Hiring in Berkshire County Area is Still Difficult – 7 Ways To Attract More Applicants

The Berkshire County area is a beautiful place to live and work. So why are so many employers having trouble finding qualified people?

It is no secret that hiring employees in Pittsfield and the surrounding area can be difficult. Figuring out how to recruit the right candidates is a top concern for many small businesses. Now economists warn that this job paradox may continue into the foreseeable future with labor shortage being a problem for many businesses - especially in the leisure and hospitality industries.

If you are looking for more great people, here are some tips you can use to attract more applicants to your open job positions. 

Offer Fair and Competitive Wages

The high demand for skilled professionals and service employees has left many small businesses in Berkshire county needing to compete with each other for candidates.

This has left employers needing to offer higher salaries and more competitive wages to fill their open positions. It is now more important than ever for small businesses to research the going rate for their industry in the local area. Matching wages and salaries is a simple strategy that can work wonders in filling open positions.

Create an Employee Incentive Program for Referring

Create a referral incentive program where employees are rewarded for referring friends and family to your company.

The reward is not limited to monetary bonuses but could be anything from gift cards to extra paid time off. Some companies also offer swag like T-shirts with slogans or branded pens.

It's important you consider what incentives will work best for your organization when developing this plan. You want something meaningful enough so it doesn't feel like just another job duty of theirs yet small enough not to overwhelm them if they refer many people over the course of this incentive program.

Offer Training Programs to Candidates

Though the unemployment rate in Berkshire county is improving with more workers coming into the market, employers are still having trouble finding the right qualified candidates to join their agency.

One reason for this shortage may be that some candidates lack essential skills and/or credentials to do the work required by these open roles.

Some companies have recognized this need and are beginning to offer training programs specifically designed to help train employees with skill gaps on their resume - but unfortunately, not all businesses do so readily.

One benefit that many candidates are looking for when searching for their next job or career opportunity is the ability to improve their skill set. By offering different training programs, not only will you improve your employees but you may also find that it will help you in the recruiting process as well.

Define Your Company Culture

Many organizations are focused on how to attract talent, but there is a lot more that goes into retaining them. Employee retention starts with company culture and continues through every aspect of the work experience.

What does your company offer in terms of benefits, perks, or other incentives? What about opportunities for advancement? How much autonomy do employees have over their workloads? These questions should be answered if you want someone to come work for you!

Give people reasons why they would want to stay beyond just paychecks and office parties. Identify what makes your organization different from others: What sets it apart as an employer-of-choice in this competitive job market?

Build an employee-focused culture where candidates and current employees feel like they will have the opportunity to grow their skillset and succeed.

Use Social Media to Promote Your Open Positions

Social Media platforms can be an excellent tool to not only promote your business to customers but to potential employees as well.

Leverage social media platforms to promote your open positions and company culture. You can do this by posting open job listings and the benefits of working for your company.

Use social media as an opportunity to do employee spotlights of current employees. Include testimonials from them about why they love to work at your company.

Reach Out To Previous Employees Who Left On Good Terms

Don't be afraid to reach out to former employees in an effort to recruit them back to your small business or agency.

Many people leave a company because they are looking for a change. Some leave and find out that the grass isn't always greener. They may want to come back but don't feel comfortable reaching back out to their former employer.

It will be difficult for any business owner to know if an employee would return without asking. The best way of knowing is to have an open dialogue about expectations while also being transparent about how you can adapt the position to fit their needs. Offer them clarity around what could happen next with this opportunity and how they can grow within your company. You may be surprised by what they say and their interest in coming back.

Hire a Staffing Agency to Help You Find the Right Candidates

A staffing agency recruits and hires people for work in a variety of different industries. Staffing agencies are often needed by companies that need more employees but don’t have the resources to recruit them themselves.

The most common use of a staffing agency is during periods of high demand, such as seasonally or when there has been an employee turnover. Companies can also outsource recruitment tasks like screening resumes, pre-screening applicants, and interviewing potential candidates to a professional recruiting service like TEC Staffing Services in Pittsfield MA.

A staffing agency should be able to provide a wide variety of benefits for any business, such as:

• Hiring top-notch candidates that could not otherwise be found without an expert screening process.
• Providing candidates with quick access to various job opportunities in their area or industry.

Companies using TEC Staffing find it easy to outsource recruitment tasks while also gaining access to highly trained staff when they are needed most.

Call us at (413) 347-4871 to get a free consultation with one of our experts today!

Better Talent. Smarter Hires.

Contact TEC Staffing Services today to find out more about how we can help you find the right employees!