Staffing problems can be a drain on company productivity. These problems can range from a lack of qualified employees to fill open positions to a mismatch between the position and the worker. In order to fix staffing problems, there are several steps that a company should take.
firstPRO, an expert in the staffing community, explains the seven steps that every company can take to remediate their staffing problems.
1. Make a Long-Term Recruiting Strategy
When you fill a vacant position, you will need to do more than go through the motions and hope for the best. A long-term recruiting strategy is needed to ensure success.
Your strategy needs to focus on organizations and schools where you have found quality employees in the past. Make sure that you get involved in these communities by attending functions and building relationships. When you are recognizable, students and faculty will be more likely to refer likely employees to your company.
2. Branding and Culture
You will need to make sure that your company branding is consistent with your goals. A strong brand will attract prospective employees and encourage them to apply for jobs. Being publicly visible is a good way to attract new workers. If your company is not active in the community, it is likely that you will have a problem attracting local workers.
Company culture is one of the keys to staffing success. When a company has a strong and well-defined culture, employees are happier and will be more likely to refer their associates to apply for jobs with your company. A company’s reputation when it comes to its culture can spread through the prospective workforce. If there are any blemishes in this area, be aware that prospective employees will know about them.
3. Determine Your Immediate Needs
In addition to developing a long-term strategy, you should identify your immediate needs before posting a job listing. You will need to fully understand this position’s duties and needed skills. This will help you find people who are the right fit for the position. When a new employee is in the proper job position for their experience and education, they will be more likely to succeed in the long run.
If your new employee is not a good fit, you may find yourself at loose ends and needing to go through a tiresome and expensive turnover process. Being sure that you have the right employee, to begin with, is a much better strategy than hiring the first person who applies.
4. Work On the Interview Process
If you are having trouble hiring the right people, you should take a close look at your interview process. When the time comes to interview a potential hire, you will need to draw up a list of steps that you should follow.
You should be careful about who hosts the interview. The direct supervisor for the position is generally best, with HR included if necessary. Having a peer in the room is another good idea since the person currently working in a similar position will be able to judge whether a new person can fit with the company.
When interviewing multiple people for the same job, you will need to find a way to categorize their strengths and weaknesses. Taking a careful look at each candidate will help you decide which person is the best fit for the job.
5. Offer Employee Incentives
One way to help with staffing problems is to make sure that your employees are well-compensated with the right incentives for the job. When employees are making enough money and have good benefits, they will be more likely to refer their friends for interviews.
Employee referrals can represent as much as 25 percent of new hires. It is also a good idea to reward your workers for referring a new employee.
6. Value Your Employees
If you are having problems with turnover, you should carefully consider what you are doing to encourage employees to stay. If your employees do not feel valued, they are more likely to look for work elsewhere. Be careful to treat your employees as more than cogs in a machine or numbers in a database. Encourage your managers to add a personal dimension to their interactions.
If you have turnover problems, it is also a good idea to assess whether direct supervisors are doing their jobs correctly. You may need to retrain the supervisor or, as a last resort, reassign them to another department. A staffing consultant like firstPRO can help your company determine whether you are having turnover problems.
7. Offer Competitive Compensation
You should do research into the proper compensation level for each employee category. If your employees are being underpaid for the work that they are doing, it is likely that they will look for work elsewhere. You can make a friendly workplace with a positive culture and the ability to advance, but if you do not pay your employees enough, simple math says that they will not want to stay.
Solving Staffing Problems
With these seven steps, firstPRO believes that you can fix your staffing problems. Both making new hires and retaining current employees are important. Staffing requires more than going through the motions, so it is best to create a coherent strategy. When you take the time to thoughtfully staff your company, you will be more likely to succeed in the future.
