Executive from Food Lion Discloses Strategies for Recruiting Elite Workers
In the fast-paced world of grocery retail, Food Lion is making waves with a fresh approach to hiring. Jessica Griffin, the company's Talent Acquisition Manager, is driving this change, having come from the tech industry where she recognized the need for a more modern and streamlined hiring process.
Griffin's strategy involves a three-step interview process: a conversation with the first person, a second interview with a store manager or CSM, and an assessment of talent before hiring. This approach ensures a consistent experience for all candidates, regardless of the role they're applying for.
Recognizing the preferences of younger applicants, Griffin has highlighted the importance of using digital channels for communication. She notes that more young applicants are likely to post profiles on Handshake than LinkedIn, making these platforms essential for reaching potential candidates.
To make the application process more convenient, Griffin has implemented a mobile application process, allowing job seekers to apply from their phones quickly and easily.
Griffin's philosophy is strategic and focused on finding the right individuals, rather than aiming to hire everyone. She believes in keeping the interview process short and assessing everyone on the same pole.
In terms of communication, Griffin counsels her team to regularly email potential candidates to keep them engaged. This proactive approach has helped Food Lion reduce its turnover rate from 88% to 67%.
Griffin also advocates for asking new hires about their salary, location, and long-term plans to strengthen their bonds with the company. This open dialogue helps ensure that both the company and the candidates are on the same page from the outset.
To find qualified candidates efficiently, Griffin praises the use of Indeed Smart Sourcing, which significantly reduced the time to find interested candidates from 45 days to 24 hours. She has also accelerated the offer process for those already hired by using DocuSign.
Griffin's approach to hiring is centered on making things easier, better, and more meaningful for both the company and the candidates. She encourages keeping relationships with job candidates, even if they are not hired, to keep them in the pipeline for future opportunities.
In the current labor market, which Griffin notes is "very different" than it was 10 years ago, people are seeking convenience and stability. To adapt, grocery retailers can focus on digital communication, understanding candidate preferences, and leveraging technology.
For instance, using tech-driven recruitment tools such as AI-powered applicant tracking systems, personalized job matching, and proactive outreach can create a seamless and engaging candidate experience. Offering hybrid or remote work options where feasible aligns with modern employee expectations and reduces turnover.
Understanding evolving candidate preferences through market research is also crucial. The food retail industry’s recent success in reducing turnover by expanding incentives and developing training programs shows the value of responding to employee needs.
Leveraging data and digital channels to target recruitment efforts better, personalize communications, and engage candidates on platforms they frequent can also improve recruitment efficiency. Investing in training programs focused on digital skills and emerging technologies can ensure new hires are prepared and feel valued with growth opportunities.
Adopting a candidate-centric approach, ensuring communications are clear, timely, and personalized, can improve employer branding and loyalty. By integrating these approaches, grocery retailers can enhance recruitment efficiency, attract the right talent, and improve retention despite labor market shifts and competitive forces.
Griffin uses her background as a certified career coach to help candidates find their next opportunity and prepare for interviews. Her transformative approach to hiring is a testament to the power of modernizing recruitment strategies in the grocery retail industry.
- Jessica Griffin, the Talent Acquisition Manager at Food Lion, utilizes her experience from the tech industry to implement a modern hiring process, focusing on digital channels for communication and efficient technology tools such as AI-powered applicant tracking systems and personalized job matching.
- In her strategic approach to hiring, Griffin prioritizes offering convenience and stability, emphasizing the use of mobile applications, hybrid or remote work options, and training programs focused on digital skills and emerging technologies to attract and retain talented individuals.
- To create a seamless and engaging candidate experience, Griffin leverages data and digital channels for targeted recruitment efforts, proactive outreach, and clear, timely, and personalized communications, ultimately improving employer branding and reducing turnover in the grocery retail industry.
