By Ty Kiisel, OnDeck
If you run a small business, finding the right employees is one of your most critical tasks. The stakes are high if you make a hiring mistake, since you’re guaranteed to spend a good amount of time recruiting, vetting and training candidates. And there’s nothing that can drain your team, and your organization as a whole, like a poor-performing employee.
Given how important it is for business owners to create strong teams, and given how competitive the market is for the best hires, many business owners may benefit from tapping into the “less conventional” talent pool. In other words, it can be a smart move to consider candidates such as teenagers, parents seeking flexible hours and/or returning to the workforce, and retirees.
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Here are a few reasons that considering these employees may be your secret weapon to finding strong hires.
Teens
Yes, they are lacking experience. But many of them make up for it with enthusiasm, energy and eagerness to learn. Motivated teens are looking to gain knowledge and insight any way they can. Their desire to get off on the right foot and have a positive experience in the workforce can make them ideal for entry-level positions that may require little experience. They likely won’t be balancing your books or managing your business development, but the right teenaged employee could be a reliable, fresh and energetic presence that enlivens your space, your team and your customers.
Parents
Raising children is expensive and difficult, and it’s not easy for many parents who have either been out of the workforce or need flexible or part-time hours. Parents often have valuable education and experience, but they have a tough time finding employers willing to meet their needs when it comes to hours and childcare. Opening your hiring doors to this pool will give you access to a wide range of motivated and talented people who could be of great benefit to your business. Granted, you might need to be willing to offer the flexibility that they can’t find elsewhere. But in some cases, their need for flexible hours could be a benefit, giving you coverage in off-hours such as evenings and weekends. Plus, the tight schedule parents usually run on gives them a strong incentive to work quickly and efficiently, so the job gets done within their allotted hours.
Retirees
This pool of workers has something that nearly no one else does: a wealth of experience that you simply can’t get without earning it. Their knowledge and skills from their decades of time in the workforce should not be overlooked by employers. Applicants who have had a career and are looking to re-enter the workforce are doing so for a reason, and they have strong incentives to do an excellent job. They may have fewer demands on their time, and thus greater availability in hours. And in the right environment, they could teach the rest of your team a great deal of valuable lessons.
A diverse and well-rounded workforce can yield tremendous benefits. Thinking outside the box, and looking to hire employees of various backgrounds, could be a key to success for your team and your business.
Ty Kiisel is a contributing author focusing on small business financing at OnDeck, a technology company solving small business’s biggest challenge: access to capital. With over 25 years of experience in the trenches of small business, Kiisel shares personal experiences and valuable tips to help small business owners become more financially responsible. OnDeck can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
