This time last year my company held meetings that focused on how to increase perks and incentives to attract and retain staff. We were looking for a senior manager and felt that we couldn't compete in the market unless we were willing to hike up our starting salary, promise promotions and load the offer with other extras. This year's job market calls for new tactics.
Candidates are plentiful, which is good news for small, home-based businesses.
Salaries have dropped, and many job-seekers are looking for a place to call home, rather than a quick rise to millionaire status. The search for strong applicants will cost you less than it did last year because more applicants are reaching out to find the right jobs. Although these changes ease the hiring burden, they present new challenges. Recruiters and candidates will be doing aggressive sales jobs, and candidates with dot-com experience may have inflated titles. To hire right, you'll need to sort through the hype and find candidates who are a fit with your business.