With the unemployment rate the lowest it’s been in five decades, many companies find talent recruitment very challenging, as a result of the nation’s strong economy.
No doubt, you’re learning technology for recruiting and screening is no longer adequate to successfully compete in the talent wars.
So, unconventional talent-recruitment tactics might be necessary for them and you. That will necessitate using typical approaches in public relations.
Your approach, if executed well, can become an annual event for a competitive edge. It does require being savvy in PR or using a talented PR consultant.
Here are some fun PR solutions for recruiting talent:
1. Guerilla marketing
To reach a large audience, a great PR technique is budget-friendly guerilla marketing.
The term guerilla marketing was coined in the early 1980s before the Digital Age. But it’s still applicable to cut through the marketing clutter.
Guerilla marketing often means staging low-cost events to achieve top-of-mind awareness including from traditional and social-media attention.
A couple of examples:
Radio
Pick a fun holiday. For instance early in February before Valentine’s Day, you can hold a contest among employees to vote for their “most-lovable” morning and afternoon-drive DJs.
Hint: Circulate a ballot of the top stations possibly suitable to be aligned with your company’s industry to target the most people.
If you’re looking to enhance diversity, list the top urban stations. If you need people to work in your warehouse, list the most-popular sports-talk station or classic rock stations. If you need office professionals, you can choose from a variety of station formats from all-news to contemporary hit radio.
(Note: You can check Nielsen ratings for radio stations in every market here.
Then, notify the winning stations and arrange to make an appearance on the winning DJ shows. hold a secondary contest or drawing to pick two or three employees can show up in costumes at the stations to present the most-lovable awards with flowers and plaques.
It’s really fun if the employees compose a simple song and sing it on-the-air. Even more so, it’ll be fun if resourceful employees casually mention they need fun, hardworking co-workers.
If your company is a radio advertiser, if you pick the station where you advertise, often it can be induced to also cover the event or stage a remote.
You can also create a fun, strategic press release for delivery to TV stations and newspapers. The return on your time and energy investment can be enormous.
The nearly free publicity aids in your company’s branding, results a bevy of unsolicited applicants, and it’s a great team-morale booster.
Yes, it’s true. A personal favorite, I’ve done this in three different markets (Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Seattle).
Food truck
Get a health and other necessary permits in your city, hire a food truck, park it in a location near several companies, staff it with your human resources professionals and give a free lunch to any person who gives you a resume.
True, there’ll be some free-loaders not considering work. But it’s an opportunity to attract talented people who are employed.
Your recruiters can hand out branded gifts from scratch pads to pens, as well engage the people and get initial impressions of them in a contemporaneous setting.
2. Unique open-house event
A lot of companies have staged an open house. But they haven’t used tactics to turn it into a major event.
To do so, create an agenda for a keynote speaker, who is an expert or author, and with breakout sessions.
The opportunities are endless:
If you’re looking for great salespeople, invite a respected sales person to speak. If you need developers, hire a speaker developer.
Invite local public officials and people from trade associations. Make it clear to them they’ll be able to address the crowd.
Your breakout sessions might include what job seekers would want, especially those who want to re-enter the workforce such as returning military or homemakers. Provide expert advice on resumes, social media profiles, career planning, interview skills or networking tips.
Cater it and take great pictures for sharing on social media during the event. If your speaker is an author, buy some books for a raffle or give-away and ask the person to chat with attendees and autograph the books.
With well-written press releases, you’ll have ample PR opportunities for free media coverage, especially newspaper and TV.
3. Contests or talent shows
For some fun, consider a contest, talent show or hack-a-thon which especially works for technology firms.
Offer prizes, financial incentives and recognition.
Consider using it as a training opportunity. Develop a training itinerary and open it to the public. Of course, align the event with your industry and business model.
Again, solicit news-media coverage.
P.S. Customize these ideas for your specific situation. if your budget is too tight, try plan B or C.
That would mean staging your event with non-competing strategic partners. Or, you can sponsor an event.
Have fun and good luck!
From the Coach’s Corner, here are PR strategies:
For a Bounce in Revenue, Try Strategic Press Releases – Ever wonder why some companies are always in the news or how they succeed on the Internet? It’s a good bet they have a good PR consultant or have mastered the art of writing press releases. You, too, can level the playing field with effective press releases.
How You Can Leverage the News Media to Brand your Business – Social media is OK for promotion. But if you need blockbuster publicity, use the best practice in marketing — public relations with great press releases.
5 Vital Elements to Successfully Pinpoint Your PR Targets – Even in this advanced age of the digital economy a sound public relations program, if you accurately pinpoint your targets, remains one of your most-powerful marketing investments. Even if journalists aren’t motivated to give you publicity, a strong PR campaign will help you to accomplish your objective.
How to Newsjack for Publicity of Your Content Marketing – Newsjacking – the art and science of obtaining mountains of free media coverage and social-media spin by getting your content injected into late-breaking news stories.
Maximize Your ROI from Your Next Event with Social Media – Will you maximize the return on investment in your next event? Whether you’re a nonprofit or business, great social media strategy will promote your event and your brand. In addition, even after your event it’s possible to enhance your return from social-media investment.
“All publicity is good, except an obituary notice.”
-Brendan Behan
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