Hiring in a Tight Market

I have become increasingly aware of how difficult it has become to hire the right person in a market where unemployment is seeing record lows.  Jim Collins, best selling author of Good to Great, admonishes getting the “right people on the bus”. People that buy off on the vision and direction of the bus.  Once on the bus, one must make sure that they are all in the “right seat”, but most importantly is getting the right people.

So the real dilemma becomes finding the “right people” in a market where there is just so much competition for a finite amount of prospects. I look around and everyplace…from Pizza delivery, fast food, high-end consulting firms, financial planners are all hiring.  Everyone is competing for the skilled, semi-skilled, and less skilled parts of the workforce.  So as entrepreneurs needing to fill positions just like any other business….how do you hire in a tight market?

Well, I have been contemplating on this issue for some time now.   One of the obvious observations one may make is – lower your standards. Take whoeever comes through the door for an interview. Now that we all agree that we don’t want to take the lower road, let’s get some real solutions on the table. Afterall, isn’t hiring for your business somewhat like hiring a nanny? Isn’t this person going to be taking care of your “baby” (so to speak)?

Here are some alternatives to lowering your standards:

• Be flexible on the pay
• Increase the job responsibilities and pay more
• Empower the position
• Offer more growth potential
• Hire 2 PT people so we can flex to scheduling needs
• Be more aggressive with benefits, time off, etc.
• Use a temp agency
• Use word of mouth advertising to get more prospects
• Offer hiring incentives to current employees
• Get more targeted job posting
• Spruce up those job posting you currently use
• Get out there and sell, sell, sell the dream of working with the best company there is – YOURS

All in all, if you are finding yourself in a bind for hiring, don’t lower your standards…up the marketing on the position you need to fill. You may be surprised.