For many business leaders, 2015 can be characterized as a year of economic growth and optimism. But with that opportunity comes a new set of challenges including steep competition when hiring and keeping talented employees. At TorchLight, we have met with thousands of job seekers and find one trend continually stands out: after years of a down economy, employees of all ranks are back in a position to negotiate and many of them are seeking more than a good paycheck; they are looking for a great company culture as they consider their next job move.
So what exactly does that mean and what can businesses do to meet this challenge? While it might be tempting to simply offer a higher salary to woo a qualified candidate away from a current role or other offer, the majority of candidates with whom we speak are looking for more than that, specifically placing a high value on companies that favor work-life balance and believe in things beyond the bottom-line, like CSR initiatives, training opportunities for employees, and mentoring programs.
Once considered “perks”, many companies are developing strategies such as:
But what might be appealing or right for one candidate, might not ring true for another, so it is important to understand who your ideal employee is and what motivates them. As a leading search and placement firm for marketing and communications professionals, TorchLight takes this to heart for both our own staff and our clients. If you take the time to carefully vet for both skills AND cultural fit, you may find that your retention rate improves, as we have seen repeatedly with our clients. We’d love to hear your feedback on programs in your workplace that have helped improve culture. Please leave comments here.
TorchLight is an Alexandria-based search and placement firm that places mid- to senior-level marketing, communications, product and research professionals with client companies across all industries in contract, contract-to-hire, and permanent roles in the DC metro area. www.torchlighthire.com
So what exactly does that mean and what can businesses do to meet this challenge? While it might be tempting to simply offer a higher salary to woo a qualified candidate away from a current role or other offer, the majority of candidates with whom we speak are looking for more than that, specifically placing a high value on companies that favor work-life balance and believe in things beyond the bottom-line, like CSR initiatives, training opportunities for employees, and mentoring programs.
Once considered “perks”, many companies are developing strategies such as:
- Flexible work hours that allow work-life balance
- Telecommuting options that reduce time on the road, commuting costs and employee stress levels
- Paid time off for sick or personal leave
- Employee days off for volunteering or giving back to the community
- Budgets or coursework for continuing education
- Clear paths for professional growth
But what might be appealing or right for one candidate, might not ring true for another, so it is important to understand who your ideal employee is and what motivates them. As a leading search and placement firm for marketing and communications professionals, TorchLight takes this to heart for both our own staff and our clients. If you take the time to carefully vet for both skills AND cultural fit, you may find that your retention rate improves, as we have seen repeatedly with our clients. We’d love to hear your feedback on programs in your workplace that have helped improve culture. Please leave comments here.
TorchLight is an Alexandria-based search and placement firm that places mid- to senior-level marketing, communications, product and research professionals with client companies across all industries in contract, contract-to-hire, and permanent roles in the DC metro area. www.torchlighthire.com
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