Everyone, from every sector, is having a very difficult time hiring. News headlines across the country detail this in nauseum. So if you find yourself in this position – some self examination can be helpful.
But first the facts:
- 3.9% Unemployment Rate – December 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Approximately 10.6 Million unfilled jobs in America.
- More than 4.5 million people voluntarily left their jobs in November, according to the Labor Department. That was up from 4.2 million in October and was the most in the two decades that the government has been keeping track.
- From November to December 2021, the average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 19 cents (or 0.6%) to $31.31. During 2021 as a whole, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.7%. The estimates compiled by Dow Jones had anticipated rises of 0.4% for the month and 4.2% for the year.
In summary – there are more open positions than qualified workers to fill them. This has resulted in fierce competition and inflation for talent.
So if you have ANY type of position to fill in 2022, a fundamental question has to be asked?
“WHY IS MY VACANCY BETTER THAN MY COMPETITORS?”
- Do we pay more?
- Do we offer better hours, work/life balance such as flexible schedules?
- Is working from home an option or hybrid work environments?
- Do we have better and more affordable health insurance options?
- Is our retirement program good (401K)?
- Do you provide ongoing workforce training, certification, and support? Tuition reimbursement?
- Is cutting edge technology readily available? New computers, virtual phones, modern CRM’s?
- Are other perks such as discretionary PTO and paid Gym Memberships offered?
- Do we have a culture and track record of promoting from within? Has at least one other person in this role over the last decade moved up in our organization? Can you tell that story to a prospective candidate?
- What is our track record of employee satisfaction? Do we have great reviews on social media or a reputation as a choice place to work?
- Is our interview process organized and efficient? Diligent but less cumbersome than others?
If the answers to any of the above questions are less than satisfactory, it is urgent that they are corrected quickly. Failure to act can leave your organization short staffed, therefore exacerbating the problem by frustrating existing employees. All the talent acquisition teams and search firms in the world can’t overcome these deficiencies. So make sure your vacancy is better than your competitors, and happy hiring…
Vincent Scaramuzzo is the President of Ed-Exec, Inc. A leading Education Executive Search Firm. He is also a contributing author to various education publications regarding education recruiting. As a specialist in the education field for over a decade, Scaramuzzo works nationally. He can be contacted at vincent@ed-exec.com 860-781-7641.