Revitalize Your Recruiting for 2005

Happy New Year! The forecasts are in agreement: Hiring is on the rise. 2005 will mark the revitalization of our economy. In fact, hiring plans may rival 1999 statistics, when the economy was at its strongest.

The beginning of the year is a time for renewal and an opportunity to make positive changes. Will you keep doing what you did in 2004? Or are you ready to change the direction of your recruiting and staffing model?

Journal and newspaper ads continue to deluge hiring managers with resumes by the pound. The "Big 3" internet job boards just aren't getting it done. Everyone has a "Careers" page on their corporate web site, but I'm guessing that most of you aren't exactly overwhelmed with the results.

It's time for some fresh ideas.

Here are seven recruiting tips you can consider to blend into your existing arsenal:

1) Start a blog. By now we've all heard a lot about blogging. That's because this is a very cost effective communications tool. Every time I write an entry to my blog, Googlebot (Google's spider) crawls my blog. Corporations can blog to drive traffic to a Careers page where the exact audience you are targeting can then apply for open positions.

Remember to optimize your headline; write about what people are surfing for on the web. Then watch your audience grow (I don't know about you, but I like it when my reading audience increases every week). Next month's article will cover blogging tools, traffic conversion and SEM/SEO tools. And most of these tools are FREE.

2) Publish an e-newsletter. What better way to keep in touch with current employees and be sure they are aware of plans to expand, new projects underway, or changes to your employee referral plan? This is another extremely favorable cost-benefit tool; if you set this up properly, it shouldn't be a drain on your resources or time.

In fact, why stop at only one e-newsletter? Why not create an alternate version to communicate with former alumni who have left your organization? The people that you'd hire back in a heartbeat if given the opportunity. Share all of the hot news, and publish photos and audio testimonials from current employees who miss working with them.

Are there a few individuals in particular who you would love to have back into your organization? Consider sending them personalized audio postcards from your CEO. No one is doing this (yet), so you will really stand out and make a strong impression.

3) Engage in regular direct mail campaigns. Use postcard marketing to:

? Drive traffic to a website where you may have jobs posted.

? Announce the location of your booth at the next trade show.

? Advertise and promote your Employee Referral Program (ERP).

You can also use postcard campaigns to reach profile candidates regularly. Profile candidates are those people you would hire any day of the week because there are constant needs for these positions (e.g. nurses, SAS programmers, CRAs, etc.). Run a campaign designed to encourage people to apply for specialized positions which they may not have otherwise heard about.

4) Make your corporate Careers page a priority. Be sure jobs are updated frequently and that positions that have been filled are removed. Consider using a pop-under box when a visitor leaves your site; ask them (with audio) "Are you sure you are ready to leave the site? How can we make our site better?" Then read and act on the feedback that people will readily share with you.

In addition, review your site to make sure you're speaking to specific skill sets and audiences. For example, do you address different types of candidates (diversity, current employees, part-time, contract, allied health, nursing, physicians, military, summer jobs, internships)? Do you engage them in conversations specific to your needs and theirs?

5) Learn to throw a boomerang. Actually, "the boomerang effect" is a relatively new trend of inviting back talented former employees into the fold. Surveys indicate 12% of employers cautiously admit they would re-hire ex-employees (alumni). An additional 21% say they welcome back alumni without hesitation because of the time and dollar savings. In fact, the Gartner Group estimated that by 2003, 60% of mid to large-sized companies will have routinely hired back former employees.

6) Try CEO Campaigns (a hidden secret that costs $0.09 a minute!). Okay, I admit that the actual costs to apply this tip depend on your phone plan charges! But let's ignore that detail for a moment.

Have you ever received a call from someone at a senior level in your profession ? just to talk about YOU? It's flattering. It sure doesn't happen every day. And you won't soon forget it. Have your senior management team make three calls each month without fail to hot candidates. Then delegate the follow-up contact work to someone who can act as a peer ambassador. This no-pressure approach will build good will and portray your place of work as being a progressive, in-demand, and creative place to work.

7) Give your ERP a tune-up. Do you have an ERP (Employee Referral Program)? If you don't, you need to develop one. It doesn't have to be complicated, but essentially your current employees should be rewarded for recommending friends and peers to apply for open position needs you have. Some clients I've worked with developed very successful programs paying $1,000.00 to $5,000.00 per employee referred who was a successful hire. Does that sound like a lot of money? Compare it to the drain of not having critical, hard-to-fill positions remain open month after month. You'll find this level of cash reward to be quite a bargain.

I've also seen other organizations give away $50.00 movie certificates, or $500.00 towards personal expenses, for more common position needs.

Top companies find many of their hires through well-developed referral structures, combining exciting programs, innovative technology, and constant communication. Often, these hires are more loyal and get up to speed faster. A successful ERP also boosts morale and will serve as a means for your employees to directly contribute to your organizational success.

Biography: Lucia Apollo Shaw is the President and CEO of HireWorks, Inc. HireWorks is a professional search firm specializing in the Life Sciences. HireWorks offers research services, contract staffing, and permanent placement services. She has been helping her customers for nearly 9 years - working both as a third party recruiter for CDI Corp (staffing customers like IBM), Trilogy Consulting (now Venturi Partners) staffing the Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry and in places like Duke University where she was a corporate recruiter and Team Leader for recruitment for Duke University Hospital. Lucia earned a B.A. from the State University of NY (University Center at Albany) and pursued Graduate Studies in Public Administration at the Sage Graduate School in Albany, NY.

To subscribe the The Hiring Insider please visit http://www.hiringinsider.com

---

Does Your Career Change Itch or Burn?

Two weeks ago, I received a newsy email from a... Read More

Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For

When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you,... Read More

What Do You Want From Life?

The tragedy for millions of people is that they never... Read More

What A Former Stay At Home Mom Knows About Creating A Stunning Resume That You Dont

Recently I was asked to touch up a friend's resume.... Read More

5 Interviewing Tips To Get That Job!

Anyone who is a jobseeker knows that looking for a... Read More

18 Career Enhancement Caveats

Core value investing in your careerMany people walk through their... Read More

How to Make Your Career Change Easier

Despite what your grandmother told you, life is not supposed... Read More

Five Biggest Resume Mistakes You Can Fix Yourself

A career consultant can diagnose and overhaul a troubled resume.... Read More

The Secrets to Interview Success

Many well qualified and extremely able candidates fail at job... Read More

Advantages of Mobile Oil Changes; A Potential Small Business for You?

Mobile oil change and mobile lubes are great for fleet... Read More

50 Things To Do To Your Boss That Are Fun For You, But Not For Them

1. You're eavesdropping and you hear your boss has reservations... Read More

How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part I

The AIDA formula is as old as dirt. It was... Read More

Manage Your Boss - And Get Ahead!

It's clear there are a number of common issues faced... Read More

Get a Life Why Dont Ya?!

It's okay to take your job seriously, to be a... Read More

Knowing and Guessing

The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted... Read More

How Hedgehogs Hire

In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle,... Read More

Is Your Resume Doing ITS Job?

Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel... Read More

Telephone Phobia: Make the Phone Your Job Search Friend

You're pretty comfortable using the phone. It's something you do... Read More

Finally Revealed: The Top 7 Resume Killers?

During my job search I read dozens of books and... Read More

So Youre Thinking of Changing Careers

"You don't have to take life the way it comes... Read More

10 Keys to Getting Paid What You?re Worth!

Asking for money is so taboo in our culture that... Read More

Resume Writing - Importance of a Professional Summary

The Summary is the preview of your entire resume. This... Read More

Recruiters for MSN or Data Miners?

Is Kenexa recruiting for Microsoft or just mining for data?I... Read More

Have Some PASTA with Your Interview

When cyclists prepare for a big race, they always make... Read More

7 Deadly Cover Writing Sins

Don't start off your job search with one (or more)... Read More

10 Tips For Writing A Professional Résumé

1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics... Read More

Three Tips for Successful Networking

I generally shy away from using the word "networking" when... Read More

Why Do You Want This Job?

Why Do You Want This Job? Is it because any... Read More

Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position

It is often said that the majority of people are... Read More

I Quit!

More and more people are calling it quits to successful... Read More

Signs of a Healthy Work Environment

There's no denying that a healthy work environment is a... Read More

Finding a Career in Harmony with Your Life Path

Which of the following would you chose? Doing your lifework... Read More

Is Your Career Your Calling or Just a 9 to 5?

Do you remember your parents asking you what you want... Read More