Good news — there will always be a demand for employment! With a labor force participation rate at 62.8% and an unemployment rate of 4.9%, there are plenty of people to choose from. But, we understand you want to make sure you know how to hire great employees for your small business. Where do you find employees? You could post a job opening on a billboard or hang job listings on telephone poles, but those might not be the most effective methods for finding the right employees. Here are five trusted tips on where to find employees who will be the right fit for your small business.
Where to find employees
Finding good employees can be a challenge. By searching in the right places, you could avoid future time spent on unnecessary training or rehiring employees.
1. Career fairs
Going around to local colleges is a great way to find potential employees. Set up a booth at a career fair and talk to students about your small business. Collect their resumes and give them your business card.
If you need a position filled immediately, tell them about the responsibilities of that position. Offer internships that could become full-time jobs.
Always be recruiting. Even if you are not hiring, going to a college fair is a great opportunity to build connections and later reach out when a position opens up. You will already have a few of the most difficult recruitment process steps proactively completed.
You can also use career fairs to get your business’s name on the radar of graduating college students. Hiring millennials allows recent graduates to put their education to use and can even save you money.
2. Job listings websites
Make sure to put the position(s) you need filled on internet job posting boards. Job listings websites give people the chance to search for jobs easily. You will want to be as clear and specific as possible in your job description to attract the right candidates. Include information like qualifications required, job duties, and compensation.
Job listings websites organize jobs by title and location, enabling potential employees to easily find your listing. Also, people can search for the type of position they want, including full-time, part-time, temporary employment, temp-to-hire contract worker, or internship positions. In addition to using a job board site, you will probably want to include your job openings on your own site as well. Part of the reason why small businesses need a website is to keep visitors informed about the solutions their companies offer, as well as the people that make those solutions happen.
Putting your position on a job listings website will most likely bring in a lot of applications. Be prepared to weed through applications for the best candidate(s). Look to recruiting software if you need help.
3. Recommendations
Chances are, if you already have employees at your small business, they know what you expect from potential candidates. Set up an employee referral program and compensate your employee if you hire the person they recommend.
One of the best places to find employees is within your established personal network. Ask friends, family, or people you have worked with in the past to recommend motivated individuals.
Gary Stauble, Principal Consultant for The Recruiting Lab and Top Echelon Contributor, says, “Often, the best sources of targeted candidates for employers are the employee referrals. A referred contact changes the traditional interview cycle … They also tend to be highly qualified, as the employee who referred them is intimately aware of exactly what the employer needs.”
4. Social media
Technology helps connect people like never before. Using social media gives you an easy way to connect with people of all ages.
Post an open position online through a professional network to show colleagues that you are hiring.
Social media is also a great way to reach out to candidates. If you have company social media accounts, you can post that you need a job filled to people who are familiar with your business.
5. Networking events
If you want to expand your connections with other small businesses, consider attending local networking events for small businesses. Not only can you connect with other small business owners, but you can also open your doors to recruit potential employees.
Another way to network is to give lectures. Talk with colleges to see about being a guest speaker in a relevant class. For example, if your small business formulates and sells shampoo, talk to a chemistry class as well as a business class. Pass out job applications to those who are interested.
Networking opportunities are one of the many chamber of commerce benefits that you can leverage as a business owner. You can ask your local chamber of commerce if you may speak at a meeting. If you ask around, other groups may be interested in having you join them to talk about your business and need for employees. Attendees could be job seeking or end up as loyal customers.
Taking part in networking events can help you find motivated people who will make great employees.