In my previous blog post, we learned that COVID-19, population shifts, and economic pressures had caused a change in what people want in life. Whether baby boomer, Gen X, millennial, or Gen Z, there’s been a fundamental change in how Americans view work-life balance. This change helps us understand why it’s difficult to find quality employees. We concluded that people today are not looking for just a job. They are looking for a purpose. And our industry is where people can find that purpose.

This change in attitude toward employment does not mean Americans are looking to “save the world” to give their life a purpose. It means they’re looking to belong and be a part of something bigger than themself. They want to be appreciated for their contribution. This “purpose” is the key to finding a quality employee.



Helping Quality Employees Find You

One way to find quality employees is by promoting your company to prospective employees. I know companies that have been approached by quality prospective employees due to the company’s reputation. Through a company’s online and offline marketing efforts, a prospect can determine the quality of the senior and the frontline staff and then decide to reach out and ask if the company is hiring.

Regular blog posts on LinkedIn by the senior staff will demonstrate thought leadership to a prospective employee. It’s inspiring when a company leader shows expertise and passion for their industry. When a company’s leaders are eager to share their knowledge with others, it sends a positive message to potential employees. Blog posts discussing the company’s efforts toward sustainability or a post about new technology demonstrate a company’s efforts to innovate. LinkedIn and other social media sites should also promote your company’s accolades.

Has your company posted images or videos of your wins at the Print Excellence competition? Do you show off your award statues on social media? Are there pictures of your employees at the event cheering and excited about the win?

Are your lunch meetings promoted online? I’ve seen images of an In-n-Out truck at a member company’s work site. I’ve also seen online videos of company picnics. Many member companies have monthly themed luncheons that are promoted through social media. Imagine a motivated employee stuck in a dead-end job scrolling through their Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn feed and coming across images and videos of employees having a good time at work. Posts like this are advertisements for a company looking for a quality employee.



By: Lou Caron, PIASC President/CEO