The competition for qualified candidates is fierce. Many professional applicants are employed in careers at organizations where they feel at home and are not searching for a change. If no one makes an effort to recruit new employees, these candidates will stay at their existing jobs and won’t be aware of the potential within your company.
Recruiting is an activity that is “results-based.” Meaningful hires and placements are what count. However, every recruiter knows that filling a position takes a lot of work. Since time is a finite resource, you must ensure that your efforts are directed toward achieving your goals and expanding your network.
Focusing and fine-tuning your efforts are necessary for network-building success. First, you must choose a niche to concentrate your network marketing efforts. Your networking efforts should be directed toward those organizations, ventures, and associations if you are looking to hire top talents. You must establish a recruiting network to increase your efficiency and decrease your hiring time. This network is also one way to stay competitive in the market today.
How does a recruiting network help?
You may more successfully leverage your network to bring in qualified people for your company if you are aware of the goals and methods of networking.
You must be innovative and participate in classic and non-traditional networking activities for a successful recruitment effort. For example, many businesses promote their brands and job openings on social networking sites. However, government agencies are less likely than public and privately owned for-profit firms to engage in network recruitment, while all businesses engage in outreach.
Make sure your company’s brand communicates that it is a fantastic place to work as part of your network recruiting efforts. Ensure people know your identity and the advantages you may offer job candidates. If your business lives up to its reputation, you might discover that your present employees and their existing networks are the finest recruiters. Therefore, don’t forget to increase the size of your recruitment team by including current employees in your efforts; they may prove to be powerful influencers.
Professional networks can also be used to find “passive” but capable job seekers who aren’t actively looking for jobs. Using networking as a recruitment method, you may spread the word about your business, culture, and job possibilities outside the posting process. It may boost the number of candidates and foster interest. Spend the time necessary to maintain and grow your relationships.
Be specific about the position title and the skills and qualities needed when describing your business to people in your professional network. Then, utilize one-on-one interactions by locating and using the necessary “connectors” in your network.
The “connectors” in your network may propose contacts to obtain further advice or expertise, adding value to your search process and referring job candidates to you directly. In addition, academic or alumni events and organized events through local or industry business organizations provide helpful forums to support you in leveraging and expanding your network.
Also, utilize your present employees’ networks. True talent recognizes true talent. Programs that reward employees for referring coworkers in the form of money or goods are particularly effective when filling highly specialized roles that may be challenging to fill through traditional routes. In addition, people tend to associate with other professionals in their field, giving them access to coworkers with technical or uncommon skills.
Utilizing a Recruiting Network
You can utilize networking to draw in job seekers in several ways, including:
- Make use of social media to find the best prospects.
You must remain visible in areas where qualified candidates congregate. Most businesses utilize LinkedIn because it is the most popular social media platform for hiring. Recruiters are becoming more and more accustomed to using Facebook. They learn that many passive job seekers spend their leisure time on Facebook and Twitter.
- Utilize the networks of your staff
In addition to social media, your employees’ networks can be a great place to locate new talent. You can identify previous college and workplace coworkers, family members, and acquaintances inside these networks. You may find those latent talents by asking your staff to promote your business, even if they aren’t seeking a new job. This will increase the pool of passive candidates you have access to. As an added benefit, your staff can advise you on whether or not potential hires would be a suitable cultural fit for the business.
- Continue to communicate with your potential applicants
Maintain the connections you have built through your networking efforts by staying in touch with the people you have met. Occasionally give them the knowledge that is pertinent to their line of work. Even if they can’t apply or don’t seem interested in working for your business now, things might change later.
