Beating the Great Resignation

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Looking further into your recruitment strategy.

Two years into a global pandemic, and the human resources world is facing a second battle – the Great Resignation. The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a mass exodus of employees, particularly in the healthcare industry. Despite this, an article from Wbur notes that the number of licensed nurses in Massachusetts alone is up. It’s a head-scratching predicament, the quick-think solution being to keep recruiting – but this alone is not enough.

Human Capital Institute writes, “Employees need great levels of engagement, empathy, direction and support.” This is a call for companies to re-evaluate the entirety of their recruitment strategy, both internally and externally – everything from the benefits offered, the leadership and resources available, to their overall Employer Brand.

A re-vamped recruitment strategy is a statement to current and future employees that a company is ready and able to meet their needs. Whether it be easier access to leaders, employment incentives, or development opportunities, today’s employees need to know their organization is listening and adapting. Better retention and onboarding of employees will only lead to stronger company performance.

Re-vamping your recruitment strategy is no small feat. With 50+ years of recruitment marketing and communications experience, Buyer Talent Solutions is ready to leverage our resources and industry knowledge to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

The Importance of Employee Retention in 2021

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It’s a strange time in the business world. With COVID restrictions easing, the pressure is on for employers to establish their re-opening plan. The past year spotlighted many issues directly influenced by the workplace—stability, mental and physical health, diversity, opportunity, etc. It has employees reflecting on their own lives and calls for employers to go beyond day-to-day operations and make significant changes.

A recent post by Smarp states more than a third of workers are actively and casually searching for a job, the result being a costly talent war across many industries. The Buyer team is here to offer a solution applicable to current employees and potential applicants that will ensure your organization’s continued success. The key: Proactive employee retention efforts.

Start by reviewing your Employer Brand.

Re-evaluating your Employer Brand is a foolproof way to establish what is/isn’t being communicated to candidates and current employees. It allows you to better promote unique company offerings and build upon areas in need of more—whether it be diversity initiatives, development opportunities, etc. A strong Employer Brand stays with employees beyond the onboarding process and encourages company loyalty.

Encourage company connection, starting from the top.

The Smarp post states that 69% of employees would work harder if they were better appreciated. This is significant insight for employers to reflect on the ways in which their leadership oversees, encourages and challenges employees. Make sure company leadership gives consistent feedback to employees and accept theirs in return. Words of encouragement can be empowering and helpful to understand employee opinions.

Find flexibility where you can.

2020 saw an influx of remote work, and now many employees hope to continue. Remote hiring and the creation of hybrid work models show employees and future candidates that you value flexibility and can significantly expand your candidate pool.

Win the talent war with Buyer. With 50+ years of recruitment marketing experience, Buyer Talent Solutions is ready to leverage our resources and industry knowledge to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

The Reality of Recruiting in 2021

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The after effects of COVID-19 have turned recruitment on its head. What began as mass layoffs has turned into many businesses needing to quickly recruit, hire and train staff. Organizations need to both go back to the basics of recruiting, and get creative to engage with candidates. The best way to do this? Be flexible and committed to passionately sharing your company culture.

Flexibility is key.

Flexibility can be applied to your recruitment strategy in several ways. Firstly, be open to remote work. Organizations can miss out on quality candidates due to geographical limitations. A quality candidate pool should prioritize identifying top performing candidates, regardless of location, if the job can be done remotely.

Another opportunity for flexibility is in the minimum qualifications that you set for your ideal candidate. Gartner research found that 43% of today’s candidates are self-taught in one or more of their role’s requirements. Instead of relying solely on a candidate’s credentials and background, get a sense of their capabilities and willingness to learn. Not only does it grow your candidate pool, it encourages growth and attracts those most in-line with your company goals.

Live and breathe your Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

An EVP is your promise to candidates. It embodies your company culture, work/life balance, goals, and should always be felt by candidates and employees. 2021 presents the challenge of selling your EVP through a virtual hiring process, with strong calls for diversity and inclusion. Think about how your organization promotes these. Consider inclusion initiatives and focus on strengthening career ladders for your team. A clear investment in your employees will set you apart from competitors and maximize candidate interest.

Let’s take on 2021 together. With 50+ years of recruitment marketing experience, Buyer Talent Solutions is ready to leverage our resources and industry knowledge to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

The Rise and Fall of Social Media Platforms

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We live and work in the age of social media, with no end in site. And while it’s a no-brainer to add social media to your digital marketing strategy, timing is everything.

The evolution of social media has brought many platforms, all vying for users by reinventing ways to produce and absorb content. This level of competition brings a life expectancy for every social media platform—and not understanding this jeopardizes the reach of your digital recruitment efforts, resulting in wasted ad dollars, or missed opportunities.

Google recently collected data and created a visual timeline to show the search volume of social media platforms. Some platforms may seem like a distant memory, while others live on your phone right now. Tik Tok is currently a highly sought platform, while big names like Facebook, although long running, sees a steady decline. Tik Tok is a timely example of a social media platform in its prime, and well-fitted companies quick to incorporate it will see the most success in their digital efforts.

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When considering a platform to advertise on, it’s also important to understand its users. After additional research, Buyer’s team found that 18-24 year olds spend 67+ minutes a day on Tik Tok, with 10-19 year olds representing nearly 33% of its users, making Tik Tok an ideal platform to reach teens, new grads, or individuals entering the workforce. Timeliness and an understanding of your audience are keys to social media success. Together they’ll deliver the desired result and establish the versatility of your recruitment marketing capabilities.

Take the guesswork out of your digital marketing strategy. With 50+ years of recruitment marketing experience, Buyer Talent Solutions is ready to leverage our resources and industry knowledge to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

Unpacking a Multi-Generation Workforce and How To Recruit Them

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Today’s workforce and candidate pools are more blended than ever. While inspiring, it comes with recruitment challenges. Executing a multi-generational recruitment strategy is no small feat, and it must start with understanding each group individually. Buyer Talent Solutions’ research team has analyzed these three prevalent groups in today’s workforce—Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Understanding the characteristics of each group is essential to building successful recruitment strategies.

Pew Research defines Gen X as those ages 39-54. They grew up during the computer generation and worked their way through the rise of the Internet, which changed the professional world forever. Glassdoor describes this group as being in the thick of their careers, having significant responsibilities both personally and professionally. When recruiting Gen X candidates, benefits and development opportunities should be the center of your messaging. This group values growth and chances to step into leadership, but has little room for risk when it comes to healthcare, 401k, and other stakes.

Then comes Millennials, Pew deeming these individuals ages 23-38. Millennials remember a time before the Internet, but grew up as it took off and were able to adapt to its innovations as they came about. Social issues and a work/life balance are extremely important to this group. This is a great opportunity for organizations to revamp their Employer Brand to highlight diversity, inclusion, and work flexibility. Workplace culture should be at the forefront—any lack of one could make or break application numbers.

Gen Z is next, these individuals being ages 7-22, the oldest just entering the workforce. This generation has grown up on technology, therefore a focus on technology is important for recruitment. As of 2018, Pew notes that Gen Z is the most educated (58% enrolled in 2 and 4-year colleges) and racially/ethnically diverse (52% being non-white) generation ever. Like Millennials, diversity and inclusion are essential to Gen Zers when choosing an employer. IN addition to ensuring your messaging aligns with the needs of Gen Zers, it’s important to also re-evaluate the media channels that you use to reach this group. As digital natives, Gen Zers prefer platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Twitch to traditional media. Investing media dollars into digital advertising will expand your reach to Gen Z.

While little research is available, it is important to acknowledge Gen N. This group will follow Gen Z into the workforce as products of a post-COVID world, with full immersion in technology and the Internet from youth. The organizational changes companies make today will be strongly felt by the upcoming generation.

Generational changes are inevitable in the workforce, and recruitment efforts must be nimble and adjusted to align with candidate expectations. With 50+ years of recruitment marketing experience, Buyer Talent Solutions is ready to leverage our resources and industry knowledge to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

Is Your 2021 Hiring Strategy in Place?

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After a year like 2020, everyone is looking forward to a fresh start—and the opportunities that come with it. As companies continue to re-open, we anticipate a significant need for talent. Going into 2021, it’s important that you incorporate a strategic and purposeful hiring strategy to secure the best candidates. To do this, consider these guiding questions from our recruitment experts:

First, think about your re-opening strategy. A successful onboarding process has to be in-line with your company’s current situation. Come the New Year, will you be remote or in-office? How are you planning to onboard new employees and engage them?

Next, try to project what you’ll need for talent in the New Year. What do you anticipate your hiring needs to be in Q1 and Q2 of 2021? What type of budget will you have, and how flexible does your strategy need to be to accommodate changes to your anticipated hiring needs?

Stand out from competitors. This year has seen a significant shift in the way companies operate. To connect with talent, have you considered virtual hiring events, utilizing AI, or other COVID-conscious methods of screening candidates? If your company has evolved over the past year, how are you promoting these changes? Redefining your employer brand will allow you to emphasize your unique company culture while directly addressing timely subjects such as inclusion and diversity hiring. Using these tactics demonstrates your company’s ability to adapt and shows resilience during uncertain times.

Start planning and get excited for the year ahead. With 50+ years of recruitment experience, we’re ready to leverage our resources and industry knowledge to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at 857-404-0864 or info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

Buyer Talent Solutions: Talent Engine

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With 50+ years of recruitment advertising experience, we have deep-rooted knowledge of the daily challenges employers face when looking to hire. It’s allowed us to create an all-in-one solution our clients use with great success—Talent Engine.

Talent Engine is our search engine optimized hiring platform that empowers recruiters with a smarter way to attract, engage, and track candidates through the hiring process—backed by a team of industry leaders with a passion for customer service. It features Buyer’s extensive suite of recruitment solutions and is categorized into four main areas: attract, engage, optimize, and analyze.

Attract

Talent Engine Attract is all about eliminating waste, driving better candidate flow, and improving ROI. Our programmatic ad management solution drives candidates to the jobs that need the most applies. We do this through automated ad placement to determine which jobs need more exposure, detailed analytics to optimize media/advertising budgets in real-time, and non-contract, performance based tracking down to the job level. We’ll also ensure your ads appear on major traffic drivers like Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, and more.

Engage

Talent Engine Engage works to captivate top talent with a customized career site. Start fresh with our Employer Brand development services to showcase your workplace culture, or upgrade your site’s user experience through the implementation of video, dynamic job descriptions, and original content.

Optimize

With over 250 million job searches occurring on Google each month, it’s crucial to position your job opportunities for optimal exposure. Talent Engine Optimize elevates the position of your job postings in organic search results to increase your career site traffic. The platform is customizable to preserve your unique brand/content, with no need to change your current ATS.

Analyze

Finally, Talent Engine Analyze evaluates your recruitment marketing efforts while increasing your ROI with real-time, track-to-hire source metrics. Key metrics could include cost per qualified applicant, cost per hire, time to fill, candidate conversions to applicants, and much more. With Talent Engine Analyze you can send text/email reminders to candidates to prevent application falloff while identifying influential media/direct sources delivering candidates and hires.

Talent Engine is a direct product of Buyer’s resources and industry knowledge, and we’re ready to leverage it to meet your hiring goals. Contact us at 857-404-0864 or info@BuyerAds.com to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions.

Confronting Coronavirus in Your EVP

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Coronavirus has undoubtedly changed the recruitment landscape—from the essential skills employers seek, to the values candidates expect. In cultivating a “new normal”, employers must re-evaluate their Employee Value Proposition to be in-line with current attitudes.

An EVP is the unique identifier within your Employer Brand—the promise your company makes to a prospective candidate. If you are not actively managing it, your current and former employees as well as today’s job seekers will.

Taking control of your Employer Brand starts with research—learn where talent is, how to grab their attention, and what they’re looking for in a post-COVID workplace. Then, align that with what your current employees share as unique benefits of your organization. With over 53 years of experience cultivating unique Employer Brands, we know that a compelling and engaging Employer Brand can lower your cost per hire by 50% and reduce your turnover rate by 28%.

Leave nothing to interpretation. Now more than ever, candidates are looking for a clear commitment to compassion, community, and wellbeing. Attract the right candidates for your organization, while exercising leadership that sets you apart.

Buyer is here to help. Contact us at 857-404-0864 or  info@BuyerAds.com  to learn more about our customized recruitment solutions that deliver results no matter the budget.

Using Rewards & Recognition to Shape a Successful Company Culture

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image_09When employees come to work on time every day, stay until the work is completed and do the job well, they deserve more than just a paycheck. Recognizing an employee’s contributions to the workplace plays a considerable role in retaining the best members of your staff. The cost of losing an employee is about one to two times his or her annual salary [1]. Consider these ways in which retaining employees through recognition and rewards is good for your bottom line and your corporate culture.

Motivation

Earning a reward, even something as simple as an “Employee of the Month” mug or a sticker for the employee’s ID card, motivates that person to continue performing at a high standard. When an employee is given a reward that is tangible and visible, other members of your workplace will see the reward. These awards could be given out monthly, quarterly or annually. This regular issuing of rewards could motivate additional members of your staff to up their performance levels in hopes of earning their own recognition.

Acknowledgement

While a private “good job” on an employee evaluation is helpful, sometimes a public acknowledgement of exemplary work is even more important and empowering to your employees. You do not have to go overboard or make a big deal, which could cause workplace resentment, but it is important to make a public acknowledgement about the contributions of employees when they go above and beyond your expectations. A moment at a monthly staff meeting for acknowledging and recognizing superior performance shows your staff that their work has not gone unnoticed.

Retention

Employees who are rewarded and recognized for their work are likely to remain in your organization. These people may become known in your workplace culture as rock stars and the go-to person for expertise and advice. Even if these well-recognized people do not become executives, they will continue to be a source of pride and inspiration for your corporation. Employees who feel valued and excited to come into work each day, anticipating recognition for their efforts, will stay at your organization for the long term.

 

[1] http://www.cio.com/article/2868419/careers-staffing/how-to-improve-employee-retention.html

Building a Strong Company Blog By Including Employees as Authors

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image_08Including your employees as authors on your company blog helps to build a stronger company culture. The different voices that your employees have to offer also provide your blog with a wider perspective and range of writing styles. According to Marketeer, corporate blogs with 15 posts per month generate an average of 1,200 new leads [1]. Allowing more people to participate in blog authorship can expand your reach even more.

Offering a New Perspective

Each employee in your company offers a new perspective on what it means to be a member of the organization. Writing from the same perspective all of the time can be boring to your audience. If every blog is written by the CEO, your readers will have no way to know what the rest of the people think. Allowing different employees to author blog posts shows that you value every member of your company equally. Including various employees at different levels of your company also demonstrates that every person’s voice is respected.

Exploring How Employees Joined Your Company

Companies often seem like impersonal, huge entities to the public. Including employees as authors on the company blog provides a more personal view of what happens in your company. Employees can explore their career history and how they came to be a member of your business. Each person’s career takes a different path, and this sort of biography can be fascinating for your loyal customers and business partners to read. This information also shows how your employees have the skills and experience to do their jobs.

Highlighting Employee Work

While the general public and even the other workers at your company know what the CEO, CFO and COO of your company do, they might not have a good idea of what your business analysts, customer support staff or human relations coordinators do on a daily basis. Allowing your employees to write blog posts about how they contribute to your organization highlights the fact that your company would not be what it is without everyone there working together to help the entire business succeed.
[1] http://marketeer.kapost.com/corporate-blogging-stats/