“ A strong employee engagement strategy will always serve a business better than the best talent acquisition strategy .”
The “ Employee Experience ” Starts at the First Call Executives and hiring leaders are taking strategic steps to address the pain points felt by some candidates during the hiring process in an effort to increase recruiting success . This includes focusing more on candidate experience and engagement throughout the process , rather than on simply bringing more people in the door . Many candidates have grown frustrated with what they feel are outdated or unprofessional communications processes .
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Consider new technical tools that streamline the hiring process , making things seamless for the candidate and freeing up your hiring team to focus on more personal interactions and touchpoints Ensure candidates have regular check-ins or follow-ups completed in the process Move quickly to capture the best talent
Rethink Onboarding Protocols On-boarding protocols will need to evolve as quickly as our environment . If a new employee is starting a role that will be based remotely , their first week ’ s schedule may need to be highly structured to make up for the lack of in-person introductions that accompany a typical first few days in the office . In a busy spa or resort environment , two weeks of onboarding may need to be packed into a few days .
WHAT YOU CAN DO : l Consider ways your onboarding protocols can be modified to suit the changing needs of your business and new employees l Encourage current employees to reach out to future team members even before they start ; this makes them feel like more of the team even before day one
Your Commitments Make You Competitive Candidates are doing their research to see how prospective employers are approaching environmental and social issues . In response , organizations are measuring sustainability objectives and being transparent about their process in order to differentiate themselves in a competitive labor market . The wellness industry has a high percentage of sustainability and environmental focused employees ; demonstrating a true commitment to “ moving the needle ” on these issues is a win for our society , our planet and your organization ’ s talent strategy .
WHAT YOU CAN DO : l Showcase the efforts your company or property is making in the areas of social , environmental and ethical issues as part of the hiring process l Share ways potential future employees can contribute to these efforts l Ensure that your company ’ s commitment to environmental or social issues is a common theme throughout all candidate conversations
What You Measure Improves Happy employees will stay longer , perform better and ultimately better serve guests and clients . A strong employee engagement strategy will always serve a business better than the best talent acquisition strategy . Measuring the engagement level of your employees ; and analyzing the reasons employees have chosen to leave can help your organization make impactful changes .
WHAT YOU CAN DO : l Conduct exit interviews ; allow exiting employees to be completely honest about reasons for leaving l Dedicate time during each leadership meeting to discuss trends in employee engagement , feedback on employee experience and reasons for recent departures l If not already used , activate an employee engagement survey to “ take the pulse ” of the existing employee population and find out what is most important to them
Navigating the talent landscape has likely never been more challenging , especially in the spa and hospitality industries . But while there is no quick and easy solution to many of the staffing difficulties leaders in these industries now face , taking a proactive approach to addressing those issues using the guidance outlined here will give your organization a leg up in 2022 . •
ALISON HARRIGAN is a Principal in Korn Ferry ’ s San Francisco office , where she is a specialist in Travel , Hospitality and Leisure . Alison brings strong industry expertise and a background in recruiting C-suite and board executives to companies in the casino / gaming , hospitality , travel and leisure sectors .
28 PULSE • APRIL 2022