(Photo courtesy of PrideStaff)
1. Post an open job.
2. Wait for applications to come in.
3. Hope you find a match.
If this is your approach to hiring, you’re probably losing the war for talent to your competitors. This reactionary method of recruiting is ineffective in our current market. With unemployment at historic lows, talented people aren’t actively looking for jobs. Waiting for your ideal candidates to knock on your door is like planting a garden in the desert and praying for rain. If you want to find great people, you’ve got to take action.
The Challenges of Passive Recruiting
Hiring teams know the value of trading in a reactive hiring strategy for proactive, passive recruiting in a tight market, but most employers still do not take the time to build relationships with employed talent. The fact is, passive recruitment takes time — often months or even years — and most internal HR teams don’t have the time to devote to the long game of building relationships with talent with what they often see as little ROI.
Passive recruiting must also be supported by strong employer branding. Talented people will spend time researching your organization online before ever considering pursuing a relationship. If they don’t find useful, worthwhile information about what it’s like to work for you on your website and social media profiles, they won’t be interested in what you have to offer.
Making It Worth Their While
A strong passive recruiting strategy is only half the battle, however. If you want talented people to join your organization, you have to make it worth their while. This means offering:
Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits
Strong work-life balance
A positive company culture
A pathway for career development and growth
In a tight market, it is necessary to keep your finger on the pulse of market trends, so you can make compelling offers to passive talent that will entice them to make a change.
An Easier Way to Win the War for Talent
Winning the war for talent in today’s tight market takes time, effort and resources, but if you don’t make those investments, you won’t find who you’re looking for. Fortunately, there is a simple way to connect to top talent in your market and access a robust pipeline of passive talent ready to make a move for the right opportunity.
