Hiring challenges abound across many of Arizona’s industries. With low unemployment and more companies dipping into the talent pool, it can be difficult to find skilled talent. Here are tips to help a business take a focused approach and improve its chances of landing the best talent.
Don’t skimp on compensation. Offering a good salary and benefits is an advantage, but it’s especially true today. A business should use resources to check starting salaries in its area to ensure pay ranges are competitive —and also consider non-monetary incentives like flexible hours and telecommuting.
Put your best foot forward. Know one’s company’s strengths and make sure the company culture is central to the hiring strategy. Enticing perks, a commitment to social responsibility and innovation are often appealing to good candidates.
Stop looking for the “perfect” fit. Given the small pool of available talent, it could be that no applicant will possess all the experience a company requires. Instead, it might be better for a company to consider hiring individuals who show potential and the ability to learn quickly, then create development plans to bring them up to speed.
Move quickly. Speed is essential. Good candidates don’t remain available for long. If it takes weeks for a business to hire, it’ll miss out. But it’s important to do the due diligence: Conduct reference checks and skills testing to determine a good fit.
In today’s hot market, it sometimes takes weeks or even months to find the right person. Keeping up with new developments and trends will allow a business to increase its reach, target its search and find professionals who are a good fit.
Rustina Knutzon is market manager for Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group, business units of Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm, which has offices in Phoenix and Tucson.
