5 Ways to Recruit Top Talent in the COVID-19 Aftermath

With the current economic crisis, businesses are facing some of the toughest times ever in over a decade. What’s worst is that when a business crumbles, everyone around suffers. Employees get laid off, and creditors don’t get paid. It’s a ripple effect.

But there’ a silver lining to every negative turn. The businesses that can survive are blessed with one thing in the aftermath. They can choose from an abundance of talent to recruit to help take their business to the next level.

The one thing all businesses have in common is that they are looking to attract top talent and boost their workforce. However, it may be presumptuous to assume that money can buy this.

You want to seek potential employees with diverse skills and qualifications since their performance will be vital to your company’s success. So you should be on the lookout for motivated candidates who will fit into your existing organizational culture.

For instance, if want to keep ahead of the competition with a specific product or service, you need a top-notch marketer. Their responsibility will be to build a brand relationship between you and potential consumers by creating engaging content that will drive followers to purchase what you are selling. Likewise, they should be a reliable and dependable team member, working efficiently with others to get the job done in a timely manner.

Again, money does not guarantee that you will get the right person for the job. Recruitment is an ongoing process that depends on more than just an online job posting. Even potential employees look beyond salary and benefits – they look at the intangibles as well, including the working environment.

With this in mind, here are 5 ways to attract top talent for your business so that you can stay ahead of the game:

1. Put your brand in front of them before they go looking for a job

When we think of a job interview, we think of the opportunity to hire a candidate who has the necessary qualifications, expertise, and experience for a particular position.

However, what we often forget is that a job interview is a two-way street. It is also an opportunity to impress potential candidates into a decision to join and stay at a company.

Having said that, one of the best ways to gain quality talent is by putting your brand in front of them before they go looking for a job. This means spreading a message about the vision, mission, and values of your company that will spark on interest among potential candidates to think “this is the right company for me.” And, once you have their attention, they will send in their resumes for future consideration.

2. Ask your employees to help with the recruitment process

People talk. And when someone in your network gets laid off, people know. Before posting job opportunities online, consider asking your employees to help with the recruitment process.

Talk to them directly, via email or through other methods of communication about what type of candidate(s) you are looking to hire. Then, slip them a stack of recruitment cards to hand out to people who they believe could be the next future hire. The recruitment cards can contain any type of appealing message, including why the person’s set of skills and experience may be a great fit for your company.

An added bonus is that during the face-to-face interaction, your employee can talk your company up, showing the other party what it would be like to work for you and why they would be a great addition to the team.

3. Implement a referral program

Seeing as how the majority of companies rely on employee referrals to reel in new talent, implementing a referral program is a clever approach to getting your employees invested in the recruitment process.

By providing them with the opportunity to earn rewards, which can range from a nice bonus to extra vacation days, both sides will benefit equally from the arrangement. This way, you can leverage your entire staff’s connections and hopefully identify and attract the best candidates possible.

4. Get professional recruitment help

Expand your search for the perfect candidate by publicizing your interest and getting professional recruitment help. How so?

Find a recruiter that specializes in a certain industry. For example, a recruiter specializing in professional services can help you find talent in that industry.

With extensive experience in finding and hiring the best calibre of people among various industries and positions, a lot of recruitment agencies and firms offer services for temporary assignments, permanent positions, and contract roles. They provide an additional pair of experienced eyes, taking the stress out of the entire recruitment process (advertising, interviewing, reference checking, etc.) and screening to your criteria. After leaving you with the shortlist of candidates, you can follow up on every good leader and make your decision from there.

5. Leverage your brand assets

If you want to make your brand stand out from the competition, one way to do so if by leveraging your brand assets.

A brand asset is a set of unique elements of a brand, both tangible and intangible, that provide familiarity, exclusivity, and distinctiveness among the minds of consumers. This can be anything associated with your brand, including your brand name, slogan, advertising style, packaging, etc.

As the established building blocks of a company, brand assets make it easier for consumers to recognize and identify your specific brand. For instance, 1800 Blinds leverages its strong reputation in the blinds and shutters industry to attract talented tradespeople to work with them.

If you have built up a customer database over the years, you can send an email out to your past customers and let them know you are hiring. Studies have shown that some of the best hires are those who have experienced the brand before. That’s why it’s always recommended for businesses to build an email list as early as possible. From simply adding all your customers in a list and creating a weekly newsletter, you can create an asset that can be leveraged in the future.

It is imperative that you understand what your brand assets are so that you can leverage them as best you can. Running promotions, posting and interacting on social media, and collecting feedback are just some of the ways in which you can build a clear, consistent brand voice that will not only appeal to consumers but potential hires as well.