5 Ways Employers Can Attract Better Local Applicants
5 Ways Employers Can Attract Better Local Applicants
Finding the right employee is not always easy, especially in a smaller labor market. Employers in Spencer and Perry Counties are often competing for many of the same dependable, experienced workers.
The good news is that small changes in the way you present a job can make a big difference.
Here are five ways local employers can attract stronger applicants.
1. Be clear about pay whenever possible
One of the first things job seekers want to know is what a position pays.
If your company is comfortable including a wage or salary range, adding it to the job posting can help applicants quickly determine whether the position is a good fit.
A clear pay range can also reduce applications from people whose expectations are far outside your budget.
If compensation varies depending on experience, you can simply say something such as:
$18–$22 per hour, depending on experience
Transparency can help build trust before the applicant ever walks through your door.
2. Tell people what the job is really like
Job descriptions do not have to sound overly formal or corporate.
Local candidates often want practical information such as:
- What will I actually be doing?
- What hours will I work?
- Will I work weekends?
- Is overtime common?
- Is the job indoors or outdoors?
- Is training provided?
- Who would I be working with?
The more clearly you describe the day-to-day position, the easier it is for the right person to picture themselves doing the job.
You do not need a long description. You just need an accurate one.
3. Highlight what makes your workplace worth choosing
Pay matters, but it is not the only thing job seekers consider.
Think about what your company offers that may be important to someone looking for their next opportunity.
That could include:
- Paid time off
- Health insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Flexible scheduling
- Consistent hours
- Paid training
- Employee discounts
- Advancement opportunities
- A family-owned work environment
- No weekend work
- Shorter commute
- Seasonal or part-time flexibility
Sometimes employers assume applicants already know these things. They usually don't.
If there is something good about working for your company, say it.
4. Make it easy to apply
Every additional step in the application process gives someone another opportunity to stop.
If possible, keep the initial process simple.
Ask yourself whether an applicant really needs to create an account, complete a lengthy application and upload several documents before your company even knows whether it wants to speak with them.
For some positions, a resume and basic contact information may be enough to begin the conversation.
You can always gather additional information later in the hiring process.
A simpler application process can be especially helpful when competing for hourly, seasonal, entry-level and skilled-trade workers.
5. Remember that local candidates are evaluating you, too
Hiring is a two-way decision.
Employers are evaluating candidates, but applicants are also deciding whether they want to work for the employer.
The tone of the job posting matters.A welcoming, clear posting can make a company feel approachable. A vague or overly demanding posting can have the opposite effect.
Consider replacing language like:
Must be willing to work whenever needed
with something more specific:
Typical schedule is Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday overtime during busy periods.
Both may communicate a similar requirement, but the second gives the applicant much more useful information.
Local hiring starts with local visibility
One of the biggest challenges for employers is simply getting their openings in front of people who live nearby.
Lincolnland Job Hub was created specifically to connect employers and job seekers throughout Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana.
Instead of asking local residents to search through hundreds of jobs located across a large region, Lincolnland Job Hub gives them one place to find opportunities closer to home.
For employers, that means reaching people who are already interested in working in our area.
Have an opening? Post your job on Lincolnland Job Hub and connect with local candidates looking for their next opportunity.