Many times human resource professionals are under the impression that money is the biggest motivator for candidate attraction and employee retention. Anyone who has knowledge of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, it becomes easier to understand that salary truly only fulfills the most primary level of physiological needs. Items such as training and advancement opportunities fulfill higher levels of needs, such as the fourth layer, the need for esteem, and the fifth and highest level, self-actualization ("Abraham Maslow," 2005).

This realization can be readily applied to the military environment. Attracting and retaining talented candidates for the military is always a top concern, at this point in history even more so. Certainly some are motivated by sign on bonuses, but as Connolly's article demonstrates, this isn't the most powerful motivator. Therefore, focusing on other aspects of the benefits of the military may be a more successful method of attracting and...

Focusing on the advancement opportunities, the training that can apply outside of military life, the educational opportunities may be more effective.
In the end, Connolly's article brings to light a very important fact. Although money may motivate someone to join an organization, it will not necessarily ensure that they will stay. Organizations, no matter what sector they reside in, have to attract and retain good people in order to be successful. By focusing on meeting higher levels of needs, other than monetary, the military may be able to increase their effectiveness in hiring and retention.

References

Abraham Maslow. (13 Jan. 2005). Retrieved February 7, 2005, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow.

Connolly, J. (23 Nov., 2004). Positive approach to hiring will be repaid. Personnel Today. Retrieved February 7, 2005, from InfoTrac database.

Review: Positive Approach in Hiring Will be Repaid