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How to attract high-performing candidates – and ensure they stay

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Attracting and retaining high-performing employees is essential in today’s competitive job market.

With the Great Resignation (and a tightening labour market!), high-performing candidates are in demand. And to attract and retain these top-tier candidates, companies are finding they need to offer more than just a salary.

Organisations must provide a compelling reason for why talent should want to join, and more importantly, stay. For the first time in over 20 years, the UK job market has been shrinking, which highlights the issues many firms are currently having surrounding talent acquisition.   

For hiring managers, HR professionals, and anyone else looking to build high-performing teams with motivated employees, this guide gives some examples of how to create an environment to draw top talent to your business.

We’ll explore several strategies companies can use to attract and retain high-performing candidates. From using employees as brand ambassadors to offering flexible working, we cover the key methods that businesses can use to boost the quality of candidates they hire.

Use employees as brand ambassadors

One of the most effective ways to attract high-performing candidates is to make sure that your existing employees are brand ambassadors for your organisation.

What does brand ambassador mean in this context? Well, your current employees know first-hand what it’s like to work at your organisation. They are the best-placed people to promote your company and culture to potential candidates. So, get them shouting from the rooftops!

Whether that means encouraging employees to post on professional platforms as part of an integrated marketing plan or creating video content featuring employees talking about the workplace, they can show off to prospective candidates what working for your company is like. This can really make a difference when you’re looking for top talent. 

If you can create content that allows your employees to show off their values and tell the world how your company lets them flourish, you’re more likely to attract candidates with similar values. And hearing it from the employees themselves is much more compelling and engaging than reading about your values on your website.

Offer a competitive salary and benefits

Offering a competitive salary and benefits package is essential for attracting high-performing candidates.

When it comes to finding a new job, talented individuals have a lot of options; compensation is often a significant factor in their decision-making process. To attract top talent, you need to offer a compensation package comparable to (or better than!) what is provided by other companies in your industry.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that salary is a silver bullet for attracting the best talent. Top talent will often be interested in career progression – maybe including paid training days or a scheme to develop leadership skills could help you to find the candidates that want to progress their career within your business and really add value.

Identify and articulate your purpose

Identifying and articulating your company’s purpose is crucial in attracting high-quality candidates.

In today’s market, people are looking for more than just a job; they want to feel like they’re making a difference and that their work has meaning. A clear sense of purpose can provide a compelling reason for someone to join your company and stay for the long term. By identifying your company’s purpose, you can communicate to potential candidates what your organisation stands for and what it’s trying to achieve. This might help you to attract candidates who share your values and are motivated by similar goals.

Employer Value Propositions (EVPs) are also extremely important in today’s job market. An EVP is the sum of all benefits employees receive in exchange for their time, services, skills, experiences, and capabilities.

The best-performing candidates have a choice of several employers, and many are looking for more than just a salary. Show off your positive culture to candidates by ensuring that your EVP is central in your job listings. Make sure that you find the right culture fit when you’re looking for candidates by talking about the uniqueness your organisation offers. 

Offer flexible working

Another key strategy for attracting and retaining top employees can be offering flexible working arrangements.

Flexible working can take many forms, such as flexible hours, remote working, or job sharing. When you offer flexible working, you can create a better work-life balance for your employees, increasing job satisfaction and motivation.

Flexible working can also help attract and retain top talent who may not be able to work traditional 9-to-5 hours, such as parents or caretakers. Think about the people you might be missing out on because they can’t fit into a rigid timetable! On top of all that, offering remote working can open up a wider pool of potential candidates, since location is not a restriction.

By offering flexible working, you can create a more inclusive and accommodating working environment, attracting and retaining high-performing employees looking for a better work-life balance.

How can you attract and retain high-performing candidates?

Attracting and retaining high-performing employees is essential for any organisation looking to succeed in today’s competitive job market.

Remember that high-performing employees are valuable not only for the skills and experience they bring to the table but also for their positive impact on the company culture, productivity, and of course, the bottom line. Businesses with a workforce who are engaged, enthusiastic and capable have a true competitive advantage.

For more about how to find the best candidates, and how to keep them invested in your company following the hiring process, the experts at Synergy are always available for a chat.