The power in the recruiting process has shifted to the job seeker, and their expectations are at an all-time high. This means that companies have a lot to lose if their application, recruiting and hiring processes are lagging behind their competitors.

Candidates today, especially millennials, have changed how organizations of all sizes compete for and recruit the best talent. According to a Pew Research report, more than one-in-three Americans in the labor force are millennials, making them the largest generation in the U.S. labor force. This means many previous methods of talent acquisition may no longer work for organizations or recruiters.

HR leaders and smart recruiters must step up their game in order to catch the eye of high-quality candidates. Even though 90% of global professionals are interested in hearing about new job opportunities, finding and attracting top talent continues to be a challenge for many organizations.

Employees Want Jobs to Have Better Development Opportunities

It’s no secret that more than 70% of people leave their jobs because of a lack of career opportunities and advancement. Several studies have shown that employees are happier, more engaged and more productive when their employer invests in their skills and professional development. Therefore, it’s essential to have a learning and development program in place and communicate why and how you will invest in your employees’ skills, as well as career growth throughout the entire candidate journey.

When you’re thinking about your employment recruitment strategy, don’t forget to shine the light on your internal learning and development programs.

What do employees care most about? According a 2019 national survey conducted by The Harris Poll:

• 70% of employees said they were at least “somewhat likely to leave their current company” to work somewhere with a bigger focus on employee learning
• 77% of employees stated they felt alone in their career development process.
• While 98% of employers reported offering career development opportunities, just 26% of employees said those tools were useful.

Learning and development programs are important to both candidates and employees. People jump at the opportunity to learn new skills so they can add value, make a stronger impact and contribute to the success of their organization’s goals. Learning sparks innovation, and organizations invested in the continuing education of their workforce are attracting candidates that are equally as invested in them.

Here are tips on how to leverage learning to bolster your recruitment strategy:

Articulate your core values and commitment to learning. Two-thirds of candidates want to know about your company’s culture and values. They want to know what sets you apart from your competitors and the type of culture they will be immersed in, which is why it’s important to highlight your commitment to investing in your employee’s careers in your mission statement or core values.

Weave in the importance of learning throughout the interview process. People don’t know what they don’t know, which is why it’s so important to highlight your learning programs and career paths throughout the interview process.

Offer career development programs that help employees think through their next career move and then help them achieve that goal through learning. By promoting this aspect of your values during the recruitment process, you are more likely to attract candidates who value continued learning and embody a growth mindset, which is an important trait in today’s era of rapid growth and innovation.

Share success stories on your careers page. Real, authentic stories are one of the biggest factors connecting candidates to organizations. People want to envision themselves working for your company. There is no better way to illustrate that sentiment than capturing and showcasing the career growth and success of your employees.

These are just a few quick and easy ways to sprinkle learning into your recruitment strategy. If you’re looking for more advice, take a look at our White Paper on “Skills Are the New Currency” and discover how investing in learning and development can provide your employees with a foundation that can shape your organization’s culture and lead to a higher performing workforce.