Finding, recruiting, and attracting talent involves a multi-step approach that begins with identifying the specific skills and qualifications required for the role. Job postings, referrals, and social media outreach are popular ways to source candidates. The recruitment process includes screening, interviewing, and assessing potential hires. Finally, to attract top talent, offering competitive compensation and benefits packages and clear communication throughout the hiring process is essential. Building a strong employer brand can also help in attracting and retaining talent.
We asked entrepreneurs share how they find, recruit, and attract talent and here are the responses;
#1- Sell your company's unique advantages
As entrepreneurs and business owners, we must make a mindset shift from being “buyers of talent”, to instead becoming “sellers of opportunities.” Traditional recruitment and employee management methods often resemble a list of demands, focusing strictly on what candidates must bring to the table. To truly attract and retain top talent, consider your hiring process as an opportunity to sell your company's unique advantages. When you communicate these benefits clearly, you attract a higher caliber of people that is more enthusiastic to join and grow with your team.
Thanks to Sean Withford, Eloquent!
#2- It involves a strategic approach
The process starts by creating an appealing and authentic company culture that aligns with the values of potential candidates. Here’s a strategic approach: 1. Cultivate a Strong Employer Brand 2. Behavioral Profiling 3. Case Studies and Practical Assessments 4. Leveraging Social Media and Professional Networks 5. Employee Referrals 6. Community Engagement. By focusing on these strategies, businesses can not only attract talent but also ensure that the people they bring on board are aligned with their core values and long-term vision.
Thanks to Angela Sedran, The Business Growth Accelerator!
#3- Make yourself visible to passive candidates
You won't engage with passive prospects on job boards since they aren't actively seeking fresh opportunities. Instead, you must create a long-term talent acquisition strategy. Talent acquisition is concerned with your organization's long-term exposure, recognition, and attractiveness. By assembling all of these elements, your goal is to get seen by passive talent long before they are seeking a new job. Because they will remember you when they are ready to sell.
Thanks to Erica Tan, Best In Singapore!
#4- Maintain a constant networking mode
To select the optimal recruiting approach, a firm must clearly define its strengths and weaknesses – which aspects of the recruitment funnel are functioning and which require development. Good talent is only difficult to come by when a company's recruiting approach is reactive rather than proactive. To establish an external pipeline, hiring managers and recruiters need to be constantly networking—identifying outstanding talent, cultivating connections, and promoting the organization. This proactive, relationship-focused approach would naturally attract the best prospects.
Thanks to Matt Kerr, Appliance Geeked!
#5- Craft compelling job descriptions
First, I tap into my network, reaching out to contacts, former colleagues, and industry connections it helps to uncover potential candidates who might not be actively seeking employment but could be intrigued by the opportunity. Plus, I utilize online job boards and professional networking platforms to cast a wider net and attract candidates from diverse backgrounds. Crafting compelling job descriptions that highlight the company culture, mission, and growth opportunities is crucial in grabbing the attention of qualified candidates.
Thanks to Matt Little, Festoon House!
#6- Using a proactive manner
By actively sourcing, utilizing employee recommendations, and building a great employer brand, I locate qualified individuals using a proactive manner. Our hiring procedure includes creating a job description that is clear and appealing, advertising different roles through various media, and carefully assessing candidates' qualifications and cultural fit. We provide competitive remuneration packages and prioritize offering possibilities for professional development and promotion to recruit top talents. Our commitment makes diversity and inclusion top goals.
Thanks to Justin Crabbe, Jettly!
#7- Direct engagement
Our approach is built around transparency and communication. We connect with candidates who are interested in technology and customer support. This direct engagement enhances Messente's visibility and establishes us as thought leaders, which naturally attracts qualified professionals. We also use data-driven recruitment strategies. This helps us retain talent and makes us a desirable candidate for potential candidates. In addition, we share personal stories from our current team members about how they've grown and thrived at Messente on our social channels.
Thanks to Uku Tomikas, Messente!
#8- Tapping into niche online communities
I recently tapped into a niche online community for tech professionals to find a skilled developer for a project. Next, it's always best to give out conferences, seminars, or job fairs related to the industry because networking at such events not only helps in finding potential candidates but also allows you to interact with them face-to-face. In my experience, combining these strategies has proven effective in finding, recruiting, and attracting top talent for businesses. By leveraging diverse methods tailored to your industry and company culture, you can build a strong team that drives success.
Thanks to Adam Wright, Human Tonik!
#9- Introducing new perks
I'd like to establish the fact that new capable talents these days always look out for more benefits and additional perks. It's always best to introduce new perks like allowance for internet, clothes, and meals. Additionally, you can also implement a 30-minute break now and then. An employee always stays not because of good pay but because of a good culture. If business owners are more open to respecting their burnouts and breaks, employees often strive hard to “repay the kindness”. At the end of the day, by fostering an environment where hard work is valued over mere talent.
Thanks to Kimberly Wall, BibleKeeper!
#10- Post on job boards and social media
My approach to finding talent is very straightforward. I post about the current openings on job boards and social media. But when it comes to attracting talent, that’s an entirely different game. Here, I like to utilize my company’s work culture and incentives to attract talent. I post on social media and engage with posts that I am searching for talent for. This is a unique approach. With this, only interested candidates with specific skills end up on your hiring page. After this, a straightforward process of interviews and salary negotiation follows.
Thanks to Rahul Vij, WebSpero Solutions!
#11- By using a variety of channels
I rely on different strategies. In terms of recruitment, I use a variety of channels to reach potential candidates. This includes job boards, social media, and professional networking sites like LinkedIn,indeed, Truelancer, etc., I use a recruitment process to evaluate their skills and fit for the position. I also look for evidence of their past achievements and successes, as well as their potential to grow and develop within the company. To attract top talent, I offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.
Thanks to Melissa Terry, VEM Tooling!
#12- Publish insightful content regularly
One tactic that has proven effective is leveraging our strong online presence and thought leadership in the industry. We regularly publish insightful content, host webinars, and participate in industry events to establish ourselves as leaders in the digital marketing space. This not only attracts top talent who are aligned with our values but also allows us to network and engage with potential candidates who resonate with our vision. By consistently demonstrating our expertise and passion for what we do, we naturally draw in individuals who are eager to contribute to our team.
Thanks to William Hogsett, Seota Digital Marketing!
#13- By asking open-ended questions
We start by defining the job clearly and realistically. We ask open-ended questions in interviews to evaluate three key areas: Are they a culture fit? Do they get stuff done? And, do they have the right skill level for the job? We then perform thorough reference calls to find out how they work and how to best manage them before deciding to hire. When hiring, we also leverage our network and hackathons. Often our hires come from employee referrals or our hackathon community where developers build software and show their creativity. They can help companies find talent and see their creativity also help companies retain existing employees.
Thanks to Brandon Kessler, Devpost!
#14- By focusing on our strategy and skill needs
I approach the challenge by focusing on our strategy and skill needs. I identify what skills we need to execute our strategy and where there is a gap, and then I go about finding the right talent to fill that gap. I use outsourcing platforms for small tasks. I tend to outsource ongoing work where I don’t need a full-time employee. When recruiting for permanent roles, I rely on my network. Retention is a different story; it comes down to creating a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and supported so they can do their best work.
Thanks to Venessa Almond, Client Growth Strategy!
#15- Through reference
The best method is finding talents through people with whom I currently work or have previously worked. When people refer me to other candidates, there is a high chance of having shared values from the very beginning and that the candidates have already heard about the company from people they trust. And a pro-tip for attracting talent: during the interview, share the vision and roadmap of the company with a potential future teammate, so they are sure it’s the ideal company to work for and that their contributions will matter.
Thanks to Dmitry Matveev, Approveit, Inc.!
#16- Allowing employees to flex their freedom
I’ve found that many job seekers are drawn to the combination of autonomous creativity and collaborative support that small and medium-sized businesses can provide. Whether we’re hiring a designer to work on our exhibit designs or a salesperson to drive business, we can offer job candidates a work environment that allows them to flex their freedom to explore new ideas while still working together on a team. Not only does this help us attract talent, but it also helps us retain staff at our company when they feel they have opportunities for both support and growth.
Thanks to Thomas Samuels, Cardinal Expo!
#17- A mix of technology and a personalized approach
Networking plays a crucial role; by engaging with the community through webinars, conferences, and social media, we share insights and listen to what talents seek in their careers. For recruitment, a precise mix of technology and a personalized approach ensures we reach and resonate with the right candidates. We implement an inclusive hiring process that focuses on the candidate's potential and fits with our values, attracting individuals who are not just looking for a job but a place to innovate and grow.
Thanks to David Zhang, Kate Backdrop!