Are you having trouble getting open positions filled? Do you need to get a few new hires, but nobody you’ve interviewed seems quite right for the job? Do you sometimes feel hiring is a never-ending battle? Well, believe it or not, you’re not alone.

Fortunately, once you know some of the most common reasons why companies struggle to fill open positions, you will have a far greater chance of overcoming any obstacles you may face.

Streamline the Hiring Process

The first step you should take is to go through your hiring process and streamline it. Oftentimes employers have overly-complicated hiring procedures which accomplish little more than slowing the hiring lines and making it almost impossible for well-qualified staff to get in the door. In some instances, a company’s hiring process alone could be inadvertently turning away highly-qualified applicants.

What is your interview process? How many people does a potential employee need to meet with before getting hired? If you find someone you think will be a great fit will you make an offer right away or do you have to go through a long approval process first? Are applicants required to go through hoops before getting hired? Try to go through your own hiring line and see what happens.

You want to make your hiring process simple. If a person meets your requirements, has the skills necessary to do the job, seems to be a good fit for you and your company, then make an offer. If not, move on to the next applicant.

Move Quick on Qualified Applicants

You don’t want to pass up on a qualified applicant. When someone is highly-skilled, he or she is bound to get more than one offer. Unless you move quick, you could lose out. That is why quick decision-making and a streamlined process are key in hiring. If you make a qualified applicant wait or prolong the hiring process unnecessarily you’ll likely regret it.  

Make Your Offer Worthwhile

While it is true smaller businesses won’t necessary be able to offer the same level of compensation as a larger company, you still need to make your offer worthwhile. Give the applicant a little credit. He or she knows you have a smaller office, but maybe that’s what the person wants. Maybe he or she is looking to work in a quaint setting with a more personalized interaction with your patients. So long as your offer is competitive and you highlight other benefits the job may offer: bonus structures, continued education, room for advancement, location and such, then your offer could easily become much more appealing.

Be Willing to Train

Not every applicant is going to be exactly what you need and want. Many may come close however. The key is being willing to train. You can’t always expect a carbon copy of yourself or of your best, existing or former employee. Nobody gets to the top in his or her field without training and putting in a lot of work along the way. If you find a candidate who you really like, yet who may not have all the experience you want, you might want to give him or her a chance. A little on-the-job training can go a long way when you have a qualified applicant who is ready and willing to learn.

Make Room for Advancement

Most job seekers want to know your company is willing and able to make room for advancement. They want to know they aren’t going to take on a job and then get stuck in one position.

Make room for them to be able to advance. Include them in your company growth plans. Whether it’s with continuing education or office expansion, giving potential employees (and existing employees) an opportunity for advancement can aid in hiring.

Take Steps to Minimize Turnover

Turnover is a red flag in any business. If you want to attract and keep qualified employees on staff, you will need to take steps to minimize turnover. Disgruntled employees talk. They may not express their grievances to you, but if they have some, others in the office are bound to hear about it. This can cause even your best staff to want to leave.

Having a comfortable, safe and productive work environment will help attract potential employees. Others will see what a great business you have and either talk it up to their friends, or want to come onboard themselves. 

Stay Positive

Staying positive about the hiring process is essential. Don’t keep saying, or let your hiring staff say, there aren’t any qualified applicants out there. That’s simply not true. Reach out for help, get the word out, spread the news and keep your eyes open. Having a positive outlook makes a huge difference in any endeavor you choose to undertake, especially hiring.

The People Link is dedicated to helping companies in the Allied Health and Dental fields fill vacant positions by connecting you with qualified healthcare applicants. We have a very high success rate and we work diligently with our clients to help achieve their hiring objectives. To learn more about our services, visit The People Link or call Mya directly at 818-890-9998 for a free, no-obligation consultation.