How to Attract & Retain Top Talent

August 13, 2021 | Shaping Iowa's Leaders of Tomorrow Audrey Faber, Human Resources Generalist, Focus OneSource,

As a business owner, you understand the importance of adding talented professionals to your team. Your employees are a direct reflection of your business and there is no better feeling than finding the perfect candidate to fill your job opening – the tricky part can be attracting and retaining top talent to your business.

Keep these tips in mind when developing or improving your retention strategy.

Keep Culture in Mind

The culture of your business plays a huge role in employee job satisfaction and productivity. When you are hiring a new employee, assess their skill level and ability to effectively fill the position. But don’t forget to think about how their personality will add to the work culture you and your team have created.

Encourage and Promote Professional Development

You don’t need a huge budget to help your employees advance. Research and promote free seminars and networking events to your employees. Invite a professional

in for a lunch and learn. Encourage your team to continue advancing themselves professionally!

Give Employees the Option of Flexibility

Businesses that stick to strict nine to five schedules tend to have lower employee retention. Consider allowing employees the flexibility to set their own schedule – within reason. Of course, employees are still expected to complete projects, meet deadlines and maintain job responsibilities. Allowing for some flexibility takes the stress off employees and can create open communication and trust within your company.

Offer a Rich Suite of Benefits

A majority of employees say that benefits are very important to them. Nothing tells an employee that you truly care about them than taking care of their health and wellbeing. Not only does a strong benefit offering help your business stand out in the job market and attract qualified candidates, but it also helps retain the top talent you worked so hard to find.

Focus on Your Team

Encourage team-building activities. Promote company-sponsored activities that encourage employees to communicate, work through problems together, and get to know one another outside of work. Team building activities help create a sense of unity and increased morale. Attracting and retaining the best talent is a combination of various efforts. With these tips, you can improve your employee-retention strategy and continue to build a strong company culture.