Startups often encounter several unique problems, recruitment being one of them. With the current climate of high unemployment, it becomes especially difficult for new companies to attract and retain the right candidate. Here are a few pointers that can help you in the recruitment process:
- Attract new recruits through your Facebook and Twitter page. By adding pictures of your office, videos of your team building activities and testimonials from past interns you can position your company as a fun and rewarding place to be in.
- Make sure your website has a “career” link on the homepage. This makes it much easier for new recruits who are applying for a job in your company.
- Avoid general recruiting statements like “We are recruiting in all areas” in your career page. Rather provide specific details for particular positions that are open at present. If possible, create an individually-crafted, stand-alone page which describes the position and its requirements in an interesting way.
- Create a simple team page, showcasing the experience and talents of your team members. This will help new recruits gain a general idea of the personality of the company and the people they will work with.
- Never leave a candidate hanging after engaging with them. Be sure to either provide them with an offer or promptly let them know that you are not interested.
- Don’t relay on online recruiting alone. Incorporate new ides like, hosting of lunches and ‘meet up’ events for students, putting up recruitment flyers in dorms and on common area bulletin boards, interacting with student leaders of college tech clubs, etc. to gain new recruits.
- Never accept free labor, even if the candidate offers it. Though it may sound tempting at the beginning, choosing to pay a competitive wage will help in gaining quality candidates in the long run.
An important fact that Startups have to remember is that recruitment should not be approached as a one-time affair seeking suitable candidates but rather as an image-building exercise that portrays your company as an energetic, rewarding and challenging place to be working in.
