Please log onto the Operator Page to view the video discussion with Eric Trice Absolute Fleet Wash, Shawn Day Hire Lead Chill and Adam Backstrom BioClean and watch the video discussion.
Hiring is a constant challenge for businesses, especially in industries with high turnover. This month’s mastermind session dives deep into effective recruiting strategies, offering practical advice to help you build a strong team. We were fortunate to have two experts share their insights: Eric Trice from Absolute Fleet Washing in Maryland, and Shawn Day, a recruiting and hiring specialist from Hire Lead Chill.
The Importance of Continuous Recruiting
Both Eric and Shawn emphasized the importance of always be recruiting (ABC). In high-turnover industries, continuous recruiting is essential. It’s about building relationships within your community, consistently interviewing (even when you’re fully staffed), and creating a pipeline of potential hires. This proactive approach reduces reliance on job boards and builds a waiting list of qualified candidates.
Learning from Hiring Mistakes
Eric shared a valuable lesson: you’ll make bad hires. It’s part of the process. The key is to learn from those mistakes and refine your understanding of what you’re truly looking for in an employee. This clarity allows for faster and more effective hiring in the future.
Recruiting as a Sales Process
Shawn highlighted a crucial mindset shift: view recruiting as the biggest sale of your life. You’re selling a job, and you need to approach it with the same energy and strategy you use to acquire clients. He also addressed the common complaint of interview no-shows, stating that it’s a reality to accept and focus on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem. A solutions-oriented mindset is key to successful recruiting.
Investing in Recruiting and Creating Application Flow
One of the biggest hurdles many business owners face is the reluctance to invest in recruiting. Shawn argues that creating a strong application flow requires financial investment. He suggests that if it takes 100 applications to get one interview, you might need to spend $500-$1000. While this can seem daunting, consider the return on investment. A good employee can generate significant revenue and profit, making the initial investment worthwhile.
Key Strategies for Effective Recruiting:
- Competitive Pay: Research your local labor market and offer competitive wages. Attracting top talent often requires paying more than the bare minimum.
- Compelling Job Descriptions: Craft job titles and descriptions that excite potential candidates.
- Positive Messaging: Use language that emphasizes the positive aspects of working for your company. Phrases like “why you’re going to love to wake up every morning and love to come to work here” can be surprisingly effective.
- Video Testimonials: Create two short (60-second) videos: one from the owner/manager explaining why employees love working at your company, and another from a current employee sharing their positive experience. These videos can significantly reduce interview no-shows.
- Always Be Recruiting: Even when fully staffed, continue recruiting and interviewing. Build relationships with promising candidates and let them know you’d love to have them on your team when an opening arises.
- Focus on Core Values: Incorporate your company’s core values into the interview process. Ask candidates what those values mean to them and assess their alignment with your company culture. Use core values as a foundation for discipline, teaching, and recognizing employee achievements.
The Importance of Retention
While this session focused on recruiting, the discussion touched on the importance of retention. Recognizing and rewarding employees who embody your core values is crucial for maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
Connect with Shawn Day
If you’d like to learn more from Shawn, you can visit his website at Hire Lead Chill or find him on Facebook. He’s offering a free 30-45 minute consultation to help you implement these recruiting strategies.
Conclusion
Recruiting is an ongoing process that requires a strategic approach and a willingness to invest. By implementing the tips and strategies shared by Eric and Shawn, you can build a strong team and set your business up for success. Stay tuned for future mastermind sessions on related topics like interviewing, onboarding, and retention