December 6, 2024
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Attracting great employees is one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face.
Your product might be amazing. Or your marketing budget could be huge. Without a solid team…none of that matters. In fact, if you're like most business owners right now…finding great employees is harder than ever.
Too many applicants. Generic resumes. And suspecting AI generated applications mixed in.
Where do you even begin?
This article covers everything you need to know to make sure great candidates find you. And how to spot them from the thousands of other applications.
Let's get into it…
It sucks, but hiring talent has become a real problem for businesses of all sizes.
Nearly 69% of organisations say they struggle to hire full-time employees, according to a recent study by SHRM. Despite there being more job applicants than ever before.
Here's the kicker:
There are plenty of applicants. The problem is the quality of those applicants.
Job seekers used to be able to get away with sending the same resume to every job posting. But smart candidates these days know that won't fly.
They're using resume tailoring tools to customise their resume for each position. An AI-powered resume builder helps job seekers optimise their resume by rewriting it to match a job description… Helping them bypass applicant tracking systems and get in front of hiring managers.
That's actually great news for entrepreneurs.
It means when someone does apply to your job opening, their resume will actually be good. Instead of wading through dozens of poor resumes, you'll be able to focus on top candidates who take the time to tailor their application.
Let's talk about how you actually find those top candidates from the piles of other resumes.
Understanding what separates a good resume from a bad one is actually step one.
See most hiring managers spend an average of 5-7 seconds reading a resume. If you want your top candidates to stand out, they need to grab your attention immediately.
Look for these things:
Did you know…
When someone applies for a job, they're evaluating you as much as you are them.
Businesses have to fight to get the attention of top candidates just like those candidates are fighting through all the other businesses to find their dream job.
And guess what has changed?
The way candidates present themselves when applying for a job.
Research from Glassdoor shows the average job opening gets around 250 resumes. But only about 2% of applicants will receive an interview invite.
That means 98% of resumes get filtered out without ever being seen by a human.
Why does this happen?
Most companies use some sort of applicant tracking system to help automate their recruiting process. Essentially these are fancy systems that scan resumes for keywords, formatting expectations, and overall relevance for the role.
Sound familiar?
Because entrepreneurs should care about this stuff too.
Resume tailoring has become important for both job seekers and job openings because it allows each side to get exactly what they're looking for.
Entrepreneurs who understand these systems can…
Easy, right?
Now comes the fun part. Implementing what you learned above.
Here are 4 simple things you can do to start attracting better talent to your business.
If your company's employer brand is weak or non-existent, you'll constantly struggle to attract top talent.
Top candidates want to work for companies that care about their employees. Businesses with strong employer brands have lower cost-per-hire and attract more qualified candidates than their competition.
This includes everything from your company website, to social profiles, to job postings.
Make sure you're portraying your business in the best light possible.
Job descriptions are almost always awful.
They're either written too broad, or they include way too many qualifications that scare away great candidates.
Great job descriptions…
Keep them short and sweet. You want to attract the right candidates… not all of them.
Too many business owners make this mistake.
Great candidates won't stick around for a lengthy or cumbersome application process.
Think about it.
If you were browsing jobs and came across a company that made you fill out an application on a desktop computer…what would you do?
Exactly.
These days nearly everyone applies with their phone. Make sure your application process is easy, and that you respond quickly to potential candidates.
Resumes only tell part of the story.
Don't get me wrong, resumes are important. But they aren't the be-all end-all of the hiring process.
Skills testing and portfolio reviews are becoming more popular for a reason.
As an entrepreneur, there's value in knowing a candidate can actually do the work they say they can on their resume.
Consider adding skills based testing to your interview process.
Having candidates complete a short project is a great way to see what they can actually do.
Finding great talent is one of the best things you can do for your business. But the competition is tough, and noise from subpar candidates is everywhere.
Thankfully improving your chances of finding a needle in a haystack doesn't have to be complicated.
Here's what you should remember:
Entrepreneurs who put in the work to improve their hiring process will be the ones who build the strongest teams.
And remember the strongest teams build the best businesses.
It's really that simple.
The hiring landscape has changed. While there are more applicants than ever, many use automated tools to apply for numerous jobs. Your challenge is to develop a process that effectively separates the genuinely interested and qualified individuals from the high volume of generic applications.
A great resume should stand out immediately. Look for an application that is clearly tailored to your specific job post, uses numbers and data to prove achievements, and has a clean, professional layout. Generic, one-size-fits-all applications are often a red flag.
Keep your job descriptions short and to the point. Clearly outline the role and responsibilities, highlight what makes your company a unique place to work, list realistic requirements, and mention opportunities for growth. The goal is to attract the right candidates, not all of them.
No, resumes only show part of the picture. To get a better sense of a candidate's actual abilities, consider adding a skills-based test or a short project to your interview process. This helps you confirm they can do the work they claim they can.
Your employer brand is critical. Top candidates want to work for companies that value their employees. A strong brand, reflected on your website, social media, and job postings, can significantly lower your hiring costs and attract more qualified people than your competitors.
