Learn How to Recruit in an Ultra-Competitive Marketplace

In 2019, employment in the United States experienced staggering growth.  By May, 156.8 million Americans were employed resulting in a record low unemployment rate of just 3.6 percent. With the majority of job seekers fully employed and in search of very specific opportunities, companies need to be strategic in how they boost desirability in the market before the job is posted.    

Get Your Advertising Right

You can have the best job opportunity in the world, but it amounts to nothing if the right people don’t see it. Consider these techniques:

• Maintain a careers website: Post your jobs to a dedicated page, providing all of the relevant information and a simple application process. Use search engine optimization techniques or pay-per-click advertising to improve Google search result placement. This is also an opportunity to capture some contact details to continue to market to potential job seekers.

• Post on job boards: Online job boards are a popular way for job seekers to look for a new position. With hundreds of new posts every day, you need to ensure you make your advert stand out, using a catchy title and a succinct description of the key benefits or being an employee.

• Use social media: With an estimated 2.77 billion social media users worldwide, social media is an important tool for recruitment, granting access to the largest possible talent pool. On Facebook, it’s possible to create engaging content that targets specific candidates while also drawing the attention of passive candidates who aren’t actively in the job market. Social professional networks such as LinkedIn are one of the top three methods for people to seek new jobs, and provide an excellent platform for companies to develop a successful recruitment strategy.

• Seek advice: If you don’t have an advertising team, or you’re unsure how to proceed, consider the services of an external advertising agency with the necessary skills.

Build Your Reputation 

Skilled workers won’t jump at the first job opportunity they find. There are two important ways to build your company’s reputation to make your job offers more appealing: 

• Be a good employer: Company reviews by employees are becoming increasingly important, with a 2016 study revealing 70 percent of people consider such reviews before choosing a new employer.

• Become a thought leader: Publishing important white papers and trendsetting ideas positions your company as a thought leader. The most skilled workers want to work for the best and brightest businesses, and they naturally gravitate to those at the forefront of their fields. 

Connect On Social Media

Social media isn’t just a way to post your recruitment adverts. It’s a great way to develop relationships with talented people by keeping them engaged, between job postings or when they aren’t actively seeking employment. Reach out potential prospects  by posting content about your company that makes them interested in finding out more and sharing your job opportunities as they become available. If you foster these relationships, workers are more likely to think of you first when they’re ready to make a change.

Use an Employment Referral Program

Referral programs are an incredibly cost-effective way to find new workers, with almost 25 percent of recruiters claiming they found their best candidates through referrals. Offering your current employees a meaningful incentive to recommend friends for key roles has the potential to bring talent through the doors without investing in expensive advertising and serves as an additional benefit to roll into your compensation package to make working for your company more appealing.