We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: a business is nothing without its employees. All of your best laid plans fizzle and die without proper execution. Additionally, the cost of replacing said ineffective employee is 1.5 to 2.5 times their annual salary. That’s why hiring is so important: so you can get it right the first time, without wasting your time and money on lackluster employees unwilling (or unable) to perform necessary actions. But it’s more than that.
The right employees can spur tremendous amounts of business opportunities through creativity and hard work.
Now, let’s look at 3 ways we can hire the right employees, while also generating business opportunities:
Utilize LinkedIn to your advantage:
LinkedIn provides an excellent platform for discovering and contacting top candidates. You can view work history, education, endorsed skills, and more. Once you’ve found that highly-qualified candidate, reach out to them. They may not even know you exist – but LinkedIn provides a simple, cost-effective means of contacting them. Use this opportunity to sell the company’s qualities and vision. Encourage them to apply for open positions, or request a phone conversation, or perhaps even offer a tour of the facilities.
You can also generate new business opportunities this way. How does your company want to grow? Search LinkedIn for individuals who have experience in your current field, but who also may have experience in a potential area of future interest. Maybe your IT company is considering a foray into web development. Find someone who has skills befitting both careers. Their work history is at your fingertips. Utilize the wealth of knowledge to your advantage.
Personal connections are everything:
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” If you haven’t heard this, you’ve been living under a rock – and there’s a good chance you’d overhear it there, too. It’s advice that works in hiring, in partnering with other businesses, and in pretty much every other facet imaginable. If you make positive, lasting impressions, you’ll reap the rewards for years to come.
To maximize on this, make a concerted effort to become a known entity. Attend meet-ups, conferences, happy hours – anything you can do to shake hands and get to know relevant individuals. If, for instance, you’re looking for a graphic designer, seek out graphic design conferences and get to know its participants.
The bottom line is you never know when you’ll encounter that perfect potential employee or business partner, so have your business card handy! Social settings also lend themselves to relaxation, meaning you’ll often get a more realistic look at their personality than you would in a formal interview.
Think outside the box:
If you’re feeling particularly bold, try some creative strategies. Business Insider broke down some of the more creative strategies they’ve encountered, some of which show dazzling creativity.
- Red5 Studios, a video game company, handpicked their 100 most desirable candidates through researching them on social media. They then sent iPods to each candidate featuring personalized messages from the CEO. Of the 100 contacted, more than 90 responded.
- QuickenLoans looks for diamonds-in-the-rough. That is, they venture out to local establishments (restaurants, retail stores, etc.) and hold casual conversations with their employees. They offer interviews to those employees who really stand out. Their theory is that they can teach people finance – but they can’t teach traits like urgency, dedication to customer service, and passion.
In short, figure out your dream targets, and then use your creativity to reach out to them. It may be a bit more costly than recruiting the average employee, but truly phenomenal talent is worth its weight in gold.
Need help with your strategies? Let us know! If you haven’t already, learn more about us and view our services. We look forward to hearing from you!