Master Hiring: 8 Strategies for Recruiting Top Talent

Recruiting top talent takes a combination of creativity and persistence. To really connect with qualified candidates and drive excitement about new positions and your company, finding ways to stand out from other employers is key.

Below are 10 strategies to help you attract job seekers, create a memorable first impression of your company and successfully hire top candidates.

Utilize Your Socials

Social media is a fantastic recruiting tool. It allows you to share job postings with your entire network and encourages a two-way conversation. Even if the people you reach aren’t interested in the role you’re hiring for, they might know someone who is a good fit. Plus, by sharing photos and videos from company events, your workplace and/or day-to-day office life, you give potential applicants a glimpse into your company culture.

Make Your Job Descriptions Interesting

Writing an attention-grabbing and accurate job description is one of the most important parts of the hiring process. Make titles as specific as possible because the more accurate your title, the more effective you will be in piquing the interest of qualified job seekers. Open with a captivating summary and provide an overview that gets job seekers excited about the role and your company. Write out the core responsibilities, hard and soft skills, day-to-day activities and explain how the position fits into the organization. And lastly, be sure to highlight your culture. 72% of job seekers say it’s extremely or very important to see details about your company culture, so take the opportunity to spotlight your values and your people. 

Go to an Industry-Related Event

While job fairs can be helpful, non-recruiting-specific events are also an excellent opportunity to meet motivated industry professionals who are eager to network and advance in their field. For example, if you’re looking to hire a software engineer, find a local group, meetup or association focused on software development and attend a local meeting. The most passionate professionals will quickly stand out.

Check Out Public Resumes

Online sites like Indeed Resume hosts millions of resumes from job seekers across nearly any industry and location. Employers can quickly find candidates by entering a job title or skill and a city, state or zip. You can narrow down results by criteria like years of experience, education level and more. You can also set up a resume alert to receive daily emails with links to new resumes that match the criteria for the positions you’re looking to fill.

Check Out Past Candidates

When you’re hiring for a position, there are often a few talented candidates that end up not making the cut. When you’re recruiting for a similar position, consider re-visiting the resumes of past applicants. These candidates are already familiar with your company and may have picked up new skills and experience since you last spoke. 

Utilize Sponsored Job Postings

One of the best ways to ensure your job posting continues to stand out is through a sponsored job. These paid listings appear more often in relevant search results and their placement won’t fall back in search results over time like free job listings—which can result in more high-quality applicants.

Utilize Your Current Employees

Great people usually surround themselves with other highly capable professionals. While many employees may already be sharing open roles with qualified contacts in their networks, a well-developed employee referral program can encourage even more of your employees to refer the best talent they know. Consider providing incentives for referrals with bonuses and contests so you can create excitement around the program.

Sometimes the best person to interview a candidate is someone already working in the same or similar role. This employee already knows what it takes to excel in the position and can verify whether candidates have the skills and experience needed to do the job well. Current employees can also give an accurate description of day-to-day experiences and help candidates better understand what they can expect if hired.

Make Your Candidates Feel at Home

One of the best recruiting techniques is to treat interviewees the same way you treat your customers. Whether it’s a phone screening, video interview or an in-person interview, a candidate’s first impression of your company is critical. It’s important to make them feel like you’re just as excited about getting to know them as they are about being considered for the role.

If you’re running late, be respectful of their time and let the candidate know as far in advance as possible. When a candidate arrives for an interview, be hospitable. Ask if they’d like something to drink, show them where to find the restrooms and make them feel as comfortable as possible. And always provide potential candidates with your contact information so they’re able to reach out with questions and concerns throughout the hiring process.

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This article was originally published on diversitycomm.net.