Attracting Top Talent in a Competitive Marketplace
July 28, 2021 – If you are looking to fill an open position, you know how tough that can be these days. Just when you think you have found the perfect candidate, they will tell you that they have accepted another offer. According to Executive Staffing Solutions, there are key traits that are most desired in a manager or employer today. “The 2021 employment marketplace is already more competitive than it was in 2020,” said Aaron Wandtke, the firm’s president. “Companies need to be aware of their recruiting process and the messages they are sending to the candidates if they want to be able to attract the best talent.”
Mr. Wandtke says to ask yourself if your company would be considered an “employer of choice.” Would you think of yourself as a “manager of choice”? These are tough questions to think about and dissect. Do you know the traits that are most desired in a manager or employer?
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Does everyone you interview want to work for you or do you find yourself settling for the person who says yes? Especially important in a tough job market, Mr. Wandtke says, you want to be considered an employer of choice.
Listening vs. Talking
How do you show up to interviews? Do you ask questions and really listen to responses? Are you able to discern what is important to the candidate and relay the company story effectively?
Positive Energy
What is your energy like? “The best managers communicate their energy and their passion verbally and non-verbally,” said Mr. Wandtke. “Their energy is conveyed in how they listen and communicate their vision of the company, department and role. Just like you can recognize a candidate’s energy level, they too can pick up on yours.”
Related: The Importance of A-Level Talent
Possibility
Are you looking for a reason to hire someone, or a reason to screen them out? Mr. Wandtke said the “best managers see the possibilities in people and recognize talent when it is right in front of them. If someone is talented but not a perfect fit for the role, do you refer them to a different role or department after an interview? The best companies do this regularly because great talent is worth capturing.”
Closing the interview
Do you find yourself closing the candidate at the end of an interview? Before you complete an interview, are you taking advantage of your last opportunity to create a positive impression of the company, you and the role itself? “This is the best chance to quickly summarize why your company would be a great place to work,” Mr. Wandtke said.
Established in 2000, Executive Staffing Solutions is a national search firm that specializes in recruiting for healthcare and managed care organizations. The firm is headquartered in Columbus, OH. Mr. Wandtke, the firm’s founder, has served on the board of directors for the National Association of Personnel Services and as an advisor to the Ohio Search and Staffing Association.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media