Welcome to Better Hiring: 12 Recruitment Methods That Work
Hiring the right talent can feel like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. With countless resumes, endless interviews, and enough coffee to fuel a small city, it’s no wonder the whole process can feel overwhelming.
But imagine your job postings attracting perfect candidates, and your interviews uncovering true potential. Sounds like a dream, right? By rethinking and refining your recruiting strategy, you can turn this into a reality.
From employer branding to applicant tracking systems, making a strong first impression requires much more than just advertising and waiting for applications. It means engaging candidates proactively.
Ready to transform your hiring process? Join Thankbox as we explore 12 recruiting strategies that help attract, select, and retain the best talent available.
Let’s get started!
What is a recruitment strategy?
A recruitment strategy is an in-depth plan designed to attract, hire, and retain great candidates. It involves identifying open positions, choosing the channels and platforms for advertising, and developing techniques for engaging and nurturing relationships with potential hires.
Additionally, it includes setting timelines for your hiring process, defining the interview and assessment procedures, and establishing key HR metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts.
Why a solid recruitment strategy matters
A solid recruitment strategy is essential for any organisation looking to build a high-performing and successful team. While it streamlines the hiring process, it helps attract and retain the best of the best.
Here’s why it’s so crucial:
Improves quality of hires: A well-defined strategy helps you attract candidates who possess the necessary skills and align with your company culture—leading to enhanced employee satisfaction.
Saves time and resources: A well-coordinated recruitment process reduces the time spent on hiring and minimises unnecessary resources. By streamlining your approach, you can focus on other areas of workplace efficiency.
Enhances employer brand: A strategic approach to recruitment helps build a strong employer brand. When candidates have a positive experience, they’re more likely to recommend your company, attracting more talent down the line.
As you can see, investing time and effort into creating a robust recruitment strategy pays off in the long run, helping your organisation remain competitive.
12 proven recruitment methods to attract top talent
Attracting top talent requires more than just posting job openings and hoping for the best. Here’s where strategic approaches come into play. Let’s take a look:
1. Leverage social media platforms
Your online and offline presence is the first impression potential candidates get of your company, and best of all, it’s easily accessible. Social media offers a quick snapshot of your company values, brand identity, and the quality of what you offer.
With this in mind, actively interact with potential candidates on social media, share relevant company content, and respond to online inquiries. Here are some other effective strategies to consider:
Showcase employee testimonials
Create a recruitment FAQ section
Post job opportunities on your social media
Encourage employees to share company content
By implementing these strategies, you cast a wider net in terms of online visibility.
2. Craft job ads that reflect your company culture
Your job ads should mirror your company culture. If your office is fun and lighthearted, let your happier workplace shine through in your job descriptions. If it’s more professional and polished, make sure your ads convey that tone.
By aligning your job ads with your workplace personality, you’ll attract applicants who are a good fit for your culture and values, encouraging a win-win situation.
Upgrade Your Recruitment Game With Thankbox!
What better way to attract top talent than show how much you appreciate your team? Create a Thankbox today and discover how personalised touches can boost your recruitment process.
3. Implement employee referral programmes
Employee referral programmes are a fantastic way to harness top talent. Your current employees know your company inside out and can spot who would be a great match. And here’s a bonus—referred employees are 18% more likely to be satisfied with their jobs!
To get the ball rolling, encourage coworkers to refer friends by highlighting the benefits of working together and the value of human connection. For instance—did you know employee referrals are 4x more likely to be hired?
Offer attractive incentives like bonuses, extra holiday days, or exclusive perks to encourage your team’s participation.
4. Streamline hiring with an applicant tracking system
If it seems like you’re constantly hiring, an applicant tracking system (ATS) can be a game-changer. This software helps you streamline the entire process, saving time, money, and headaches!
Look for an applicant tracking system that automates job postings, identifies qualified candidates, sorts applications, schedules interviews, and makes onboarding easy. It’s like having a super-efficient assistant for all your recruiting needs.
5. Attend recruitment events
Industry events and job fairs are excellent opportunities to meet potential candidates face-to-face. Dust off your networking skills and showcase your team dynamics to potential job seekers.
Make a strong impression by being approachable and ready to discuss the ins and outs of your company. If you find small talk challenging, prepare some engaging icebreaker questions to start conversations.
6. Reconnect with past applicants
Don’t overlook the value of past applicants when searching for new talent. Candidates who previously applied may have gained new skills or experiences that make them a perfect fit for current openings.
Encourage your hiring managers to keep a list of promising candidates who showed potential. Reach out to these individuals when new positions arise. After all, they’re already familiar with your company and may be eager for another opportunity.
7. Offer internships and apprenticeships
Internships and apprenticeships are excellent ways to evaluate potential employees in real work scenarios. They serve as working interviews, allowing you to identify and train individuals for future roles.
Well-managed internship and apprenticeship programmes can help uncover emerging talent, providing a pipeline of trained employees familiar with your company culture.
8. Elevate your employer branding
Employer branding is how you market yourself to current and potential employees, focusing on management, staff morale, and company culture rather than products or services.
To showcase these aspects, create an Employer Value Proposition (EVP). An EVP answers the question, “What can we offer you as an employee?” and highlights why your company is a desirable place to work—outlining opportunities, job nature, rewards, etc.
A strong EVP is transparent about what you offer and what you expect in return. If you want to build the perfect EVP, check out our article, “Employee Value Proposition: How We Build a Winning EVP.”
Upgrade Your Recruitment Game With Thankbox!
What better way to attract top talent than show how much you appreciate your team? Create a Thankbox today and discover how personalised touches can boost your recruitment process.
9. Optimise your job descriptions
First impressions matter. Job descriptions are often a candidate's first interaction with your business. Make sure it stands out by focusing on these aspects:
Use clear and concise language: Nobody wants to read a job description that sounds like a legal document. Use plain, straightforward language. Be clear about what you’re looking for, and avoid jargon.
Highlight key responsibilities and benefits: Candidates want to know what’s in it for them. Clearly outline the main responsibilities of the role and its benefits. This can include everything from office perks to remote working opportunities.
Open with a captivating summary: Begin with an engaging overview that excites job seekers. Highlight what makes the position unique and emphasise why your company is desirable.
10. Utilise recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies can be invaluable partners in finding and securing talent. Agencies boast access to a broad network of candidates, helping you quickly identify and connect with those who meet your needs.
While the cost may be high, recruitment agencies are ideal for filling niche positions and for companies without internal HR resources.
11. Treat candidates like they’re customers
Whether it’s a phone screening or an in-person interview, one winning HR strategy is to treat interviewees the same way you treat customers. Consider these steps:
Respect their time: Have you ever heard the expression, “If you’re not early, you’re late?” Whether it’s a phone call, remote interview, or in-person meeting, always show up on time. Being late is a surefire way to ruin a first impression.
Be available: Give candidates your contact information so they can easily reach out with any questions. Being accessible shows you care about their experience.
Follow up quickly: After the interview, get back to candidates quickly to let them know where they stand. It helps keep their interest in the role and reduces anxiety about the process.
By being welcoming and mindful, you’ll create a positive experience that candidates will gladly talk about.
12. Use Thankbox for a personalised touch
Creating a memorable experience doesn’t stop at the interview. Use Thankbox to send personalised online group cards to candidates. Whether it’s a follow-up thank you after the interview, a congratulation on being hired, or even a welcome message from the team.
Thankbox is a unique way to make candidates feel valued and excited about taking the next step. Once they’re part of your team, celebrate their milestones, like birthdays and work anniversaries, by adding digital gift cards and flower deliveries.
Easily customise your Thankbox with messages, GIFs, photos, and video messages. It only takes a minute to get started, and you only pay when you’re ready to send. If you want to make new hires feel part of the team, Thanbox is the perfect gesture.
Wrapping up
No matter your hiring needs or budget, you can implement smart strategies that attract top talent while highlighting your company. Simply put, a great recruiting strategy helps you grow and succeed in the long run.
Ready to transform your hiring process? Create a Thankbox today and make a memorable impact on your candidates.
Images: Cover | Man in a white shirt | Woman in a white shirt using a laptop | Happy employees doing high-five | Black clock on a yellow wall
