Each month our center hosts a special program known as the Small Business Forum where community business owners are invited to listen to and engage with a panel of local experts regarding a specific topic. In April of 2021, we hosted the forum “Hiring and Keeping Good People.” Our panel included consultant, Chris Case, an expert in leadership and communication, and Allyson Malone, a specialty consultant expert in HR and communications.
During this session, we looked at why hiring and keeping good employees is difficult and what business owners can do to combat this struggle. Here are some of the most important lessons we highlighted during April’s Forum.
Why is hiring so difficult right now?
- Right now, many people are looking at the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to find a new skill, hobby, or line of work. This has caused a dramatic drop in potential hires within the job market. This is no surprise. Catastrophic experiences have repeatedly impacted our job market as many people see it as their moment to try something new.
- While all industries seem to be struggling with recruitment right now, hiring within the hospitality industry has been especially challenging over the last few months. Again, this is because many people who have worked in this industry are seeing the Covid-19 pandemic as a chance to get creative and “jump ship.”
- When so many people leave an industry it becomes difficult to hire new staff and, in some cases, even survive the labor shortage. Many mentors have left the industry, and this forces businesses to fill in from the bottom up. This can be an extremely troublesome process that often leads to a major lack of skilled and hardworking staff.
What can business owners do to ensure they are hiring and keeping good people?
Know your ideal candidate – When creating a job posting, think about what your ideal candidate is looking for and put yourself in their shoes. Think about your former great employees and what they may have been looking for when they choose to apply.
Set clear expectations – Communication and trust go hand and hand.
Move beyond what has worked before – So much has changed within the last year, and people are looking for something new. You may have to change up your approach to hiring and think outside the box. For example, think of ways to create flexible work schedules that appeal to students, parents, and caregivers.
Make sure your people are okay – People are clearly the most important part of a business. Ensuring that your employees and management are doing well is vital to success within any industry. The world is going through a lot right now, so reaching out to your employees and showing care prevents issues long before they occur.