BRADENTON, Fla., July 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Gevity (Nasdaq:GVHR), which serves as the full-service human resources department for small and mid-sized businesses, today released its list of the top five hiring mistakes made by small businesses when recruiting and hiring employees. Developed from Cornell University/Gevity research and surveys of small business owners, the list is a handy tip sheet for recruiting and hiring top talent.
The top five hiring mistakes -- and how to avoid them
1. Offering candidates uncompetitive compensation. Offering
prospective hires a competitive compensation package is critical
for small businesses, which often struggle to compete with larger
companies on the basis of pay and benefits. While a competitive
salary is a key part of any compensation package, candidates aren't
just looking for cash. Benefits, such as health insurance and
retirement plans, opportunities for growth and advancement, a
positive work environment and flexibility also play a large role in
a candidate's decision-making process. Focus the prospective hire
on the total compensation package.
2. Relying strictly on traditional recruiting sources. Knowing where
to find employees, both internally and externally, is essential for
small businesses. While placing a classified ad in a newspaper may
work in some markets and for some jobs, employers need to
understand the full range of options that are available to them --
such as online job boards, university job fairs, recruiters or
employment agencies. You can often build a pipeline of quality
candidates by establishing relationships with key talent sources,
such as schools and professional organizations.
3. Failing to market your company. Don't forget that while your
company is evaluating applicants, those applicants are evaluating
your company. Make their choice easy by showcasing your company's
strengths, opportunities and positive culture.
4. Waiting until someone leaves -- or is long gone -- to fill critical
positions. Not planning for or turning a blind eye to turnover is
one of the most common mistakes small employers make. Start
building a talent pipeline now, so when you do have a position to
fill, you can quickly fill it with top talent.
5. Hiring solely based on job fit, not organization fit. While
employers large and small tend to hire based on candidates' job
skills and experience, research has shown that job fit is less
important than organization fit. So when interviewing prospective
hires, make sure that a good organizational fit is the ultimate
goal of your selection process.
"The key to attracting exceptional employees lies in avoiding these hiring mistakes and establishing a well thought out recruiting plan for your business," explains David Sikora, Director of Research at Gevity. "You can't expect great employees to find you. You have to develop a recruitment and hiring strategy to identify, target and reach them. Once you do this, you'll greatly improve the caliber of your job candidates, lower your recruiting costs and ultimately produce better business results."
By avoiding these five common mistakes, you will be able to recruit and hire candidates more effectively and efficiently.
How Gevity helps employers avoid costly hiring mistakes
To help businesses avoid potentially costly hiring mistakes and recruit great talent right from the start, Gevity provides a range of management services and tools as part of its Gevity Edge(tm) solution.
These services and tools include:
* Help with job descriptions * A salary tool to determine the salary appropriate to the job description and location * Advice on leading practices to find and recruit top talent * Interview process and procedure guidelines that help employers develop the right interview questions -- and avoid the wrong ones * Essentials Management Training, so managers can develop the skills and tools they need to select the right people
About Gevity
Thousands of small and mid-sized businesses nationwide leverage the flexibility and scalability of Gevity's human resources (HR) solution to help them maximize the return on investment in their people. Essentially, Gevity serves as the full-service HR department for these businesses, providing each employee with support previously only available at much larger companies. Gevity delivers the Gevity Edge(tm), a comprehensive solution comprised of innovative management and administration services, helping employers to streamline HR administration, optimize HR practices, and maximize people and performance. This solution enables both businesses and their employees to achieve their full potential, giving them an edge over competitors. Gevity's unique approach features Gevity OnSite(tm), experienced HR Consultants based in local markets backed by nationwide resources and easy-to-use technology, including Gevity OnLine(tm) and Gevity OnCall(tm). For more information, call 1.800.2GEVITY (1.800.243.8489) or visit gevity.com.
A copy of this press release can be found on the company's Web site at www.gevity.com.