No candidates? How to attract talent anyway as a small SME
June 2025 - Finding staff today is no sinecure. SMEs in particular are faced with an acute shortage of candidates. Large companies lure with punitive wages and extensive benefits. But that does not mean that you, as a smaller player, have no assets. More than that: you can just strike out with what they often lack.
1. Focus on authentic employer branding
Who are you as an employer? What makes working at your company special? Tell that story clearly and honestly. Let your employees have their say on your website or social media. Show the atmosphere on the shop floor, the team spirit and how you celebrate successes. This way, you create trust and attract people who fit your culture.
2. Offer tailored growth opportunities
Not everyone wants to make a career in a traditional way. Some seek challenges, others stability or a better work-life balance. Adapt to this. Give employees the opportunity to shape their own role, learn new things or take on responsibilities. In an SME, the lines are short, so you can switch faster.
3. Make job satisfaction tangible
In many vacancies you read that ‘collegiality and a good atmosphere’ are important. But what does that mean in concrete terms? Show what you do to make work really pleasant. Think about flexible working hours, a nice lunch spot, short consultations or a monthly after-work. Small gestures can make a big difference.
Extra tip: dare to recruit differently
Avoid standard vacancies full of clichés. Go for a creative approach, address candidates personally and focus on what you can offer them. Also think outside the traditional channels: via your network, social media or via schools and training centres, you often reach candidates who would otherwise remain under the radar.
You don't have to have a big budget to be attractive as an employer. As an SME, you can score with a personal approach, humanity and flexibility. By showing who you really are, you offer candidates something they won't find elsewhere: a place where they are seen. That is worth its weight in gold today.
