“Advances in computer technology and the Internet have changed the way America works, learns and communicates. The Internet has become an integral part of America’s economic, political and social life.”
– BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT
Bill’s quote is pretty spot-on, but he only got it kind of right. Computer technology and the Internet have changed the way the world works, learns and communicates.
The truth is: We live in an ever-changing and completely connected world. Recruiters now have access to a global talent pool with the click of mouse. And whether they realize it or not, they have the ability to exploit the Internet as a means to source A-level talent and build an employer brand. Pretty neat, huh? But to fully plug into talent, some basic foundations have to be established. So here’s where to start:
The company website: In the world of Web 2.0, your website is your public face, the world’s view into your business and culture. And that audience includes A-level talent. Review and improve the content on your company website by using rich and fresh content to drive SEO ranking and talent leads. Make your site easy to navigate and easy on the eyes. Remember, if your website is hard to navigate, uninformative and uninteresting, A-level talent and the world will think your company has those exact same traits. And you don’t want that.
Always leave your passive talent pipeline on: Got an applicant tracking system? If you do, use it. If you don’t, consider one. Along with job postings, your ATS may also allow talent to cold-call you by submitting their résumé and cover letter without having to apply to job-specific postings. U.S. companies operating under the OFCCP regulations need to ensure that postings like this are compliant. Plug into websites like EmailMyResume, ResumeZapper, ResumeXposure and ResumeArrow. These sites allow recruiters to view candidate résumés based on specific industries or job qualifications without having to spend money on job postings or man-hours on sifting through résumé submissions. Keep your eyes open, because you never know who’s out there. Companies that have mastered the effective use of their ATS should learn how CRM can also add value.
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Automate your sourcing efforts: This is simple. Just use websites like Broadlook, Google Alerts, eGrabber and infoGIST to notify you when someone posts a résumé to, or views, your job listings. It’s that simple. Start working smarter, not harder.
This is the easy stuff. These are tactics that you should already be doing to build your employer brand. And if this is a news flash to you, you’ve already missed the starting gun. However, there is still hope for you. Let’s dig deeper and look at some other recruiting venues that will give you the edge you need to exploit the Internet in order to beat your industry competitors to A-level talent.
