How to Recruit Top Candidates!

Written By: Gillis Lindberg,
CEO, Wells, Bradley & Associates, Inc.

This day in age, there are several motivating factors in the reasons why a candidate is looking at a new opportunity, and not surprisingly usually there are several factors that have to be taken into account.

It is imperative that during the first interview you “smoke out” the reason why the candidate is willing to take time out of their busy day to interview. There are several reasons that candidates look at new opportunities:

• Their organization just merged with another organization – or there has been a change in management – this leads to several motivating factors: laid off, change of culture and philosophy, change of sales culture, change of their mission statement, change of advancement potential, change in the way they do business, change in who they want to do business with…so there are many good reasons for looking.                    
• They are tired of the commute and would like to work closer to home!! That way they can be active in the community that they work & live, and make a difference.
• They are looking to get with a larger or smaller organization. – What are the differences between your organization and where they are coming from? Products, services, support, clients they can serve, upward mobility.
• Advancement potential – everyone is interested in not only what is available today, but what options do they have down the road for continuing to grow within your organization.

Once you understand what their reasons are for looking, then you must SELL THEM on why you are the best employer to meet their short terms, and long term goals.

SELL THEM what makes your organization stand out above your peers:

• Growth – what you anticipate in the future and what you have done in the past 1,3,5, years as a company, department – use specific numbers. Total assets, employees, products…whatever is your selling point.
• Sell the opportunity that you have available. Yes, maybe it is just another lender role, but get excited and they will too! You will come in and pick up a $ portfolio, which consists of clients with loan needs from $-$, you will be able to go out and call on companies with annual sales of $....
• What makes your organization different from your competition – customer service, support for your sales staff…
• What makes your department special – Manager who is excellent at mentoring? A seasoned team, dedicated to working hard and playing hard? A young team with high energy & love for life?? Sell your team-
• ADVANCEMENT POTENTIAL – everyone wants to the opportunity to move up if they can prove themselves – once again use growth numbers, acquisitions, start-ups, retirements, new layers of management being necessary due to growth….