Rock Star Engineers on Craigslist? Unlikely Sources for Top Talent
Check out these unconventional ways to locate great employees
If you need an incredibly-talented employee for a new project but all your traditional sources have dried up, you might want to try something new, something different, and maybe even something a little odd to find the rock star you need. From putting up an attention-getting billboard on the side of a highway to using the internet in obvious (and not so-obvious) ways, here are some tips for fresh ways to source top talent quickly.
Personal social media accounts
It’s one thing to put a job posting on a corporate website or social media account, but if your company’s social media visibility isn’t huge and it doesn’t have significant website traffic, only a few people will see it. Even if your company’s profiles are a big hit on social media, the post will only reach the people who are following your account. This is why it could be a good idea to post the job on your personal social media account and potentially encourage your co-workers to do so as well.
If a potential candidate within these networks sees the posting and is interested, they can comment or message you. And if anyone seems promising, you can contact them or forward their information to a hiring manager or other decision makers.
On a site like Facebook, the post doesn’t have to be restricted to your profile. You can also post the job description on any Facebook groups that might contain good candidates. For example, if the position calls for a talented recent graduate with a degree in computer science, you can search Facebook groups for schools with top computer science programs or groups for people buying or selling computer science textbooks.
Using groups on social networks to post and look for talent could work effectively with LinkedIn as well – and if you’re recruiting for a youth-based or lifestyle brand, networks like Instagram or Snapchat could also play a role in your recruiting process. A company could even create an engaging and memorable YouTube video describing the perfect candidate for their position and encouraging qualified people to apply by sending a video back explaining why they would be a good fit for the position.
Search through online forums
Often, experts on a variety of topics – especially technical ones – can be found on forums, answering questions, discussing ideas, and generally exhibiting their technical know-how. Sites like Reddit host forums, discussion boards, and question-and-answer sessions with academics and experts in a variety of industries.
On most forum sites, each user’s profile displays stats about the number of posts they’ve made, how long they’ve been on the site, and how they’re rated by other forum users. Since looking through forums can be a long, hit-or-miss process, you’ll likely want to look for the most experienced forum-users as potential employees.
Look on Craigslist
Craigslist can be a very effective way to search for talent – if you know where to look. Consider making a post on career-related groups in areas close to where the job is located, or search for people who have posted looking for a job in a similar category or field to the one you’re recruiting for – you never know who you might find.
Old-school innovative
A Canadian manufacturing company, Formashape, famously placed a billboard outside their plant with the words “Trespassers Will Be Hired.” After a local newspaper reported on the billboard, hundreds of applicants sent their resumes to the firm. Whether they found the candidates they were looking for is unknown, but with all the publicity, it’s safe to assume they did.
When you’re in a pinch and can’t find the right person for the job, it can pay to think outside the box- and that’s exactly what we do at Capital Markets Placement. With an elite network of highly-qualified professionals and customized solutions to fit your business, we have you covered when it comes to recruiting top talent. Call us at 212.342.7430 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
