Finding the right talent for your job openings can be challenging. It can be even more challenging if you only have access to average applicants with little enthusiasm for your position. If you’ve been searching for the perfect employee to fill your opening without much luck, it may be time to get creative and try something new.
Every business owner or recruiter has their own personal beliefs and preferred strategies. And while the following methods shouldn’t serve as the cornerstones of your recruiting efforts, they are great for when the search process becomes stale.
Give these 5 tips a try:
1) Implement a referral system
While many businesses are hesitant to implement a referral system for fear of creating an “inbred” organization in which there’s little influence from the outside, the reality is that these programs are very effective for small and large companies alike. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that it provides you with a steady source of passive candidates. In other words, you immediately gain access to candidates who may or may not be actively pursuing a job. These candidates are typically higher quality and can really add depth to your candidate pool.
2) Actively search for ex-military
Are you tired of interviewing candidates who lack leadership abilities? Then look no further than ex-military members. Not only do they possess strong leadership skills, but they’re also able to bring a unique perspective to your company. It’s also relatively easy to find candidates. Sites like HireVeterans.com and HirePatriots.com are happy to work with both private and public companies.
3) Publish creative content
Outside of popular job listing search engines, are you utilizing the power of the internet? One popular trend is to publish creative guest blog posts and on-site articles, seeking out motivated employees. With just a few shares on social media, your post can find its way in front of thousands of potential candidates. “Finding the right employees for a job opening can be a major challenge in innovative, fast-paced industries,” says Ajay Nair of Housing, one of the largest online real estate listing services in the world. “Publishing creative content is one of the best ways to attract and engage potential hires.”
4) Consider former student-athletes
Much like ex-military members, former college student-athletes typically make for good candidates. Not only do they understand how to work well with a team of people, but they’re also incredibly versatile. After all, student-athletes are required to juggle athletics, schoolwork, and their social life. If you’re going to hire someone straight out of college, a student-athlete may be your best bet.
5) Host an open house
Before the internet came along and introduced business owners to job listing sites, open houses were pretty common. Businesses looking to hire a number of new employees would actually open their doors and encourage interested candidates to stop by. Have you ever thought about doing something similar? It’s a great way to put names to faces and essentially lets you wine and dine the candidates you’re interested in. You don’t want to host regular open houses – as this cheapens the event – but they can be effective when held once or twice a year.
Never Settle for Boring Recruiting
Recruiting is important for a number of reasons. Specifically, it allows you to control the direction of your company. Based on the type of people you recruit and hire, you can shape your organization’s corporate culture and reestablish core values. While it’s totally natural for the recruitment process to stall from time to time, you shouldn’t ever take your foot off the pedal. It’s important to continually develop recruitment strategies and try new things. Next time you encounter a stale period of growth, give the aforementioned tips a try. You’ll love the results!
Author: Larry Alton is an independent business consultant specializing in social media trends, business, and entrepreneurship.
