Good help is hard to find. Or is it?
At the WithIt conference in Charleston, SC, last month, retailers, manufacturers and designers gathered to hear a presentation on how to recruit, and it turns out many of them had the same issue: How to find the best candidates. Like any other business, furniture and lighting retailers and designers face similar issues when hiring. They feel pressured to fill roles because they start looking after someone has already left, and they ignore red flags with candidates and hire ones who don't fit well with the company culture.
Speaker Rene Johnston-Gingrich from Profitability Consulting Group listened to the group discussion and then offered a suggestion: Recruit every day.
Recruiting should not be done only when someone leaves the company. The idea should be to create a pool of interested candidates so that when a job does open, you have some good people to go to first for interviews. Doing this a little early will give you time to vet candidates before you need them and get a sense of whether or not they'd be a good fit for your business. When the time comes, you'll feel more relaxed, and you'll have a better chance of getting a qualified candidate who fits in well with your business.
In fact, candidates who apply when there are no job openings might be better fits than applicants who apply when a job is posted. Those who take the time to apply when there's no job opening are likely doing it because they like your company. They like the culture, the products or the location, and they want to be a part of your business. When the opportunity arises, they want to make sure that they're first in line to be considered for your business.
Recruiting every day does not require you to post ads daily on Facebook or in local newspapers. In fact, Johnston-Gingrich said, doing a little bit of recruiting at a time can go a long way. Here are her best tips on how to recruit every day.
Accept applications online 24/7
The beautiful thing about the internet is that it never closes. Anyone can connect your business whether it's 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. When it comes to recruiting, your website will become your best tool, and if you use it well, you can build a strong pool of candidates who will be ready for interviews as soon as a job opens up.
If you don't already have one, add a Careers page to your website and use it to post job openings and descriptions. Add a note below the descriptions that says that your company is always accepting applications and then explain how to submit applications.
If you want to create an online portal to accept applications, that's up to you, but an easier way to do it is to create a word document that can be downloaded and provide an email address where applicants can submit them. This allows anyone who wants to take the time to fill out an application to submit it at their leisure. The emails can easily be filed and kept until needed.
Add signage to your business
Once you have an online application, create signs to be hung or placed around your showroom. This will get the word out to people walking around your showroom. If a customer likes your business and has a sales background or knows someone who does, he or she may fill out an application or make a recommendation to a friend or family member.
Former customers can become great employees and cheerleaders for your business. As a former customer, they'll have an idea of what the sales process and culture of the company is like, and you will have had the chance to get to know them as well. If they like your company enough to apply, they'll likely carry that enthusiasm into the job. They can also talk up your business to their friends and family members, which might lead you to a qualified candidate or even just a sale.
Letting customers know that you're always recruiting can connect your with candidates who might not have applied otherwise.
Do a little recon at commission stores and restaurants
Chances are that your business has a few restaurants and specialty commission stores (think jewelry) nearby. You might even know some of the servers at restaurants nears your business because you frequent them so often or partner with them for community events. Right now, these may be acquaintances, but they could be great employees for your business.
Employees at commission stores and restaurants thrive in customer service environments. They know a little extra effort can lead to a huge payoff for them. Servers especially have plenty of practice learning menus and daily specials, so you know they can handle memorizing company names and their product offerings.
In your area, pop into restaurants and specialty commission stores now and again and take the time to speak with employees. Gauge their quality of service and attitude and think about how they might fit with your company. If you can, develop a rapport, and when you have a job opening, encourage them to apply. You've already done a little vetting on your own, so you'll feel more confident about bringing them into an interview.
Be honest: How often do you recruit? Share with us in the comments!
Photo: Pexels
