Posted

 

One of the largest issues facing employers today are skills gaps in the workplace. Finding the right people for the job is becoming an increasingly difficult barrier to business success. But while there seems to be an endless supply of candidates who are not quite the right fit, there are ways to get the talent you need. This blog focuses on why these skills gaps exist, and what you can do to eliminate them.

Recruiting Through the Skills Gap

The existence of a skills gap has become more and more obvious as technology advances at the record pace we experience today. Colleges and technical schools struggle to update their offerings to keep up with the times. Add to that the lack of communication between businesses with the schools that supply their workforce, and it’s a recipe for disappointment on both sides of the interview table. While it will take time to develop the academic programs that will train the next generation of technical professionals, this period where the skills gap is making recruiting and hiring the best workers difficult for employers does have some opportunities.

The best way to address this issue is head-on. By providing on-the-job training for existing employees and seeking out eligible candidates based in part on their potential to learn the needed skills quickly and efficiently, employers will be better able to meet their own workforce demands and build the team they are looking for. Here’s how.

  1. Hire for Potential

Not every rock-star employee is going to have all the skills you need on their first day. Hiring is an investment, and as such, you should invest in the long-term training and continued education of your employees. In this way, they are better able to develop the skills and abilities that will support your company, and build corporate loyalty as well. So keep in mind you are hiring for potential when writing your job descriptions.

  1. Provide the Training You Need

Providing training opportunities to your existing staff may have some upfront costs, but companies should recognize this as a long-term investment in their business. What better way to get the talent you need than to train it yourself? It is far better to identify the employees who are most likely to succeed given the right opportunities, challenges and support. Your employees will appreciate the respect and confidence you have in them and rise to the challenge given the opportunity.

  1. Focus on Retention

Retention of top performers is an ongoing struggle many employers deal with on a day-to-day basis. The reason retention is so important is because the recruiting and hiring costs are quite impactful on a company’s bottom line. Furthermore, low retention rates can negatively impact employee morale and corporate reputation making it even more difficult to hire industry-leading talent. By focusing on keeping and developing the employees that companies do have, they are better able to grow their team from the inside out and address any gaps along the way.

For more advice on building your dream team, connect with the staffing experts at Verum Technical today.