If you are a recruiter or HR manager, you’ve already experienced the effects of low unemployment. At the end of November 2018, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 3.7 percent. That means pretty much everyone that wanted to work had at least one job to go to.
It’s challenging enough to recruit into the hospitality industry, a field with a more than 70 percent turnover rate. But today, with an unemployment rate at a 17-year low, talent managers are struggling worse than ever before.
Here are some of our best tips for recruiting during the challenges of a low unemployment market.
Build better relationships in a continuous recruiting effort
There should never be a lull in your quest to find top talent. It should be a multifaceted effort to reach more people, create higher visibility, and build better relationships. Attending networking events is just as important as placing an eye-catching ad. Selling the candidate on the job is just as important as trying to cull talent from other industries. In a less than 4 percent unemployment market, building better relationships is a process of using all your resources effectively and continuously to get the job done.
Increase perks for a popular benefit that employees will appreciate
Three in five people say the benefits beyond the paycheck are a top consideration. Higher salaries are one thing, but extra time off, 401(k), and employee education and development programs are all popular for attracting new employees. One way to determine which benefits would matter most to your new recruits is to find out from existing employees what they’d welcome. Then make these perks everyone.
Teach skills to improve employees and your business
Nurturing a candidate by teaching them the skills they need creates a bond between the employee and your business. Sometimes there are candidates have great potential but lack all the skills they need to do the job. Why not hire them, and then offer the training they need to improve? This will show the employee your investment in their future. It will open the door to a whole new line of recruits you would normally turn away. It could also help you retain employees longer.
Hire Gecko Hospitality to double your efforts to find quality candidates
If quality candidates seem scarce at the moment, that’s because they are. It takes an extra effort to find the right people to help your hospitality team grow. That’s why there’s never been a better time to partner with an expert-staffing agency like Gecko Hospitality. In 2018, we were named to Forbes best list of top recruiting firms. For 18 years, we’ve been finding top talent in the hospitality field. That’s a lot of relationships built with candidates and a lot of clients behind our name.
Partner With Recruiting Experts!
If you’re worried about getting the right people for the seats on your bus, contact one of our hospitality recruiters today for more information.
