The 20:20 of business recruiting
2008 – A NETWORKING ODYSSEY
Online networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter and virtual community Second Life, offer small business employers a longterm channel to connect with potential employees and strengthen their brand in the market. To incorporate online networking into your recruitment strategy in 2008, the following can be considered:
- Join an industry group or start your own. Online networks grow virally, so invite your contacts and the group will grow organically.
- Link your group/online network to your online job boards.
- Start a group of alumni to keep track of past employees.
- Update information and communicate regularly – keep people in the loop with industry information, jobs and events.
Good recruitment
All small businesses should keep in mind the key underlying principles of good recruitment: treat people the way you want to be treated and focus on placing the right people in the right jobs.
At the end of the day, recruitment for small businesses should be thought of in the same way you consider your business plan, property or brand; as a longterm programme. Making good hiring decisions are at the core of every good business, and small businesses today have access to resources, tools and technologies that would make small businesses two decades ago green with envy.
The 20:20 on recruiting for your business
- Twenty minutes checking references and qualifications of candidates today, may save you from experiencing an unwanted incident later down the track.
- Twenty percent of employees leave their organisation because of below average remuneration packages. Make sure you research remuneration averages for your industry and factor salaries and bonuses into your budget forecasts. If you can’t compete with salaries offered by larger competitors, try providing other incentives such as flexible working arrangements, work /life balance programmes and training.
- Just over 20 percent of organisations say the talent shortage is resulting in decreased work morale. To help retain your current employees and help morale and workload, provide incentives and rewards for extra work (such as overtime), or consider hiring temporary staff until you find a permanent solution.