As a recruiter, what do you look for in each and every individual that you try and recruit?

For some recruiters, the goal is to get the best educated/most experienced individuals. Others, meantime, look for the ones who not only offer experience and know-how, but also prove to be great communicators. Still others may be searching for those applicants who show the most enthusiasm for the position at hand.

Did you ever stop and think that you should also be looking for the individuals who are most fit? Exercise and health… do they really play a role in the recruiting process?

For more and more recruiters, don’t be shocked to see them checking out the health and fitness of potential employees.

Why Health and Fitness Matter

While many business owners have decided that it was wise to get a corporate wellness plan for their company, others have neglected or not even considered such an idea.

Whether you fall into the former or latter camps, recruiting and retaining healthy and fit employees should be a no-brainier, yet many companies fail to take the importance of this into account.

As an example, suppose you have several workers who are out of shape and/or getting sick more often than not. You may think that having them miss a few days here and there is not such a big deal, but even when they are at their desks or out on the road meeting clients, are they really getting everything done when they are not feeling up to speed?

Some may counter that the employees are only there (at your office or on the road for you) to work and their personal well-being is not your top priority. If you are of that mind, there is a good chance you will have a high turnover rate for starters.

Lots of Ways to Keep Workers Healthy

In the event you still need time to determine whether a corporate wellness program should be part of company and your recruitment pitch, look at some other areas of fitness and health that you can promote and discuss with applicants.

They include:

• Memberships to local gym – Encouraging employees to go and workout prior to or after work is good. You can include a gym membership in their employment once they have passed their probationary period. This can also build office camaraderie, especially given the fact that many people like to have a workout buddy when they go to a gym;
• Nutrition – You can also encourage employees to eat better (at least while they are on the job) by including healthy treats around the office. Okay, some employees will automatically look for the junk food that is dispersed from so many vending machines, but offering fruits, vegetables and other goodies certainly doesn’t hurt;
• Workplace activities – Finally, scheduling workplace get-togethers that involve physical activities is also a good idea. From bowling and softball outings to being active in local charity runs and walks, this is another great option.

Given the financial loss that prolonged days missed due to illness and injury can have on both the company and the employee, recruiting healthy and happy workers should always be a top priority for the recruiter in you.

As a recruiter, where do you rank a person’s health and fitness when interviewing them for a job?

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About the Author: Dave Thomas writes for a variety of websites on topics such as marketing and small business.