In a time when unemployment is at an all-time low, it has never been more important for companies to find ways to attract and retain top talent. Candidates are no longer desperate for any job they can get their hands on - they are selective and want the best possible opportunity.  

Once you have successfully hired your new team member, it is important to keep them happy and engaged so that they stay with your company for the long-term. This Learnings article will give you some tips on how to do just that.

So, without further ado, let's get started on attracting and retaining the best talent for your company.  

Attracting candidates

The first step is to ensure that your job opening is attractive to candidates. The job market is competitive and you need to make sure that your role stands out. The days of listing flexible working or free fruit as a benefit are over. To truly catch the eye of a candidate, you need to ensure your value proposition is clear, tangible and competitive.  

Focus on what the candidate will get by joining your team. Financials are a driver for a lot of applicants but don't overlook the bigger picture.  Clearly articulating what your company culture is and how this role drives the ambition of the business, can be an equally enticing draw.  

There are a number of ways to use technology to your advantage when attracting candidates. One is by using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This is a piece of software that helps you to manage the large volume of applications that you are likely to receive.  

Stryve can help you to screen candidates, scoring their suitability for your role in a matter of seconds, saving you a lot of time and energy.

Nurturing candidates

Once you have a shortlist of candidates, it is important to nurture them through the process so that they remain interested in the role. The best way to do this is by keeping them updated at every stage and with many organisations now reporting that they are losing candidates before they can even interview, speed is crucial to secure that star applicant before someone else does.

This means letting them know when you have received their application, when you are going to be making a decision and, finally, letting them know whether or not they have been successful.  

It is also important to provide feedback, both positive and negative. This shows that you value their time and effort and it also helps them to improve for future applications whilst continually improving your employer brand experience.  

Don't stop there. You should also drip feed your prospects with information about your company, the culture, current employee testimonials and any other content that candidates might find interesting. Getting prospects to buy into your brand and mission is one sure fire way to increase your chance of converting applicants into employees.  

The next step is to make a job offer that the candidate cannot refuse. This means offering a competitive salary, flexible working hours and, perhaps most importantly, a good benefits package.  

Retaining candidates

The final step is to successfully onboard your new team member. This means making sure that they have everything they need to hit the ground running and be productive from day one.  

This includes providing them with training, support and a clear understanding of their role within the company. It also means integrating them into the team so that they feel like they belong.  

With Stryve, you can enrol new starters into a tailored onboarding content flow. Sending scheduled updates in the first few weeks, not only helps new starters get up to speed with you and your brand but makes them feel included in the wider picture far quicker.  

By following these steps, you will be well on your way to attracting, nurturing and retaining top talent in a competitive job market. Good luck!

Thank you for reading. I hope this Learnings article has been helpful in giving you some ideas on how to attract and retain top talent in a competitive job market.

We are now offering free talent strategy audits for companies that get in touch with us via this article. All you have to do is click here to book your time with us!