We have all seen the help wanted signs around town. Business in Northern Nevada are having to close 1-2 days/ week because they cannot find employees to cover shifts in the post-pandemic era. Below are a few ideas to help your small business stand out among the others:
Share your Company Culture
So you have a Facebook and maybe an Instagram account for your business. When using these tools to recruit employees, small businesses can get lost in the mecca of information between pop culture and the latest dance trends. While it's important to still reach consumers, right now you need employees and you need them fast. A tip to help you reach employees is to make a few mindful posts a week about your culture. What makes your business special? Why do customers love to come back? Do you contribute to the community or have traditions? Sharing your culture will better help a potential employee learn about the environment they may be working in. Does your business align with someone's culture, hobbies, passions or sense of community?
Partner with Similar Small Business
"What do you mean partner? Aren't we all competing for employees from the same talent pool?" It sounds crazy; however, partnering with other businesses may help you better meet the needs of future employees. For example, your budget and schedule only allow for part-time positions. You can partner with another business in the same situation to create full-time employment opportunities. There is no doubt the cost of living in Northern Nevada is challenging and the workforce is desiring full-time working opportunities with benefits.
Sharing the FTE (full-time equivalent) can help not only recruit, but retain future employees. Many businesses across the country partnered across the country to provide employment to each others furloughed or laid-off workers. Are there ways to tap into this trend through recruiting furloughed State of Nevada employees for temporary work or individuals offered early retirement due to government budget shortfalls that would still like to contribute to the workforce? Reaching out to the local Chamber of Commerce is a great resource to start building those business-to-business recruitment relationships.
Create a Recruitment Video
Recruitment videos don't have to break the bank. You can hire a freelance professional. Or even better, they can easily be recorded from a phone or tablet and shared to social media, and community blogs. Videos are the fastest way to make an impact and tell your businesses' story. LinkedIn has a Recruitment Video Playbook to help you reach your ideal employee. Videos are also a great tool to spotlight stories from current and former employees to focus on retention.
Curate a "Small Business Special" to Cover for Recruitment Program Expenses
Are you in the restaurant or service industry? Adding a "Small Business Special" to your menu of services may be the ticket to covering your recruitment program expenses and/or incentives. This item may be a little more expensive than other items on your menu or it may be your most profitable item. You can offer transparency by letting your customers know by purchasing this item they are contributing to keeping your small business thriving. We guarantee there will be customers to pay a little more to keep their favorite businesses open.