New book shows businesses effective campus recruitment methods
Jan 23, 2010 - 04:30 AM
By Melissa Mancini
BOWMANVILLE -- Businesses looking to score big with new recruits can get some advice from a local author.
Bowmanville resident Jamie Allison recently published Jackpot! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Winning On-Campus Recruitment Campaign, which he said is a recruitment tool for companies of every size.
Mr. Allison is a human resources professional who has worked in industries including retail, health care and packaged goods.
Smaller companies, businesses with one or no human resources professionals, should take advantage of campus recruiting even if they only need one or two new hires each year, he said.
Companies sometimes shy away from going to campuses to find new employees because they think it will be costly but that doesn't have to be true, Mr. Allison said.
"It's not necessarily expensive to create a relationship with a career centre," he said.
Mr. Allison suggests companies send recruiters who are going to show students what their lives could be like in a couple of years. Someone with a similar educational background as the company's target audience who hasn't been out of school too long is ideal, he said.
"Some companies think: 'I've got to send my CEO'," he said. "It's not to say you shouldn't but someone personable that draws a connection also works."
Companies taking the time to send an employee out to talk to a local post-secondary class or to spend some time at a career fair should make sure the person is approachable and will talk to students about the benefits of working for the company.
Recruiting should be a year-long venture for all companies, big and small, he said. Employers should keep in touch with local career centres year round.
Some companies think career fairs at local universities and colleges are only for larger companies, but that is not necessarily the case, Mr. Allison said.
"Smaller, local companies have the advantage of a little brand recognition," he said.
And when sending a recruiter out, it's important to know the target audience when trying to find the best new employees on campus. Job interviews work both ways in today's hiring environment, he said.
Work-life balance is an important factor for potential employees looking into businesses to start their career, Mr. Allison said.
Graduates are socially conscious because they are doing volunteer work in high school and they are looking for opportunities at businesses that keep the greater good in mind, he said.
Students are also looking for opportunities for development, not just the possibility of moving up in the company's hierarchy. The current generation of new hires wants to be involved in a range of projects and get exposure to different areas of the company, he said.
"Generation Y has to feel challenged all of the time," he said. "Companies have to project that on campus, that there will be exposure to different areas."
About the book:
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Available on:
www.amazon.ca
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