Why Your Top Talent is Looking for a New Job

By Jezabel Southard

Posted on August 16, 2013

Once hiring managers find and hire top talent, they often believe the hard work of hiring is over — but it may not be.  Top employees, like any other, will leave a current position for a new one if the situation is right.

The loss of any employee costs time and money, and it disrupts the flow of work until a new hire has conquered the steep learning curve that accompanies any new job.  When a top employee leaves, the costs and disruption are multiplied.

Why do top employees leave their employers?  Here are a few common reasons:

• They have a poor relationship with the boss.  The manager-employee relationship is one of the primary reasons top employees stay — or leave.  When employees feel that their boss doesn’t understand the details of the job, doesn’t know how to lead, or treats them and their co-workers badly, they are far more likely to seek a position elsewhere.  To encourage top employees to stay, communicate the goals and objectives they need to meet, provide the resources they need to do the job, and acknowledge them when they exceed expectations.
• They‘re unhappy with the company culture.  Even star employees find that their performance suffers if the values, habits, and tone of the workplace conflicts with their personal needs.  Like people, companies change over time; an employee who fit well with the company culture when hired may have diverged from the company’s culture over the years.  Because top employees care deeply about their performance and strive for personal and professional excellence, they are especially apt to leave a company whose culture hinders rather than helps their best work.
• They‘re unhappy with their pay, their recognition, or both.  Top employees know they produce excellent work — they simply are not satisfied with anything else.  They expect recognition that matches the effort and excellence they produce.  When a top employee feels underappreciated due to low pay, lack of raises or bonuses, or lack of recognition, they may begin seeking an employer who is more ready to reward their efforts.
• They‘ve decided to explore other options.  Career paths change, especially when a highly motivated, passionate employee regularly considers “what could be” and pursues their ideas through research, networking, and planning.  Top employees may find a career path they haven’t explored, or wish to take their current work in a direction that their current employer does not or cannot support.  In some cases, an employer can accommodate a top employee’s new plan or project; in others, it may be time to say goodbye because the two have simply grown apart.

The dedicated recruiters at TERRA Staffing understand the nuances of what makes employees happy — or unhappy in their position. With this expertise, we are able to partner with companies to help them find and keep satisfied employees in key positions. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business!

Categories: Employee Engagement Ideas, HR and Management Advice

Tags: Portland Recruiting Solutions, Reasons Talent Leaves, Reasons Your Employee is Looking for a New Job, Reasons Your Employees Leave, Recruiting Companies in Portland, Recruiting Companies in Portland Oregon, Recruiting Services in Portland, Why Your Employees Look for New Jobs

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