only is it easy for attendees to use, but it will also hold a wealth of information about the people at your event that you can capitalize on later.

Of course, you need an idea of the headcount so you can plan your event accordingly, but don’t overlook the contact information you gather. These people are the potential employees, clients, and connections that your business needs to grow and move forward.

Once folks arrive, have them check in even if the event is free. This allows you to see how many people actually attended compared to who signed up. Create badges from the registration data that you can scan before speaker sessions. This will allow you to see what sessions were the most successful. You can then follow up and get feedback on the event and connect more closely with attendees. With excellent networking on your part during and after the event, you’re much more likely to win new clients and attract high-quality employees to your organization.

 

Choose a Great Location

If your building has an appropriate gathering space, you can hold the networking event at your own location. However, most of the time it’s better to choose an upscale venue that’s nearby, such as a hotel.

An upscale venue gives a sense of professionalism and special access to the event. This helps attendees feel important and facilitates a strong connection to your brand. You can also have a larger event due to the space available in hotels, and the accommodations offer a place to stay for guests who travel to attend.

Find out what options you have for low-cost or even free events at the hotel. For instance, if you hold it near the hotel bar, you may be able to get a lower price. Be sure to choose your date wisely – you don’t want to overlap an important local event or game that may cause the hotel to be less flexible with you.

Choose an Effective Format

How is your networking event going to operate? Unless everyone already knows each other well, simply tossing a bunch of people into a room isn’t likely to be effective.

Choose one or more high-quality speakers to anchor the event who can give tips and tricks about industry topics. This can be a big incentive to attend and gives people something to organize the evening around. For a more creative option, organize a group activity that encourages interaction and cooperation, such as a cooking class or local tour.

Before and after the structured activities, encourage people to chat and share information. You can set up an official format for this, like “speed networking” where people meet for two minutes and then swap, or you can let it happen more naturally.

To keep things moving, have some of your team work to engage those who inevitably hang back. Knowing how to encourage introverts to network can be very helpful.

Evaluate Your Success

Once you’ve held your event, it’s time to look at how things went and what you learned. Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly – it can be hard to know right away whether your event was successful. The time it takes to build relationships means that you won’t know immediately if you’ve successfully gained new clients or high-quality applicants from your event. It might be weeks or months before this particular effort bears fruit.

To measure your results, keep track of your follow-up with those who attended. Make a special effort to connect with ideal clients or high-quality job candidates. Take note of how many become new customers or employees over time.

You also need to learn from any you made and what you want to do differently next time. Be sure to record those insights with your coworkers, so that you or the next event team can remember those lessons and improve the next networking experience.

Build Your Business With Networking

Networking events go a long way to boost the profile of your company. This not only helps you attract and retain the best employees, but it can also lead to additional clients or customers as well. You will also gain respect from others in your industry.

This can make a big difference, not only for your company but for your own career. You’ll be building new relationships for yourself as well as for your business.

Are you ready to make a splash in your industry? If so, get started planning a networking event today. Everyone will benefit, and it will create a lot of buzz in your community.