When you’re looking to hire talent, you may assess candidates on their skills, traits, and personalities, but in a candidate-driven market, the tables have turned, and candidates are now assessing you!
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“With September being one of the best months to look for a job, jobseekers are not the only ones who should brush up on their interview skills,” says Tanya Jansen, cofounder of beqom, in an e-mail to HR Daily Advisor. “This is an optimal time for employers and hiring managers alike to update their interview-hosting skills—but not for the reasons you may think.”
“With the lowest U.S. unemployment rate in nearly 50 years, jobseekers have options when it comes to choosing where they want to work. This hot job market means jobseekers are assessing potential employers more critically, pressuring employers to impress candidates from the recruitment stage all the way through hiring, onboarding, and beyond,” she says.
“To showcase your organization’s differentiators and to woo top talent, everyone involved in a company’s recruitment and hiring process must understand what today’s jobseekers desire from their future employers.”
So, what do jobseekers want? Jansen shares three key traits jobseekers are looking for in their next employer:
1. Compensation Transparency
“Jobseekers want to know that their salary offer is not only competitive and meeting industry benchmarks, but that it is also in line with peers in similar roles at the company,” says Jansen. “During the interview process, HR practitioners and hiring managers should be prepared to discuss how they have come to the decision about their compensation offer to the candidate.”
A popular strategy employers have also adopted, is to include the salary range in the job description. While you should still explain the logic behind your pay structure during the interview, letting jobseekers know what they could be making may result in less candidate ghosting.
2. Pay Equity
“With the majority of workers (63%) revealing they would be more willing to work at a company that discloses its gender pay gap figure each year, it’s obvious that jobseekers care about pay equity,” Jansen says.
Jansen offers this advice: “As a hiring manager, it is crucial that you are prepared to engage in honest conversations about pay gaps in your industry and in your own workplace. When recruits ask the hard questions, be ready to articulate the steps your organization is taking to identify and close existing pay gaps.”
“You’ll need to show candidates that your company is committed to establishing pay equity as the norm and not the exception,” she adds.
As pay transparency continues to gain in popularity, we predict that this trait will be one of the most common things a jobseeker looks for in his or her future employer.
3. Defined Culture
“While it isn’t a new desire, company culture is always discussed during interviews, and, thanks to social media, job boards, and groups like Glassdoor, candidates have the opportunity to investigate a company’s culture before they even submit a résumé for consideration,” says Jansen. “While today’s workforce is diverse and spans multiple generations, what candidates of all backgrounds want to know is if your company culture supports their priorities.”
“Your company’s remote work and flexible schedule policy promote a culture of caring and flexibility for life outside of the 9 to 5 job,” adds Jansen. “Offering sabbaticals will show your employees that you value their hard work and believe in the importance of them taking time to recharge.”
“While these benefits may not seem flashy to you, they matter to candidates, so be sure to highlight how you foster an environment that is supportive and caring,” she adds. While some jobseekers may want ping-pong tables and nap pods, as your workforce grows and matures, they’ll want more mindful benefits like 401(k) matches, parental leave, and more.
Be sure to stay involved with your employees, in order to get a pulse on what is (or isn’t) making your company’s culture something ALL employees value—and keep these three traits in mind when trying to attract jobseekers, today!