When it comes to business and profitability, team performance is just as crucial for growth as a good financial management strategy. Successful businesses thrive on high-performing teams that bring diverse skills and perspectives to achieve better outcomes. This includes administrative staff, who are the backbone of a smoothly running organization. Building a great administrative team doesn’t happen by chance—it requires deliberate effort.
Role Fit: The Key to a Strong Company Culture
Over 90% of C-suite executives agree that corporate culture is crucial to a company’s success.¹ A strong culture reflects shared values, beliefs, and practices that guide every action. In such an environment, everyone understands the company’s goals and works together to achieve them.
And when employees are well-suited to their roles, they are more likely to collaborate effectively, support each other, and uphold the company’s values, which strengthens a positive and productive corporate culture.
Ensuring your admin employees are a good fit begins with a strong recruitment strategy. This is more important than ever, especially as 95% of Massachusetts business leaders report that finding workers with the right skills is challenging.² To improve your hiring strategy and attract the right admin candidates, we’ve curated a list of steps you can take.
6 Ways to Find Excellent Administrative Hires
Hiring isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re looking for the best of the best. But with the strategies below, you’re sure to build the A-team of admins that you’ll ever need:
1. Write a Job Description That Candidates Will Actually Read
Job seekers often look for certain key details in a job description, and if these aren’t included, they might quickly move on to the next listing. Make sure to include:
- A realistic preview of the role and responsibilities
- Salary range or pay grade
- Benefits offered
- Information about company culture and values
- Specific skills and experience required
- Opportunities for growth and development
2. Use Appropriate Job Boards
Choosing the right places to advertise your job opening is important to reach the right people. General job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn have a wide reach, but they might not be very targeted. Specialized staffing firms like Spectra360 provide a thorough approach to filling administrative vacancies due to a vast network of candidates and industry knowledge.
Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook can also be useful. You can post job openings within your professional groups and connections. Additionally, depending on your location, local community boards or job centers can be very helpful, especially if you need someone familiar with the local area.
3. Leverage Employee Referrals
Employee referrals are a powerful tool for hiring. Current employees know your company culture and what the job needs. They are likely to recommend candidates with the right skills who would fit well in the team.
To use this, create a Referral Program that rewards employees for referring to suitable candidates. This could include bonuses or other rewards. Be sure to Communicate Openings regularly, through newsletters or meetings, so employees know about current opportunities. Encouraging them to share these openings within their networks can expand your reach.
Also, share Success Stories of hires who were referred by employees. Showing how referrals have helped both the referrer, and the organization can motivate your team to participate actively.
4. Assess Candidates Thoroughly
Going beyond just looking at resumes is important to find the best candidate. A thorough assessment process helps you see not only a candidate’s technical skills but also if they fit well with your company and have good soft skills.
Skills tests can check how well they know important software programs. Situational questions help you see how they solve problems and make decisions. Behavioral interviews, where you ask candidates to give examples from their past experiences, give you valuable insights into how they work and handle challenges.
5. Conduct Comprehensive Interviews
Make sure your interview process is consistent and fair. Hosting panel interviews can help get different points of view on the candidate. Ask questions that go beyond technical skills and learn about their values and work style to see if they fit with your company culture.
Encourage follow-up questions to get more insights into their thoughts and experiences. Don’t forget to check their references to confirm their work history and performance. Finally, consider offering a trial period or temporary position to see how well the candidate fits in the real work environment before making a final hiring decision.
6. Develop a Robust Onboarding Program
Onboarding is the first chance new hires must experience your company’s culture and processes. A good onboarding program is important for helping them fit in with the team. Create training focusing on their role and covering the company’s mission, values, and culture. Include chances for them to observe and practice their tasks.
Ensure new hires meet key people, learn about the company structure, and join team-building activities. Pairing them with a mentor from a different department can help them learn about their role and understand the company better.
Spectra360: Your Partner in Building Boston’s Top-Tier Admin Teams
Building an excellent administrative team is crucial for business success, but as we’ve seen, it comes with its challenges.
That’s why we’ve opened our doors right here in Boston.
Our team brings a wealth of experience in connecting top-tier talent with forward-thinking companies, now tailored specifically to Boston’s unique market.
Our approach combines deep local insights with innovative recruiting strategies, ensuring we find not just qualified candidates, but individuals who will thrive in your company culture.
Ready to experience the Spectra360 difference? Let’s talk about how we can help you build the team your business deserves.
References
- Graham, John R., et al. “Corporate Culture in a New Era: Views From the C‐suite.” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Dec. 2023, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jacf.12582.
- Lederer, Tricia, and Tricia Lederer. “Hiring Skilled Workers Remains Top Challenge, Shows MA Business Leader Survey – Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.” Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education – Excellence. Opportunity. Innovation., 22 May 2024, www.mbae.org/hiring-skilled-workers-remains-top-challenge-shows-ma-business-leader-survey.
