Why the Best Candidates Care About Company Culture

If your company wants to recruit and hire top performers, you need to truly understand what they desire and need most from their employers. The answer may surprise you that it isn’t just a generous paycheque.

Since top performers embrace their worth and potential, they are more selective about their employment. The best candidates will prioritize finding a work environment that allows them to achieve their true potential, and if a company’s culture doesn’t enable them to excel and accomplish their long-term goals, they will look elsewhere.

Here are 3 qualities that top talent looks for in a company’s culture:

1. Independence

The best candidates do not want or need micro-management in the workplace. These individuals are generally self-motivated, can make decisions, and tackle challenges on their own. Because of this, they prefer an autonomous work culture where they have the freedom and flexibility to complete their work on their own schedule. While average performers may abuse these privileges, top talent utilizes their time strategically and efficiently to produce better work. When employers give top performers true ownership over their work, they allow them to thrive and improve.

2. Growth Opportunities

Top performers have a deep desire to learn and grow, which has them longing for opportunities in career advancement. Many of the best candidates need to feel like they are excelling, moving up in an organization or growing as individuals, so staying stagnant in a role will not be satisfying. With their ambitious attitudes and constant drive to move forward, top talent can’t and won’t stay in the same place for too long if they aren’t offered training programs and career advancement opportunities.

3. Openness and Feedback

Quality talent is very goal-oriented; top performers want their employers to be transparent so that they can make informed decisions about their careers. Top performers want to work for an employer that tells employees how the business is performing and where the company vision is headed. They also expect their employer to provide information about goals, eligibility and timeline for promotions, bonus structure, and raises.

Remember….. quality candidates are always looking for ways to improve and when top performers don’t receive constructive criticism, they become less motivated and committed to the organization. Offering thorough feedback can keep top talent challenged and growing, and as a result, happy and engaged.

The most qualified and talented job candidates won’t settle for just any job because they don’t have to! If you want to attract top talent, consider how your company provides an environment that supports, challenges and encourages high performers to reach new levels of excellence.