Every week, employers write me to let me know that they are unable to find the employees they need due to the fierce competition for talent.
How can an employer with a low profit margin attract the best candidates to their company? The answer lies in understanding what job candidates want to hear so that they don’t regret joining the employer ranks.
The rounds of furloughs and layoffs have made employees skeptical. Employers who want the talent war to be won must show that they are right from the start with an ad that rings true, doesn’t sound like a boring job description, or any other employer posting.
This was made possible by two local employers who worked together.
Alaska Mill Feed & Garden Center began with a headline which caught attention because it focused on a key employee benefit. Their ad read, “Store Manager for an Employee-owned Company: Is ownership something you are interested in?” Are you qualified to be a store leader in a highly successful Alaskan firm? Alaska Mill Feed and Garden Center are owned by employees.
We created an ad for the Food Bank of Alaska that outlined what the organization offered employees. The ad provides proof. Their ad stated, “If you’re looking for a job that has meaning and career growth, a company that treats employees well, and coworkers with respect, the Food Bank of Alaska is the winner of the BBBs Torch Award in Ethics.”
The Food Bank of Alaska is unique in many ways. It’s an employer that does not let its employees down. Here are the results of this years confidential employee survey by Food Banks 32 employees:
- 100% of employees responded that they are proud to work at this company.
- 91% said, My colleagues care about our mission.
- 88% replied, My immediate colleagues consistently go the extra mile.
- 81% of respondents said that my immediate manager cares about me personally.
- 78% of respondents said, The senior leaders at this food bank are trustworthy.
- 78% said they find my job challenging and exciting.
Two statements were submitted by current employees to the Food Banks ad. One employee wrote, “The work I do is one the most rewarding experiences of my adult career.” Another said, We are proud of the work we do because we help those in need.
Similar to Alaska Mill Feed and Garden Centers, they spoke about what made their work environment so special. Their ad stated, “We are down-to earth, casual, and from the heart.” We are over sixty people and share a common culture. One you can feel. You want to own the place you work, and you want your employer care about your career progression and to help you save for retirement. You want to build a career at a company that you love.
Both ads featured traditional elements, such as job duties and requirements. They also included how to apply. Both ads contained specific information about employee benefits. Food Bank of Alaska offered 10 paid holidays including snow days. We also gave our employees an extra week off during holidays as a mental health break from pandemic.
Are you an employer that wants to hire the best? If so, you shouldn’t make your job posting look like every other employer’s. Instead, describe what makes your company unique and how your plan to care for the employees who will be able to make a difference in their lives.
