Is your organization looking for extraordinary talent and thinks it needs to search outside of your local community? Not so fast. Many employers think they can’t find talent locally and pursue their search elsewhere, but local talent is at your fingertips if you use the right strategies.
Using local job boards, postings, and advertisements (either print or online) is a good start. These days, however, employers need to go a few steps further to find the very best talent, including building strong local roots.
Here are some proven strategies used by other local employers to consider in your quest to find and hire exceptional local talent.
- Pay attention to and learn about local talent in the region. Read local publications and news. Learn about the successes of other companies and the individuals employed at those organizations. Take notice of individuals gaining attention in the local media, those receiving industry recognition and awards, and those that contribute the community in their field of expertise.
- Develop a presence on social media. Join local groups on LinkedIn, follow local talent on Twitter, read their blogs, and/or create a Facebook page. There are so many ways to leverage these platforms to find talent. For instance, monitor key influencers and those people contributing quality questions and content.
- Participate in the community. Get involved in local chambers of commerce. Go to conference and community events held around your community. Join local chapters of professional associations. Seek and attend speaking engagements. Do community service, participate on boards, and help our non-profits. Use local resources for leadership and employee development. Meet a diverse group of people, network, and learn who the key players are in your community.
- Connect with local colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Develop strong relationships with professors and career centers at those institutions. Pursue speaking engagements at colleges so that students are exposed to your company and its leaders. Use alumni relations to stay in touch. Create internships and entry-level opportunities to keep young talent here for the future of the region.
- Encourage your employees to be active in their communities and engage in local professional groups for their personal development. They’ll engage and network with others and potentially refer them to your organization for employment. Plus, they’ll likely gain valuable professional skills in the process.
- Partner with local talent search providers and staffing organizations. There are plenty of them with unique expertise. Plus, they often have the best knowledge of the local labor market and how your organization can find great local people. Who better to trust in finding a local hire than a local staffing provider?
- Boost your local workplace intelligence. Know what other local employers are paying for certain talent and jobs. Understand the kinds of benefits and perks they offer to employees. Explore ways that other local organizations are creating attractive and engaging workplaces that keep great talent.
Finding local talent isn’t easy, but if your organization is committed to hiring good people, it’s worth the effort. Next time your organization is considering looking outside of Northeast Ohio for a great hire and thinks that certain talent doesn’t exist in our region, try these strategies before taking your search elsewhere.
Additional Resources
NorthCoast 99
Get recognized as a great place to work in 2012 to help your organization better attract and retain top talent in Northeast Ohio by participating in our NorthCoast 99 program. Click here for more information.
Staffing Services
ERC partners with several local organizations dedicated to staffing, recruiting, and hiring talent. Our Preferred Partners provide various staffing services to ERC members at discount rates. Learn more
Survey Information
Use ERC’s compensation, benefits, and policy/practice information to determine the pay, benefits, and practices other local employers use to attract and retain great talent. Click here for more information about our surveys.
