In the stiff competition to hire the best workers, employers whose recruiting strategy includes offering highly-sought-after flexible work benefits often have a greater pick of top candidates in the global job market.
What matters most to job applicants? According to a recent survey, work flexibility is near the top of the list.
The survey by 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair, focused on exploring the changing aspects of the “modern workplace,” found that 24 percent of those surveyed look for work flexibility as a prime benefit of any new job.
Only two other qualities ranked higher than flexibility for potential new hires: money (35 percent of respondents ranked it highest in what they seek in a new job) and opportunity (28 percent said they seek career opportunity in a new position).
As an employer, you may already have placed money and career opportunity as top priorities in your recruitment strategy. However, if flexibility isn’t high on your list of what employees want, now may be a good time to make flexible work a top company core value and a key part of your recruiting strategy.
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Consider these reasons why flexibility may be the best recruiting strategy:
Flexible work options help you cast a wider recruiting net.
If work flexibility like part-time schedules, job sharing, and compressed workweeks are among the things that make it great to work for your organization, make those offerings known to potential job candidates. Don’t hide your flex options! If you do, even unintentionally, you’re shrinking your pool of potentially great candidates.
As part of your recruiting strategy, mention work flexibility at every logical step in the hiring process, from initial job postings, through the interview process, and as part of salary and benefits negotiations when you’ve made the job offer.
Many job candidates expect work flexibility.
To be sure, while work flexibility is growing, it hasn’t been universally embraced by all employers. If your organization offers flex work, you’ll be among the forward-thinking companies that many job candidates will target in their search for work.
Many organizations and recruiters see remote jobs and other flexible options as the future of work. At the same time, a huge variety of job seekers say flexible work is a major focus in the search for work, according to FlexJobs’ 5th Annual Super Survey. Your recruiting strategy should put you at this happy confluence, where the future of the workplace and job seekers’ demands meet.
Work flexibility can boost the bottom line.
Here’s another great stat from the FlexJobs Super Survey cited above: only 7 percent of respondents reported being most productive while working from a traditional office. That’s reason to cheer for proponents of remote work—companies and employees alike.
A happy and productive workplace can be a direct contributor to the overall success of your organization. In your recruitment strategy, consider emphasizing the ways your team uses flexibility to reach a healthier state of work-life integration. That way, you can burnish the appeal of your own brand and make the hiring process a two-way street: good candidates will come to you, and you’ll have greater latitude in choosing future employees who are a good fit for your organization.
Interested in hiring flex workers? Browse resumes and professional candidates in 55 categories.
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