Small Businesses and the Growing Competition for Talent

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face considerable competition, and recruiting quality candidates is no exception. On-boarding and training new hires can be a costly endeavour and candidate attraction can be difficult with limited brand recognition. In celebration of this year’s Small Business Week, we’re highlighting some of the challenges that SMEs face when recruiting and offering our tips for finding success.

Challenge: Limited budget for recruitment

Solution: Capitalize on social media platforms

Small budgets are no longer a restraint on recruitment strategies with the rise of social media. Approximately 22.95 million Canadians are using social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to connect. Employers can capitalize on this large and free candidate pool by building company profiles and posting job openings on these sites. Not only is it a great resource for employers looking to stick to a limited budget, it’s also a great avenue for candidates to catch a glimpse of the company culture and values.

Read more about the opportunities facing SMEs in Lead Magazine!

Challenge: Limited brand recognition

Solution: Develop an employee referral plan

Good people know good people. By initiating a strong employee referral plan, the list of benefits is virtually endless. Not only are you recruiting better candidates, requesting colleague referrals exemplifies your company’s trust in your people and encourages your team to participate in the growth and future of the company. Plus, those hired through referrals tend to be faster to hire, more likely to stay, and cheaper in terms of hiring and on-boarding costs.

Challenge: Competition for candidates against bigger organizations

Solution: Emphasize flexibility and growth opportunities

Large organizations may have the financial resources and brand recognition to attract and retain top candidates in any field, but smaller businesses come with their own list of strengths. Be it the opportunity for growth and development, flexibility to try new things or work remotely, or the ability to have one-on-one relationships with company leaders, it’s essential for smaller organizations to highlight their strengths in their recruitment efforts.

Challenge: Limited recruitment experience

Solution: Let Adecco be your HR partner!

Whether you’re looking for temporary help during your busy period, or a new colleague to join your growing team, don’t let your recruitment efforts be in vain. Partner with Adecco and let us be your dedicated staffing solution; from candidate attraction, screening, interviewing, payrolling and even recruitment consulting, a partnership with Adecco can lead to great success for your small business.