Your 2013 headcount, goals and budget wish lists have been approved. Now it’s time to make some resolutions that will help you reach your human resources goals while working within your budget. When it comes to recruiting, the status quo isn’t enough anymore. Resolve to improve your recruiting process and reap the benefits of top notch candidates in 2013.
Resolution #1: Be visible. Everyone is talking about social media. Smart hiring managers and job seekers are not just talking about it, they’re using social media to their advantage. Get with the times and jump in!
Create a profile on LinkedIn and build your connections. Whether you’re actively recruiting now or not, all hiring managers should be on LinkedIn as job seekers regularly run searches on target companies to see who they know and who their connections know. Introductions are made and as we all know, talented people know other talented people. Get yourself out there, link to folks you know and get active, enter the conversation.
Look at your organization’s website. Is it eye catching, crisp, easy to navigate and full of interesting information? Candidates may visit your website and quickly make an opinion about your organization before they even think about applying. Use your website to show you are a thought leader, that you’ve won awards for being a best place to work and in your industry, and that your products or services are meaningful and top notich. Give candidates a reason to apply!
Resolution #2: Be compelling. You found a great candidate. What do you do now? Show and tell your value proposition to the candidate. Link your organization’s impressive attributes to the candidate’s interests. Pull back the curtain, give a mighty performance and present an honest depiction of your organization, team and culture.
Show genuine interest in the candidate. Get to know him or her. What are their interests and passions? What makes them tick? In what types of environments do they excel? Then reciprocate. Describe what is unique about your organization and this position. Why do you like working here? What is the culture? Show examples of interesting work, highlighting how you are different than your competitors. Introduce the candidate to your top performers.
Resolution #3: Be involved. Focus on growing and developing your employees. Observe. Listen. Invest. This is an important recipe for retaining talent.
Your #1 candidate accepted the offer and is now officially a member of the team. Congratulations! Your work doesn’t stop here. Now is when you need to become even more involved. Be a mentor and coach. Communicate to employees why you value them and their contributions. Give constructive feedback to help with continued growth and development. Compensate fairly. Create opportunities for visibility within the organization and with senior management. Assign intellectually stimulating stretch projects. Investing in your employees will lead to increased employee morale and employee productivity for everyone.
There are still a few weeks left before turning the calendar to 2013. Think about your approach to identifying, hiring and retaining talent. What are your resolutions for the new year? What changes can you make to be an employer of choice to star job seekers?
Article written by Michele St. Laurent, Recruiting Practice Manager.
