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Securing top talent has always been a challenge, but it’s especially daunting for businesses in regional areas. Whether you run a cute little small-town flower shop or an agricultural business with grape harvesters and vineyard machinery for sale, there’s no competing with the allure of big-city lights. The perceived opportunities of metropolitan areas can often overshadow the charm and potential of life outside the city limits.
Of course, all is not lost! With the right strategies, you can transform your regional location into a talent magnet. Consider any or all of the methods outlined below:
Strategy 1: Showcase the Lifestyle
People are often drawn to a place as much as a job. So, if you want to attract fresh talent, you’ll need to highlight the unique lifestyle your region offers. Think about the stunning natural beauty, vibrant communities, affordable housing, and lower cost of living your regional area likely provides. Create compelling content that showcases the work-life balance your staff get to enjoy. People crave experiences, and if you frame it right, your region could look like their next adventure.
Strategy 2: Emphasize Career Growth
Contrary to popular belief, regional areas offer ample opportunities for career growth. To prove this, highlight the potential for advancement within your organization and the industry as a whole. Showcase success stories of employees who have climbed the corporate ladder – all without having to succumb to the toxic hustle culture that permeates many cities. If relevant, emphasize the potential for leadership roles and specialized skill development. This will help you attract driven people who want to feel like they’re investing in their future.
Strategy 3: Build a Strong Employer Brand
Just as you need a strong customer-facing brand, so too do you need a brilliant talent-facing brand. Known as your “employer brand,” this is really just your company’s reputation as an employer.
To create a positive image that draws in top talent, highlight your company culture, values, and any sustainable initiatives you engage in, like social procurement or eco-friendly packaging. Showcase employee testimonials and success stories. Use social media to share company updates and employee highlights. Make sure this branding is genuine and authentic – people want to work for a company they trust and believe in.
Strategy 4: Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits
Let’s be real here – salary and benefits matter. While you might not be able to match the big-city salaries, you can offer other attractive perks. Consider flexible work arrangements, remote work options, professional development opportunities, and health and wellness programs. The paycheck is important, but the most talented and driven workers always look at the entire compensation package when making a decision. After all, $80,000 in a regional area can often go a lot further than $80,000 in the city.
Strategy 5: Partner with Local Education Institutions
Building strong relationships with local universities and colleges can pay off immensely. So look into offering internships, co-op programs, or graduate programs that can help you attract, retain, and develop local talent. Other options include collaborating on research projects and co-launching industry initiatives. By investing in the local talent pool, you’re building a valuable pipeline of motivated future employees.
Attracting top talent to regional areas will take some thought and strategy. By showcasing your region’s unique offerings, building a strong employer brand, offering competitive benefits and opportunities, and partnering with local education institutions, you can position yourself as an employer of choice. And by creating an environment where people want to live, work, and thrive, you’ll also improve your own experience in your small town, making it a marvelous way to deliver wins all around.
You may also like: 10 Employee Benefits Your Company Should Offer to Retain Top Talent
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