There are plenty of average, run-of-the-mill employees. Every business will have a few of these, no matter how strict your hiring process.And you know the types of employees we’re talking about – they do an okay job, but don’t add much more to the business. They never make you say, “Wow!” They only do what is expected, and don’t go much beyond that. More or less, they are cogs in the machine.But rock stars? They stand out. They think up new ideas and lead the execution of those ideas; they boost the morale of the company with a great attitude; they take responsibility for their mistakes and are always looking to help the team.With every rockstar you hire, you’ll elevate your business.But (and for anyone who saw the hit movie Almost Famous), rockstars are not always easy to find.You can’t just throw up a job posting on Monster and expect a rock star to walk through the door. You need to go deeper.But we promise you this: the extra work will be worth it.So, are you ready to hire your next rock star employee? Then sit down and buckle up – it’s time to get started!Here’s how you can hire rockstars who drive your business forward:
Networking Events and Meetup Groups
Don’t expect the next rock star employee to simply walk through your door after seeing a post on Monster. More often than not, you’ll have to go out and find them…You won’t have rock stars seeking you out until you’ve built up a culture of rock star employees!And one of the best ways to find them is through relevant networking events and meetup groups.Ask yourself: “Which type of activities and events will my ideal employee be interested in?” and then, attend those kinds of events.But what do you do once you’re there? Here are some tips to make the most out of these networking/meetup events:
- Nail the first impression. Smile, stand up straight and wear clothes that fit well – when you approach people like this, you’ll make a better first impression.
- Focus on giving value. Give people an opportunity to speak about themselves and their interests; talk with them instead of trying to talk at them.
- Prepare your elevator speech beforehand. Have a 30 second speech ready to describe yourself and your company in a compelling manner.
These strategies will help you catch the interest of the potential rock stars at the event!
Fine-tune Your Company Vision and Culture
What is the future of your company? What meaning do your employees draw from their work? Do you have a good company culture?These are elements that hold a lot of weight for the new millennial workforce. They want more than just high salaries and great perks – they want that feeling of a deeper meaning in their work, and also a sense of belonging. And if you want to bring a rock star employee on board and keep them there for the long term, you must have these in place. Otherwise, they’ll be ready to move on before you know it.
Competitive Salaries
When you have the elements above in place, that will draw a lot of interest. But you also need competitive salaries. Rock stars aren’t going to stick around when they’re working for peanuts.You can check websites like glassdoor.com to get insights into the salaries of your competitors.When you combine competitive salaries with culture and vision, potential rock star employees will be banging on your door.
Know the “Rock Star Signs”
What qualities will a rock star employee have? What exactly is it that makes them stand out?Here are some signs that you're hiring a potential rock star employee:
- Effective communication skills. They speak and explain things clearly, and have a knack for connecting with people.
- Strong Integrity. They are honest, hard-working, self-reliant, and always take responsibility for their actions.
- They deliver results instead of excuses. They’re always looking for solutions instead of complaining about the problem.
Conclusion
Don’t expect rock star employees to fall into your lap. To bring them in, you need the right strategies to find them and then win them over. These strategies will help you do it.
