Get Great Talent Without a Fight

Google search "the war for talent" and you will find a bounty of urgently-worded articles preparing you to go to battle. The hiring market is extremely competitive but modeling your efforts after a war won’t help you build your team.

Hiring is a Puzzle, Not a Battle or a Race

A “war for talent” can lead you to approach hiring as an urgent battle or race that you must win at all costs. It insinuates that there must be a winner and loser. It also presupposes that the company with the best “talent” wins.

Talent is important, but it’s a combination of skill, experience, culture fit, culture add, and personality that makes someone the right fit for your company.

Look Beyond the Resume

During the hiring process, ask open-ended questions to get a deep understanding of what makes the candidate tick and where they excel. When you find the right person, tell them how they'll complement your team.

In team sports, you don't just want the player who can run the fastest or jump the highest. You need someone whose abilities bring out the best in the rest of the team.

Business is Team Effort

The truth is a large group of the most talented people doesn’t guarantee a successful team. Effective teams can easily outperform a group of top performers who don’t work well together.

When you go searching for talent alone and rush to hire the most qualified people because you are afraid some other company will win them first, you're probably overlooking those other qualities that are essential to a lasting fit.

You may even be tempted to make an offer to someone you are unsure about simply because you know another company is interested in them. Don’t do that. Be patient and thorough in your search. Remember hiring is a two-way street and a good fit is as much about the employee picking you as it is about you choosing them.

What Employees Really Want

Employees are not math problems that can be solved by plugging in bigger numbers. Generous and competitive salaries are important, but won’t guarantee an employee's happiness or retention. An employee is a person with unique needs and wants and you need to show them why your company would be an excellent place for them to work on a day to day basis.

To attract prospective employees, find out what they really want. More than ever, people are prioritizing flexibility and other benefits like unlimited PTO.

If you can provide that, they'll not only accept your offer, they'll find the kind of satisfaction that will keep them on your staff for years to come. Ultimately, the hiring process is about human beings. When you consider the human element every step of the way, you will be rewarded with a team that can propel your business forward.