OneSource News

Finding the right candidate is becoming increasingly difficult. Competitors are not only trying to get the upper hand in their product sales, but in their staffing as well. Despite the challenges, companies still have to meet their quotas and satisfy the needs of their customers. This is why an increasing number of companies are choosing to source from “passive candidates.” Attracting passive candidates means getting your openings in front of those that are already working. With unemployment rates continuing to fall, the need to turn to passive candidates is becoming more and more necessary. We know it’s not easy, so we compiled a few thoughts on how to best attract passive candidates.

Build Your Reputation

One of the most important steps you can take is to establish a good company reputation. This can take many forms, including employee reviews, charitable giving and participation in community events, asking employees for ways the company can be improved (and actually taking action on recommendations when possible), and more.

Whether you hear it or not, your employees are talking about their experience working at your company with their friends, family, and even strangers at the grocery store. Making sure you’re doing everything you can to give them a positive work experience will increase the likelihood that the stories they tell are positive. When potential applications, especially passive ones, think of your company, you want it to be positive.

Incentivize Your Existing Workforce

Employee referrals remain the most effective strategy for attracting new hires. There are a lot of different ways you can incentivize your employees to refer friends and family, whether it’s through bonuses, gift cards, extra PTO, or something else. This is another great place to ask your employees what they think!

The cost for hiring continues to increase. Referral bonuses, however, are a relatively affordable alternative that will make your employees happy while continuing to grow your workforce.

Take to Social Media

This one may seem obvious, but one thing that all candidates – passive or not – have in common is their use of social media. Whether it’s LinkedIn for professional candidates or Facebook for general labor candidates, maintaining a social media presence and advertising your amazing benefits and reputation (see above) is key in attracting passive candidates. Post your employee reviews, pictures of company events, calls to action for community events, and more! Attracting passive candidates requires establishing a long-term relationship and trust. Remember, it’s not just about accepting a job with your company, it also requires that they leave a position where they may feel comfortable. Your social media is a great way to get that relationship started!

If you would like assistance with attracting candidates, feel free to reach out to OneSource Staffing! Our team of staffing managers are ready to assist.