In an independent poll submitted to thousands of hiring professionals around Phoenix, nearly 70% of responses indicated that finding quality candidates was their biggest obstacle in recruiting.
As a hiring professional myself, I know the struggles other hiring professionals face on a daily basis when it comes to attracting and retaining “A” players. I hope my thoughts help spread some light on how to recruit more effectively and spend less time sifting through irrelevant resumes.
All too often I hear employers acknowledge that certain job boards deliver large quantities of applicants but they don’t seem to get the quality they need. Well, when we recruit from sites that also offer used couches, free puppies, and love interests, what kind of job seeker do you think you’ll attract?
You must use reputable sources to get reputable applicants, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend money on overcharged, national job boards. There are local resources whose specialty it is to connect you with local talent while saving you time and money. Please connect with me for more information on these resources; my information is below.
Engaging in the community is one tip that many hiring professionals won’t take time to implement because they think it’s inefficient. Meanwhile, they sit in their offices spending hours sifting through resumes and interviewing candidates that they later wonder why they ever brought in!
There are plenty of community resources that regularly meet with, develop, and qualify local talent to meet the employment demands in your community. Some of these local employment resources include: Career Connectors, Goodwill Career Centers, Maricopa Workforce Connection, and religious organizations that operate local career centers. Engaging in your community enables you to network with career seekers and develop a rapport with them that’s outside the formalities of resume submissions and blind phone calls.
Using your internal workforce to generate referrals is not only a cost saving tool but it’s a way of incentivising your employees to make more money while still keeping your recruiting budget lower than it would have been had you recruited folks through a less-effective resource. Generating employee referrals helps enhance company culture which drives results. Surely your employees have friends or family that need work.
Incentivise your people by providing referral bonuses or prizes for the employees who can refer the most quality talent to you. Remember, employees typically stay with employers that help them feel secure financially and socially.
Conclusion:
Quality candidates are out there, but you won’t find them sitting in your office, doing the same things that hiring professionals have always done. You will find them by using local resources you’ve never used before, engaging in your community, and leveraging employee referral programs.
Any questions, please contact me anytime! Connect with me on LinkedIn.