Spring 2008 issue of Horizons

knowledge. commitment. value. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

7. Create an employee incentive program. Employee incentive programs not only reward good employee performance, but also give prospective employees something to look forward to if they come to work for you. Whether it’s an annual company-paid retreat or a program in which employees collect points that they can trade in for cash, employee incentive programs can increase your chances of attracting top talent. 8. Sweeten the pot. When competition is fierce, a plain old-fashioned signing bonus may be what is needed to attract the employee you want. If you choose to do a signing bonus, it should be large enough to matter, and the bonus should be contingent on a certain amount of time of employment. (Otherwise you will be running a revolving door as people sign up, take the money and run.) 9. Develop a relationship with a recruiter. Invite the recruiter into your company to learn as much about your company, its culture and a wish list of your needs. When a recruiter gets excited about your company, he/she can be in a constant search mode for quality talent for you. There also should be an agreement that the recruiter will not solicit your own employees. 10. Be transparent. Employees love to be a part of the big picture. Communicate goals and objectives of the company. Develop a mission statement and strategic objectives, then communicate it at all levels of your organization. Attracting and retaining employees is as much a marketing issue as it is a management issue. Developing and promoting a positive organization and reminding employees of the value of being part of it are critical to recruiting and retaining top talent.

Questions? Contact:

Tamara Vasquez President ABACUS Recruiting 314-878-5522 tamara@abacusrecruiting.com

8 u spring 2008 issue