The labour market is very tight, and predictions are that it’s only going to get harder to find qualified workers. As employers, what can you do to attract someone who has:
- A great work ethic
- An understanding of how to get along with others
- A willingness to learn and dig in to help, regardless of the job
And that’s before we even talk about the hard skills needed to actually do the work.
In a perfect world, the ideal employee shows up with all the boxes checked:
- Great work ethic.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- The exact experience you’re looking for.
- Ready to be productive within the first month.
Sigh… if only it were that easy.
Hire for Character, Train for Skill (When You Can)
I’ve always believed that hard skills are trainable—to a point. Of course, there are roles that absolutely require specific knowledge and experience just to be considered. But for many entry to mid-level roles, you may want to weigh character more heavily than background experience.
You can teach systems.
You can train processes.
It’s much harder to teach attitude, work ethic, and how to be a decent human at work.
Want help assessing character during interviews?
Download my free Interview Questions Guide.
So What Actually Attracts Good Candidates?
If you want to attract great employees, focus on the employee experience. And that starts before you even think about hiring.
First: Take Care of Your Current Employees
Your employee experience is how both current employees and future candidates perceive your organization as an employer. That experience is shaped by things like:
Compensation & Perks
Compensation needs to be fair and equitable. When possible, consider health benefits, a pension, flexible perks, or even company swag. These things signal that you value your people.
Onboarding
Onboarding isn’t just paperwork—it’s your first real impression. A thoughtful, personable onboarding experience lays the foundation for the employee-employer relationship and directly impacts performance, job satisfaction, and retention.
Clear Communication
Share information about the business. Vision. Mission. Values. Policies. Job expectations. People want clarity, not guesswork.
Involvement & Development
Involve employees in decisions where you can. Delegate responsibility. Help them build skills and confidence. Talk about career paths—even if that path looks different for everyone.
Feedback & Coaching
Provide praise when it’s earned. Give performance feedback regularly. Offer developmental coaching, not just correction when something goes wrong.
Team Cohesiveness
Strong teams build trust. When employees feel safe, respected, and connected, they can relax and focus on doing good work—without fear of constant reprimand.
Happy Employees Attract Other Good People
When your existing employees are engaged and genuinely enjoy where they work, they talk.
They refer friends.
They recommend people with similar work ethic and attitudes.
That’s how you attract candidates who already resonate with what you offer—and who are far more likely to succeed in your organization.
Your Job Posting Should Reflect Your Culture
When you do post a job, don’t just list tasks and requirements. Build into your job postings:
- What you offer
- How employees are supported
- What it’s like to work there
- Why someone would want to be part of your team
Focus on what the employee will receive, not just what you expect them to give.
The Long Game (Because There’s No Easy Button)
Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic fix that suddenly fills your inbox with highly qualified candidates overnight. Attracting great employees is a long game.
It’s about:
- Building a healthy workplace culture
- Providing what employees truly need
- Creating clarity and consistency
- And letting your reputation do the talking
Good people don’t just look for jobs. They look for places where they can belong, contribute, and grow.
And that starts from the inside out.
Struggling to identify candidates with the right work ethic and attitude?
If resumes aren’t telling you what you really need to know, I’ve got you covered.
Download my free Interview Questions Guide to help you assess:
- Work ethic and accountability
- How candidates collaborate and handle challenges
- Trainability and willingness to pitch in
- Overall fit for your workplace culture
Download the Interview Questions Guide and start hiring with more clarity and confidence.
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