MightyRecruiterRecruiting Ideas: How to Find and Keep Good Hourly Employees
Hourly employees are the backbone of the American workforce. They account for more than 60% of employees, but employers often struggle to attract qualified candidates and to retain them. Turnover is typically much higher for this type of worker; almost three-and-one-half times greater than that of salaried hires. The cost of losing an hourly employee can range from 30% to 150% of the annual earnings for the position, creating a drain on profitability and efficiency, but the cost of retaining an unsuitable employee can be high as well. To attract and retain the right applicants for your company, get to know your candidates and use targeted recruiting ideas for skilled frontline workers.
Know Your Candidates
In order to attract the best applicants, it’s important to know all you can about them. Hourly workers have always presented a challenge for employers, but the current generation of potential employees differs from their predecessors in several important ways.
1.They are older. Many companies tailor their recruiting efforts to attract the demographic that has typically filled hourly positions: young workers seeking their first employment experience. However, candidates under the age of 25 account for only a third of the modern hourly workforce. Another third are between 25 and 44. Slightly less than a third are over 45. Employers need new recruiting ideas to appeal to this large group of older, sometimes highly qualified candidates.
2.They want to work fewer hours. Many job seekers are also full-time students, caregivers or employees looking for a second job to ease financial strain. While some candidates are interested in a full-time position, many would prefer to work fewer than 30 hours per week.
3.They are already working. It is a mistake to focus recruiting efforts solely on unemployed candidates. Many qualified workers are already working, but would be open to a better position, higher salary or better working conditions.
Target Your Recruitment Strategy
Most managers and supervisors receive little training in hiring new employees. They need recruiting ideas for finding and identifying the best applicants. However, with the right preparation and execution you can ensure that you’ve found the right person for the job.
1.Send the right message. Create an ad that is upbeat and easy to read. Make sure the job description is accurate and specific. When you meet with candidates in person, remember that they are assessing you as well. Use the interview as an opportunity to highlight the benefits of working for your company.
2.Make it easy to apply. Create a job posting hotline and post job listings on multiple sites. Make it easy for applicants who are already working (some of your most promising candidates) by allowing them to submit applications and attend interviews during extended business hours.
3.Respond quickly. This is one of the easiest but most overlooked recruiting ideas. Most job seekers apply for multiple jobs and will jump on the first good opportunity. Once you’ve posted an opening, respond quickly to applicants so you don’t lose a promising candidate to another company.
4.Assess skills before making an offer. A lack of skills contributes to the high turnaround rate of hourly employees, but it doesn’t have to. Identify the key skills needed to be successful in the position, and ask applicants to submit to a pretest of their abilities. If they’ll be running a cash register, bring them into the store and run them through some sample exchanges. If they’ll be working in customer service, role-play some scenarios to see how they’ll react.
5.Be a great place to work. Are your current employees happy to be there A competitive salary and good benefits are only two of the factors that contribute to job satisfaction. Employees need a certain level of autonomy and the opportunity to gain new skills on the job. They want to feel that their efforts are recognized and respected. They also want the opportunity to move into new positions and be given new responsibilities. A happy workforce benefits your company in two ways. Employees are more likely to stick around, and the lower turnover rate will save you time and money. In addition, your reputation as a great place to work will get around, and when the time comes to hire someone new you’ll have plenty of applicants to choose from.
By understanding your applicants and using the right recruiting ideas to attract them, you can create a workforce of skilled, satisfied employees. The tools at Mighty Recruiter can help you to tailor your recruiting strategy and your company culture to attract and retain the best hourly employees.