4 Hiring Hacks for Your Small Business - Spark Hire

4 Hiring Hacks for Your Small Business - Spark HireHacks are clever solutions to tricky problems (thanks Urban Dictionary). In this post, well apply some hacks to the traditional hiring process. Who doesnt need their hiring process to be a little easier, right? The hiring hacks we have for you today are a mixture of short-term and long-term solutions for your small business hiring needs. Referrals and freelancers are great options for a small business that needs employees right away. Community involvement, and a unique company brand can help your small business hiring strategy succeed in the long term. No matter your tricky situation, here are 4 hiring hacks for your small businessInstitute a referral extraIf your small business doesnt have a network, use somebody elses. Referral bonuses can range anywhere from $100-$500, and can be a great incentive for your current employees to play matchmaker. Your current employees are a great resource because they have a vested interest in a qua lity staff but play it safe with a 6-month rule. The referred employee has to stay with your company for 6-months before you pay up.Get involved in the communityNetworks are key talent pipelines for small business hiring strategies. Build your small business network by getting involved in your community. Sponsor school events, donate to charities, host a blood drive. This exposure generates year-round positive interest in your small business. When hiring season rolls around, that interest may inspire some great candidates to apply.Think beyond full-time employeesContract and temporary employees are the gold standard for hiring hacks. For small businesses especially, hiring full-time employees is high-stakes and time-consuming. If your small business needs help now, contract and temporary employees can provide help for relatively low cost and risk. This provides you time to find a full-time employee that will be a good long-term solution for your small business hiring, without sacrif icing productivity in the meantime.Be uniqueAs you build your business and its brand, with temporary and full-time help, remember to stay true to what makes your brand unique. Small businesses can provide a special work environment for employees, and its important to play that up. Michael B. Junge, a recruiter for Google, sums up small business hiring advice like thisIf you dont have an abundance of resources, going head to head with those who do isnt a great idea. Theyll always have deeper pockets and bigger perks. Fortunately, you dont need a ton of money or a big brand to build a compelling employment story. What you do need is a clear picture of the talent youre hoping to attract, an understanding of what they value, and a willingness to create an environment where their goals and ambitions can be fulfilled in a way thats not possible elsewhere.Have you crafted any hiring hacks for your organization? Tell us about it below.

This group of people are the happiest workers in the world

This group of people are the happiest workers in the worldThis group of people are the happiest workers in the worldThough there are certain companies everyone wants to work for with incredible perks, it seems that many people would actually trade all that as well as a steady paycheck, an HR department, and many other things to be self-employed.According to a new study byfrom the Universities of Sheffield and Exeter of5,000 people from around the world, when it came to work satisfaction it was found that those who were self-employed were not only amongst the most engaged but also experienced greater opportunities for innovation, achieving challenging targets and meeting high standards.In the study, published in the journalWork, Employment and Society,researchers examined data from 5,000 workers in the UK, the United States, Australia and New Zealand across industries including health, finance and education. They also looked at workers at different levels including non-managerial work ers, supervisors, middle managers, and senior managers and directors.The self-employed people popped up in various sectors including finance, insurance and retail and at different levels. The self-employed workers were found to be the most engaged, found more innovative opportunitiesAutonomy is most valued by the self-employedThe study found that those who were self-employed were not only amongst the most engaged but also had more opportunities for innovation and accomplishing challenging tasks.Co-author Professor Peter Warr, from the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield, said in a press release, Professional workers who are self-employed really value the autonomy they have. They have the freedom to innovate, express their own views, have influence beyond their own role and compete with other companies and people.Feeling more in control and autonomous is the reason many people go into business for themselves, despite the fact that it can be risky and expensive . The U.S. Minority geschftlicher umgang Development Agency saysit can cost $30,000 to get a business running but that depends on your type of work.However, according to Freshbooks annual self-employment report, 54% of freelancers make more money than those who work full-time for one company, 68% have more work-life balance and 47% have more career certainty. Even though self-employed workers may have to work more, at first at least, they are still happier.They really get to use their own expertise, so dont seem to mind working long hours. They can find meeting high standards really fulfilling, Parr added.As for who was the least happy, the study found that non-managerial company workers were the least satisfied and engaged.