Quick Tips to Attract Top Talent

October 9, 2013

To attract top talent, it’s important to emphasize the benefits of your job opportunity just as much as you are focused on determining what a candidate can bring to your company.

Potential employees are choosing from multiple job opportunities and weighing many factors when it comes to their career. A company’s compensation, growth opportunities, team, and location can all come into play in terms of a job decision. With that in mind, it’s important to showcase your company’s opportunity in both an honest and appealing light.

Be Honest With Your Candidates

One of the biggest mistakes I find when companies are drafting a job description is that they are focused on what the candidate can bring to the position. Of course, this is the focus of any recruiter or hiring manager — to get the best talent for the role.

However, companies are often so concentrated on the finding and pursuing the ideal candidate that they don’t realize such a potential hire is most likely making a lateral move. If that is the case, employers should dig deep into their motivation before pursuing them further.

Sell Yourself

To best sell the opportunity, don’t discount what your company will provide the candidate. What would attract potential hires to the role? What does the position provide? Showcase these attributes in the job description and talk about them throughout the hiring process.

As I discussed in my previous blog post, this is where a solid job description and knowing your flexibility comes into play. Understanding what’s a requirement for the position and what’s a “nice to have” allows you the ability to provide more detail about the role. Avoid making everything a “requirement” and you’ll get more rockstar candidates knocking at the door.

Interviews: A Balancing Act

Throughout the interview process, it’s important to strike a balance between selling the candidate and asking the candidate to sell themselves to you. During interviews, great potential hires will be interviewing everyone involved, rather than simply selling themselves. It’s a red flag if a candidate isn’t asking questions about your company, team, culture, etc.

Catch the Big Fish

From recruiting to offers, the ability to attract and secure talented candidates requires communication and preparation. Use the tips above to attract the best talent possible and set your company apart.

What are some of the best ways that you “sell” your company to potential hires?

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<strong>Carlie Smith</strong> was the Senior Talent Manager, Sales & Marketing at OpenView. She worked directly with hiring managers and key stakeholders within OpenView and its portfolio to lead vital searches and provided process guidance on recruitment strategy, including talent identification, strategic sourcing, relationship building, and competitive intelligence. Currently, Carlie is the Director of <a href="https://www.circle.com/en">Circle</a>.