To say that the small business world has been turned completely upside down throughout an ongoing global pandemic is a vast understatement. As the COVID-19 health and economic crisis rippled through economies, labor markets and communities, small businesses across the country were forced to adapt to keep their companies afloat. As a result, millions of workers lost their jobs following business closures and mass layoffs. According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, unfilled job openings have hit a record-high with 50% of all small business owners reporting that they are unable to fill open positions. 

So, how can small businesses find and hire qualified candidates in the midst of the worst worker shortage the United States has ever seen? 

Here are our 5 tips for hiring throughout COVID-19:

  • Increase visibility to quality job seekers: Gone are the days where you can simply post a “Help Wanted” sign on the window of your brick and mortar business to get an influx of interested applicants. Free job posting sites like Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn can play a vital role in getting your open position in front of qualified candidates while also promoting your business. In addition to job posting, many platforms also offer wrap-around services including job posting templates, resume filtering, and candidate management tools.
  • Ensure that you are using multiple recruitment efforts: In today’s changing world, it’s essential to tap into your network (think friends, family, past colleagues, etc.), local universities or schools that have a pipeline of candidates in your industry and reach out to other partners or business networking groups that you are a part of. Essentially, since we know it’s not about WHAT you know it’s about WHO you know, apply this same approach to your recruitment efforts.
  • Benchmark your pay and benefits: In a survey conducted by Glassdoor, research found that competitive benefits could be enough to sway job seekers from higher paying positions. Today’s job seekers care about a well-rounded approach to benefits and are not solely focused on their pay rate. Ensure you conduct your own research to make sure you are competitive in your industry. According to Glassdoor’s survey, you can increase your pool of applicants by offering a plethora of benefits including flexible schedules, health care insurance, retirement planning, life insurance, and wellness programs.
  • Be clear about your organization’s culture and values: It’s time to lead with the human side of your company and get clear on exactly who you are, what you offer and what you stand for. It is imperative to have clear communication and information about why it is great to work within your business and environment and how a position at your company would be beneficial to a job applicant.
  • Develop future leaders by investing in interns: Remember what we said about tapping into your network? Look at offering a paid internship program in partnership with universities or schools. Not only will you be investing in the next generation of great workers, you’ll also have a potential pipeline of candidates for the future, should you have a position open up. 

A global pandemic shouldn’t bar your company from finding the talent you need. We hope our quick tips above can help you adapt your hiring practices to our new normal. 

Do you have additional questions or would like to speak with a business development expert? Accessity is here to help. Feel free to call us at 619-795-7250 or visit our business support page for more information.