1.03 – Finding The Right People
People are the heart of every business. The better the people you hire, the better your business will be. Some individuals are naturally suited for their jobs—think of someone who thrives as a receptionist or someone who excels in sales. Imagine how successful your organization could be if every position was filled with people who are passionate about their roles.
The Importance of Hiring the Right People
Bad hires can negatively impact your organization for years. Hiring the wrong candidate can create a miserable work environment and affect your company’s reputation. Addressing these issues can be time-consuming and costly. Would you rather spend a few extra hours upfront finding the best candidates or later devote countless hours dealing with the problems caused by a poor hire?
Developing a Recruitment System
To ensure you have a pool of candidates to interview, you need a robust system for finding the right people. The goal is to develop a long-term hiring strategy that involves a broad search and a thorough selection process.
Going Through Traditional Recruiting Channels
Here are some effective ways to find candidates for your positions:
Internal Candidates
Start by looking within your organization. Training and developing employees can provide you with qualified candidates for job openings. Hiring internally is often less expensive and easier, leading to happier employees and improved morale.
Personal Referrals
Referrals from coworkers, professional colleagues, friends, relatives, or neighbors can be a valuable source of candidates. Referrals provide insight into candidates’ strengths and weaknesses from trusted sources. Research shows that people hired through referrals tend to perform better, stay longer, and be more satisfied.
Temporary Agencies
Hiring temporary employees can be a practical solution for short-term needs. Temporary agencies allow you to try out employees before making a permanent hire. If a temporary worker is a good fit, you can often hire them full-time after a nominal fee or a minimum time commitment.
Professional Associations
Many professions have associations that support their members. Advertising job openings through these associations’ newsletters, magazines, websites, and social media can help you reach a prescreened audience with relevant expertise.
Employment Agencies
For specialized positions or recruiting in small markets, employment agencies can help. Although they can be costly, agencies can locate qualified candidates for lower-level positions. For higher-level roles, consider using an executive search firm or headhunter.
Want Ads
Advertising in newspapers, nationally distributed publications, or job-search websites can reach a large audience. However, this method may result in a high volume of unqualified applicants.
Leveraging the Power of the Internet
The internet offers numerous tools for recruiting, including corporate web pages and online employment agencies. Your website can provide extensive information about your business and job openings in various formats, working for you 24/7.
Here are some of the best ways to use the internet for hiring:
Websites and Blogs
A well-designed recruiting page on your company website is essential. Company blogs where employees share their experiences can give candidates insight into your organization. Include a function for visitors to sign up for email updates or RSS feeds to be notified of new positions.
Email Campaigns
Use the email addresses collected from your website to announce job openings. Even if recipients aren’t interested, they may forward the information to others who are.
Social Networking Sites
Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn can help you reach a broad audience. LinkedIn is particularly effective for job networking, while Facebook can be used to create a fan page for recruitment purposes. Both are free to use.
Use Twitter to share real-time information about job openings. The platform allows you to reach a wide audience with short, timely updates.
Traditional Job-Hunting Sites
Sites like CareerBuilder, Indeed, SimplyHired, and Monster are popular with job seekers. Posting your openings on these sites can help you reach a large audience. For a free option, consider using Craigslist.
By combining traditional recruiting methods with the power of the internet, you can develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy that attracts top talent to your organization.
