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“The key to attracting employees who are passionate, dedicated and insanely curious about what it takes to succeed is being as committed to their success as you want them to be to yours.”— Misti Burmeister

When I first connected with Karen over email, I assumed she was a seasoned professional. Her communication was direct, focused and intentional. A few weeks later, I was surprised to shake the hand of a 22-year-old who is brand new to the financial-services industry.

Over lunch at Panera Bread, Karen told me about interviewing for jobs after college and why she chose her current employer – the two-person firm, J&W.

“I could have made a lot more money with a larger institution,” she said. “But when I interviewed at those firms, the quality of their questions and our conversations were not what I was looking for.”

Curious, I asked what made her experience with J&W so different.

Ted, one of the two owners, is apparently so passionate about the stock market that he listens to Bloomberg at 10 p.m. “He’s constantly checking the news, thinking about the stock market, and strategizing,” Karen explained. “While I want to go home and relax in the evenings, his passion makes me want to learn and grow.”

Many of Karen’s friends took jobs with large firms. “They don’t actually get to choose the projects they work on,” she told me. “These firms lack a hands-on approach. It’s a lost art.”

A lost art? I thought. She’s 20-something!

She’s one heck of a determined, curious and dedicated 20-something, though – the kind of employee companies are itching to attract.

The key to attracting employees who are passionate, dedicated and insanely curious about what it takes to succeed is being as committed to their success as you want them to be to yours.

Do you have what it takes to attract and retain the Karens of the world? Consider the answers to these key questions:

  1. Have I created an environment that promotes learning and employee development? How have I done this?
  2. Do I have a thirst for learning? Am I curious, willing to be challenged, and always seeking to improve?
  3. Am I a champion of other people’s success? How do I know that I am?

In preparation for my next book, I was granted a rare, exclusive interview with Richard Fairbank, founder and CEO of Capital One – a company that has received numerous awards for not only being a best place to work, but also for developing leaders. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from him: “The very best leaders are always looking for ways to promote and support the people around them.”

Join the Conversation: How do you create an environment that attracts top talent and rising stars?

Misti Burmeister, best-selling author of From Boomers to Bloggers: Success Strategies Across GenerationsHidden Heroes and Power Suck.

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