By Erika Flora
April 2009

Many of us are familiar with and have, at one time or another, used one or more of the standard methods of finding employees: publishing positions in want ads, obtaining referrals from existing employees, posting openings on Internet sites like monster.com, etc. However, many of the traditional methods are not as effective as they once were. That is where a little creativity can help your company stand out in today’s competitive market and, ultimately, get the attention of prospective employees. Here are some different ideas that can go a long way:

• Write an eye-catching job description! Many job seekers are inundated with standard, run of the mill job descriptions. Get noticed by presenting your company’s unique message in a simple and genuine way to job seekers. You can do this by investing some time and energy to describe, for example, how an employee can expect to grow or learn from this new role. Let the excitement you have for your company show through in your job descriptions, and this will get others excited about working for you. For example, something like, “Get paid to do something you love” speaks volumes more than “Competitive pay and benefits”. Give compelling reasons why someone should work for your company, and people will clamor to do so.
• Reach those that are not looking! Some of the best employees are, many times, those that are already working elsewhere. Figure out some ways to reach those that are great at what they do, but are not necessarily looking for something this instant. Some ideas on reaching out to this elusive market include: networking, not just for new customers, but to build relationships with future employees; writing articles in local print media on how your culture is different or unique, etc. Think of ways your company can make people stop and take notice.
• Leverage professional organizations! Get involved with local professional organizations that cater to your industry. Do not just become a member —- get involved as a sponsor or host a networking mixer at your facility. This is a great way to meet prospective employees face-to-face in a relaxed atmosphere. Professional organizations are also a great place to advertise job openings. Many organizations can market your openings to members for a fraction of the cost of standard employment websites. Last, talk with the leaders of some professional organizations. They will be ecstatic to hear from you and will likely give you some great ideas on reaching out to potential employees.

The best people are hard to find, and they are screening you just as much as you are screening them. Thus, it becomes ever important to explore creative ways to attract future employees. Great companies are built on great people, so do not be afraid to try some new ideas to find them.