Recruiting Strategies Pay Off

In a competitive recruiting environment, employers need to get creative to win the best talent. Innovative recruiting tactics that go beyond classified ads and national job-positing boards can improve the quality and number of candidates you attract.

Keep Your Eyes Open
Recruiting can occur in the most unexpected places. “The competition to recruit is pretty tough,” according to Kathy Jones, human resource manager at Aventail, an Internet network builder in Seattle. “You have to get funky in your methods sometimes." When Jones travels on business, she arrives at the airport an hour early and snoops at other travelers’ luggage tags. If she notices company tags of an Aventail competitor, she attempts to talk shop with the tag owner and gauge their interest in working for the company.

Scout Local Events
Go to trade shows, community picnics, local association meetings and other events where you can meet potential employees and promote your company. It's a great way to reach out to passive job seekers — individuals who aren't actively looking for jobs but are open to new opportunities. After she handed out T-shirts and cups at a local St. Patrick’s Day run in Seattle, Jones landed a few interviews. “We’re always looking for events and places to go where people in our industry may be,” she said.