Executive from Food Lion Reveals Strategies for Recruiting High-Quality Employees
In today's competitive labour market, grocery retailers are adapting their recruitment strategies to attract and retain top talent. Jessica Griffin, Talent Acquisition Manager at Food Lion, is leading the charge with a tech-enabled approach that caters to the preferences of different generations.
Griffin emphasizes the importance of making connections with job candidates, even if they are not a fit for the role they applied for. She encourages regular email contact with potential candidates to keep them engaged, and Food Lion's interview strategy includes capturing data from the first interview to understand the candidate's interests and then having a second interview with a store manager or CSM to assess talent.
To create a seamless digital hiring journey, Griffin recommends leveraging technology in recruitment and communication. Social media platforms and online recruiting tools can reach broader and younger candidate pools, especially Gen Z and Millennials. Video interviews, online scheduling, and automated follow-ups improve candidate experience, and treating applicants like valued customers is critical.
Understanding and catering to generational preferences is another key approach. Gen Z values clear career road maps, skills-based hiring, rapid feedback, and flexibility in how and when they work. Gen X and Millennials want flexibility, skill development, and stability but also appreciate the gig economy's influence on work options. Boomers and older workers prioritize loyalty, stability, and clear expectations but may be motivated by opportunities for varied roles and development within the grocery industry.
Offering flexibility and progression is also essential in today's labour market. Grocery stores' long hours and varied roles uniquely position them to offer flexible scheduling and diverse career paths, defeating competitors who lack such offerings. Employee referral programs and internal talent pools can also create compelling retention reasons, as they often align with company culture and foster loyalty.
Partnering with retail-focused recruiters who utilize cutting-edge market insights and technology can optimize hiring quality, ensuring alignment with company culture and long-term growth needs. Griffin has implemented an interview strategy at Food Lion to assess talent and reduce turnover, with everyone following the same interview process. Data from unsuccessful candidates is documented in SuccessFactors for future reference.
Griffin's hiring process aims to get people into open positions as soon as possible. Job applicants can now apply for positions at Food Lion from their phones, which takes about three minutes. Griffin notes that younger applicants are more likely to post profiles on Handshake than LinkedIn.
Griffin's approach to hiring is focused on making things easier, better, and more meaningful. She uses her background as a certified career coach to help candidates prepare for interviews and understand what they will be assessed on. Griffin applauds the use of resources like Indeed Smart Sourcing for finding the right talent.
Since implementing her new interview strategy, Food Lion has seen a significant decrease in turnover rates. Griffin has also accelerated the offer process for hired candidates by using DocuSign, which has increased the offer acceptance rate by 160%. With these innovative strategies, grocery retailers can better attract and keep talent in a competitive labour market.
[1] Indeed Smart Sourcing [2] Work Institute [3] LinkedIn Talent Solutions [4] Deloitte Insights [5] Retail Executive Search
- In the realm of careers, Griffin values using resources like Indeed Smart Sourcing to find the right talent, as it streamlines the hiring process and increases the likelihood of finding the perfect fit.
- To create a modern lifestyle that attracts various generations, Food Lion's recruitment strategy encompasses leveraging technology in communication and job application processes, such as mobile application for job openings and social media platforms to reach younger candidates like Gen Z.
- In the realm of business and finance, offering flexible scheduling and diverse career paths can make grocery stores more competitive in the labour market, as this attracts top talent and reduces turnover rates, demonstrating the link between employee satisfaction and long-term growth.
