Here are the three key trends that small businesses must understand to attract, hire, and retain the best candidates & workers in 2024:

Embrace Remote (if you can):

Remote isn’t for everyone. If you’re a plumber you can’t talk a client through unclogging their toilet over the phone. They’re probably going to do a crap job (pun intended). So what can you do if remote isn’t an option? Well, can you offer flexible start and finish times? Flexible lunch breaks? Or maybe even the fabled early Friday finish? All of these things make your vacancies far more desirable, so if possible, include them in your job listings!

If you can embrace fully remote work then go for it, the world becomes your oyster, or more accurately, your talent pool. The pool of potential candidates gets so much deeper when you can hire someone from anywhere around the globe. In saying that if you want to keep it local there are plenty of Kiwis and Aussies (and everyone in between) who would love to work at home or from a coffee shop right here in Australia and New Zealand.

If you’re caught somewhere in the middle, why not give Hybrid a go? Even if it’s just one work-from-home day a week, that still counts as hybrid! Candidates will appreciate options, so if you can offer more than just Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, always make sure that comes across in your recruitment.

If you can’t offer any remote work or flexibility you’re still in luck – we have two more recruitment trends you can jump on.

Highlight your Employee Benefits Package:

You might have a great benefits package without even knowing it! Do you do team lunches for special occasions? Cake for employees’ birthdays? Recognition & rewards for smashing goals? If you offer any of these benefits, shout them from the rooftops (or pop them in your job ads on SEEK or Indeed). Even better actually! Tell your Recruit Shop consultant so they can articulate your offering to great candidates making you the employer of choice. If you would like to know what Recruit Shop offers over SEEK, Indeed, etc. read ‘Why Choose Recruit Shop over D.I.Y Recruitment Solutions’.

Your employee benefits package also fits with the first trend of remote work and flexibility. If you can offer family-friendly policies that allow parents to do the school run before and/or after work, then you will be winning over so many more candidates. If you haven’t thought about an employee benefits package before, we have a full blog post about building an employee benefits package. Give it a read for some top tips on how your business can offer candidates more, to attract higher quality applicants. The best usually want the best. Be the best.

Nail your Employer Brand to the Mast:

Look, you want to attract lots of quality candidates of course, but not everyone is going to be for you, and you certainly won’t be for everyone. Make sure your business wears its heart on its sleeve, and then you will attract more candidates who align with your business.

Employer branding goes beyond attractive benefits. Employer branding is about defining your business’s culture, values, and overall mission. Why does your business exist, & what is its purpose? I bet you know these things by now, so make sure your business, and your recruitment lives by them.

Some actionable ways you can start building your employer brand today are, celebrating employee anniversaries, employee achievements, and overall business achievements on your website or social media channels. You should also showcase employee stories on these channels as well as in your recruitment material. Be the author of your brand’s narrative and attract individuals who resonate with your business’s ethos.

You could be thinking your business size might prove a challenge, and it could for attracting some candidates, but it won’t for them all. Recruitment success is not about mimicking the corporate giants. Small business recruitment success lies in crafting a unique employee value proposition that aligns with your distinct culture, purpose, and goals.

Together, let’s fight for small business success, one talented hire at a time.

If you would like to tackle your recruitment together, for a flat fee of $2,995 +GST, for any role across any industry, enquire with Recruit Shop today.

If you would like some more tips on how to secure the best candidates in 2024, check out our guide on ‘How to Snag Top Talent in 2024’.

Hey there, fellow small business owner! At Recruit Shop, we know how hard it can be to find great candidates while keeping an eye on your budget. So, let’s dive into some strategies to help you nab the best hires in 2024.

Get active on social media:

In addition to posting your job vacancy on your social media channels, you can create short videos that show off your business. Through every piece of content you create – even if it’s just a short blurb, it’s important to let your business’ culture and values shine through strengthening your employer brand. That way you will attract candidates who share the same values, and are keen to work for you, not just pick up a paycheck. Share your job ad on your social media pages with engaging pictures/videos and clear descriptions of the role you’re hiring for. If you always want to go the extra mile, you can always put some money behind posts to reach a wider audience.

Now if you partner with Recruit Shop, we market your job opening on all major and minor job boards for you, as well as marketing your job on social media. A unique advantage Recruit Shop also offers you is our database. This is your recruitment hack. We market your vacancy to our large database of candidates, that only Recruit Shop clients can market to, making sure your opening gets in front of more candidates.

Get Niche with It:

Knowing what smaller job boards are right for your role is a brilliant advantage to marketing your job ad. This allows you to get industry and role specific, offering more of the type of talent you’re looking for. Your ad will gain a lot more visibility on these job boards.

Here at Recruit Shop we work to understand your role, and where is best to post ads for it. Being more targeted with your job marketing helps find candidates with relevant experience and skills without filling up your inbox with low quality applications at the same time. Now you can’t be a business owner, recruitment, and marketing specialist all at once. This is why Recruit Shop tackles all of your recruitment marketing for you.

Embrace Remote Work Perks:

Remote work is like the coolest kid at the party. If your business has the capacity to offer remote work options, then use it! Shout from the rooftops that you’re all about work-life balance in your job listings. This will definitely see your number of applicants skyrocket. Just make sure you’re clear about the arrangements, is it full time WFH? Hybrid? Or Flexible? Figure these things out before you start advertising!

During Recruit Shop 1-on-1 consultations our recruitment consultants gain a deep understanding of your business, your culture, your processes, and your needs. This is so we’re clear on what Recruit Shop needs to provide for you, but also what sort of job ads and messaging we must provide candidates. The worst thing in recruitment is having an amazing candidate that ghosts you after an offer because they’ve learned something along the way that doesn’t suit them. Recruit Shop combats candidates pulling out by nipping any problems in the bud with clear communication.

Show Some Love with Candidate Experience:

In 2024, it’s not just about finding the right talent; it’s about treating them with respect. Make your recruitment process smooth and seamless. Communicate clearly, give feedback, and keep that candidate experience top-notch. A happy candidate is like a loyal customer who’ll keep coming back for more.

Recruit Shop consultants take on all of your candidate screening for you. Consultants will rate and rank candidates based on a variety of factors, recommending you a shortlist of the best candidates for your business. Throughout this process consultants will stay engaged with candidates, making sure they’re not left waiting on an email, or call that never comes. Even if a candidate is unsuccessful in their application, we guarantee they have no complaints about your recruitment process.

Lean on Recruitment Partners:

Now if you don’t have time for any of the strategies listed above, you can give Recruit Shop a call to help you implement each of them.

Forget those agencies that want to take a cut of your new hire’s salary. Instead, go for a one-time flat fee solution with experts like Recruit Shop. We understand the small business struggle, and we’ll save you time and money. Plus, we know how to pick the best apples from the talent tree.

Conclusion:

Recruiting in 2024 might be a wild ride, but with these strategies and partners like Recruit Shop, you can be the boss of your hiring game. Start early, get digital, explore niche job boards, embrace remote work (if you can), and team up with budget-friendly partners.

Remember, the new year is a hiring frenzy, so lock-in a plan now and get your business in the driver’s seat for success.

Get ahead of your competition and get recruiting now as most businesses will be raring to recruit in early 2024!

Extra tip: Follow us on Linkedin for more free recruitment resources, and to stay up to date with our latest deals & offerings!