As the health of the US economy continues to improve, many companies struggle to compete for top industry talent. With some businesses offering everything from free snacks to “bring your dog to work” day, how is it possible to compete and win the best talent in your industry? By implementing some of the following tactics, you’ll be able to attract more qualified, talented employees, and you won’t even have to tap a keg in the breakroom!

When approaching the topic of employee experience, it is important to start with your current employees first; the reason being is that it is much more cost effective to retain current employees than to hire new ones. An excellent way to get a feel for your employee experience is to simply open up a dialogue with some of your most recent hires. By asking them a few simple questions about their hiring and onboarding experience, you’ll arm yourself with the information you need to improve your company’s employee experience.

1. First impressions begin long before their first day.

Attracting key players to your team starts long before their first day, and even long before the first interview. Prospective employees have much more power now to research your organization before accepting an offer, so it is crucial that your company displays a positive online presence. A website, social media pages, and positive online reviews are only the beginning of a positive online image. As more businesses move to nearly paperless operations, it is crucial that your company be quick to adopt useful technology to position yourself as a forward-thinking organization to prospective employees.

By implementing a standardized process for employee hiring and onboarding, you are able to control what each employee experiences and to ensure you’re always putting your best foot forward.

A Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is a great way to enhance and even automate your employee hiring experience. By implementing a standardized process for employee hiring and onboarding, you are able to control what each employee experiences and to ensure you’re always putting your best foot forward. An HRIS allows prospective employees to handle the entire application process online and puts your company in front of more qualified candidates, increasing your chances of attracting your next superstar employee.

2. Recognize achievements and reward hard work.

To keep your employees happy and engaged, it is necessary to discover what motivates them. Some employees are motivated by time off, others by bonuses and others simply by recognition. Building relationships with your employees outside the office is a great way to start understanding their motivations. Do they love talking about their family? Think about giving them a few extra vacation days next year as a thank you if they’ve worked exceptionally hard. By recognizing achievements and rewarding hard work, you are showing your employees that you value their contributions to the team. You’re also showing them that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. 

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By offering things such as online professional development courses to employees, you can provide value to your employees and also give yourself an opportunity to recognize employees’ educational accomplishments. Using a Human Resources Information System to track employee professional development and certifications is a great way to automate the entire process and save your HR department some time.

3. Don’t forget to have fun!

When you only see them during the week, It’s easy sometimes to forget that employees have lives outside the office. But at the end of the day, everyone looks forward to time outside of work to pursue his or her other passions. Whether it's spending time with family or mountain biking, it’s healthy to have time away to recharge and refocus.

Staff outings are a great way to get to know employees outside of the office. Whether it’s a company party at Dave & Buster's or a teambuilding hike in the woods, getting out of the office with your employees is a great way to show them you value more than just work. It is important to be able to have fun with the people in your office because when it comes down to it, we spend most of our time with our co-workers.

Making a few changes in how your business handles its employee experience can go a long way in attracting and retaining a talented workforce. As competition for key employees increases, it’s important to give yourself every opportunity to win!

If you would like more information on managing your workforce using an HRIS system, please contact Propel HR.