As a business owner, you naturally want to hire the top talent who can take your business to the next level. But how exactly do you do that, especially if you are a newer business who doesn’t have a huge level of brand recognition?

As a female entrepreneur, the fact that you are creating space for other women in the industry is a great selling point in itself. Therefore, looking at ways to enhance this and really shout about what you do is essential.

The traditional workplace no longer exists and employers are now expected to offer various benefits and initiatives in response to Covid-19 and the impact it has had on society. Below are three top tips for supercharging your hiring process.

• Offer hybrid working where possible

As a result of the pandemic, 90% of the roles we work with at Four Recruitment now offer flexible/hybrid working options. Interestingly, one of the first questions raised by most of our candidates is whether they can work from home, with many of them not interested in the role if that option doesn’t exist.

75% of HR professionals we surveyed prioritise flexibility to work from home when looking for a new role. Work-life balance has become a priority over the past two years, with the lack of commute and time spent in meetings helping to push for this. It also allows more flexibility for mothers who can have a better schedule for their children.

• Create a strong employer brand

Having a strong employer brand and core values will make you an attractive company to work for. You need to market these successfully and create a ‘buzz’ around your business. Doing this will keep you front of mind and it’s likely that potential candidates will approach you, rather than the other way around. This can reduce time and money spent on hiring.

Showing how you empower your current employees is incredibly important, whether this is through social media shout outs, awards nominations etc. 70% of employees say that a sense of empowerment is an important factor in maintaining their involvement and loyalty. In addition, 67% are willing to do their best when their own managers feel empowered, which is why a positive workplace culture is so influential. Employees will feel much more motivated and see work in a more positive light, increasing productivity levels.

• Strengthen your existing internal culture

Employee loyalty is essential to promote the health and success of your company. The time, stress and cost of hiring and training new employees is enormous, and layoffs can have a negative impact on a businesses performance. Therefore, methods to succeed in employee retention are crucial to avoid the waste of time and frustration.

One of the ways employers can succeed is by having strong values and a clear vision. Today’s employees thrive for the purposes of their career, far beyond salary. Fair wages are important, but employees will want to get more value from their experience, as 42% of Gen Z prefer doing meaningful work for a purpose.

An incredibly significant way employers can maintain employees is by promoting a positive work culture – this sets the most successful companies apart from the average due to fostering employee pride and ownership. Encourage regular feedback and give credit where it is due – your employees will feel rewarded for their efforts. Allow employees to take ownership of their positive work and shout about it on social media.