Although many companies might look at hiring with a chip on their shoulder, times have changed. It’s not 2008 anymore: workers aren’t as desperate as you might be led to believe.
In fact, there are stars out there which state that approximately half of the workforce is actively looking for a new gig.
The takeaway? We live in an era where today’s top business talent has the luxury of picking and choosing the best companies to work for.
So ask yourself: what are you doing to attract those high-level employees?
For starters, there are a number of traits that today’s workforce are looking for in their ideal employers. If you embody such qualities, you better poise yourself to encourage top talent to knock on your proverbial door.
But what traits are we talking about? Let’s break down the six qualities that define a stellar employer in 2018 and beyond.
Be an Empathetic, Good Listener
Plain and simple, the ability to listen to and understand your employees is essential. Empathy results in hard work and loyalty in a day and age where workers oftentimes don’t feel like they’re being heard.
Nobody wants to work for someone who doesn’t seem to have their best interests at heart: don’t be afraid to show your human side as a result.
Run Your Business “By the Book”
We hear so much about business owners being rule=breakers and renegades, but bear in mind that workers would often feel more comfortable with a safe, scandal-free company.
Whether it’s staying compliant with regulations or ethical business practices, potential hires should feel like they’re in good hands when they come to you. As pointed out by Reciprocity Labs, companies thrive when they have a handle on compliance and can prove to outsiders that they’re on the up-and-up. The same rings true for new hires.
Open Your Mind to Change
As soon as your company starts to stagnate in terms of ideas and creativity, your talent is much more likely to jump ship. Rather than allow your business to grow stale, opening your mind to industry changes and new ventures can be a major plus.
Think about Netflix’s meteoric rise as a company that accepted that the rental industry was effectively dying and wasn’t afraid to explore uncharted territory. It’s that sort of vision that workers want to see versus someone who’s just spinning their wheels.
Similarly, don’t box workers in when it comes to the roles that they play. Your employees don’t want to see your company stagnate, nor do they want their own skills to stop growing.
Don’t Be Flashy
While presenting your office as a playground or splashing cash on flashy marketing might seem like a smart move, savvy workers can see such through “investments.” Top talent is more concerned with the growth and potential of your company and its products rather than be “wowed” by excess.
Be Ready to Relinquish Control
Finally, being labeled as a “control freak” is a kiss of death for employers today. Workers overwhelmingly prefer an environment where teamwork is encouraged, which means meaningful collaboration versus one person holding all the marbles.
It may take some time or soul-searching to adopt these traits, but it’s totally worth it for attracting the best talent possible. The more of these qualities you and your business at large are able to adopt, the better.
