You finally found a great candidate. Their resume looks solid, and their background checks out. They passed the skills test with flying colors. Then they take a job in Tampa or Kissimmee.
Sound familiar?
Employers in Lakeland and Auburndale lose qualified candidates to nearby cities all the time. With Tampa 45 minutes west and Orlando an hour east, competition is fierce. Both cities have deeper job markets and, sometimes, deeper pockets.
Here’s some advice from KB Staffing on how to stop losing top candidates to nearby cities.
Pay What the Market Actually Pays
Check your wages against current Central Florida staffing data. It doesn’t matter what you paid in 2022. You need to know what employers along the I-4 corridor are paying right now. If your forklift operator wage is $16 and the Lakeland average is $18.62, you’re not competing. You’re sending qualified candidates to your competitors.
Sell Your Location
Working in Auburndale or Lakeland has real advantages. The commute for local residents is shorter with no I-4 traffic. Plus, the cost of living is lower here than in the bigger cities. That’s a big win for your workforce, so put it in your job postings and mention it in interviews.
Offer Real Schedules
Predictability matters more than you might think. Most workers will pick a steady 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift in Auburndale over a rotating swing shift in Tampa. Stable schedules attract candidates with families, second jobs, or school commitments.
Move Fast on Offers
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: A slow hiring practice is one of your business’ worst enemies. Your best candidates won’t wait weeks for you to extend an offer.
Work With a Central Florida Staffing Partner
Working with a Central Florida staffing agency like KB Staffing is the best way to stay competitive in this market. We know which candidates want to stay close to home and which ones are itching to commute. We match the right people to the right shifts in the right ZIP codes.
Stop losing hiring battles to bigger cities.
Call KB Staffing to discuss your staffing needs. Let’s build staffing solutions that keep top talent right here in Polk County.