7 uncommon recruiting strategies that you may not have tried yet

December 12, 2022

Having trouble recruiting new staff to your business? Here are seven out-of-the-box recruiting methods that will help you score the ideal candidate for your open position.

 

Today’s workforce is flooded with opportunities, and with many businesses looking to fill roles, it’s hard to compete for qualified talent. To help you land that ideal new hire, here are a few uncommon methods to recruit applicants that could help attract just the person you’re looking for.

 

1. Purchase hiring ads on social media

You’ve developed a solid job description and posted the listing to your website and other hiring company’s sites, but how do you stand out against the high volume of content on the internet? If you feel like your job posting isn’t getting enough eyes on it, a valuable resource you can utilize are hiring ads. Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn make it easy to “boost” existing posts, meaning you can apply dollars behind them to get a wider reach. This strategy doesn’t have to be expensive either, as many digital platforms offer a variety of pay structures for targeted ads.

 

2. Boost your employee referrals incentives

Current employees are some of the best candidates to recruit new team members. They know the business and can speak to their own personal experiences—plus they may even know someone who would be a good fit for your company.

To best motivate your employees to share the word about open positions, offer incentives such as reserved parking, extra vacation days and even referral bonuses should the new hire stay at the company for a pre-determined timeframe (e.g., six months). It’s an easy and cost-effective solution for finding new faces to fill out your staff.

 

3. Host a digital open house or online hiring event

In this digital era, events that previously happened in person are now taking place online, from staff meetings to interviews. You can apply this same logic to your applicant pipeline by hosting a digital open house or online hiring event. By holding an online “webinar” about your company or a moderated Q&A, you are giving potential candidates a taste of your company from the comfort of their own home. This allows for many potential employees to enter the employment pipeline at once and allows both parties to get to know each other and see if it’s a good fit.

 

4. Partner with temp agencies

Employment agencies, or temp agencies are organizations which match employers to employees. If you run a business that does not require a specialized degree or training, partnering with a temp agency may quickly help bring talent through your door. Individuals who come to temp agencies looking for work are often highly motivated to begin a new career, so partnering with one may lead to a fruitful partnership.

 

5. Add employee testimonials to your site

Real-life testimonials are a great marketing tool no matter what industry you find yourself in. If you want to know if a movie is good, you check review sites to see what viewers are saying, and if you want to know if a restaurant is worth checking out, you look the business up online to gauge diners’ reactions. The same can be said about businesses, as what your employees think about working at your establishment is a true testament to what applicants can expect. Ask employees (current and former, if the split was amicable) if they’d be willing to share a quote for your site, and don’t forget to include a picture. Applicants want to hear from others outside of leadership about what the work environment is like, and testimonials can spur potential employees to take the next step towards applying.

 

6. Use old-school advertising

No matter the medium, whether it be print, digital or any combination of the two, the fact is that you want your job listing to get in front of job seekers’ eyes. The traditional way to do that is still valid: old-school advertising. Whether it be slapping a billboard up on a busy freeway, submitting a job listing to your local newspaper or buying an ad slot before the daily TV news, old-school advertising is a tried-and-true way of making people aware of your product, service or any other bit of information you need to convey. While it may not be effective in recruiting qualified candidates, it will increase awareness by reaching a wide audience.

 

7. Get social

If you need people, it’s probably best to go where the people are. According to a study conducted in July 2022, there are roughly 4.7 billion social media users as of July 2022, equating to 59% of the total global population. Whether it be on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook or Snapchat, you can use these services to engage with job seekers and post open roles within your team.

 

 

Recruitment strategies for hiring more employees is just one part of running a business. Keep exploring with these essential resources.

Related content

Celebrity Cake Studio’s two decades of growth and success

How entrepreneurs can plan for what matters most

Why other lenders may be reaching out to your employees

How a family-owned newspaper is serving its community

Community behind Elsa’s House of Sleep

How tenacity brought Taste of Rondo to life

When small business and community work together

Tips for navigating a medical hardship when you’re unable to work

How Gentlemen Cuts helps its community shine

How a travel clothing retailer is staying true to its brand values

5 principles for avoiding ethics pitfalls on social media

Prioritizing payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic

Talent acquisition 101: Building a small business dream team

How Lip Esteem is empowering women

The role of ethics in the hiring process

Insource or outsource? 10 considerations

6 common financial mistakes made by dentists (and how to avoid them)

How increased supply chain visibility can combat disruptors

7 uncommon recruiting strategies that you may not have tried yet

Managing the impacts of appraisal gaps in a hot housing market

Using merchant technology manage limited staffing

What kind of credit card does my small business need?

How I did it: Joined a board of directors

5 tips for being a great board member

Overcoming the 3 key challenges of a lump sum relocation program

Save time with mobile apps for business finances

Putting home ownership within reach for a diverse workforce

Mapping out success for a small-business owner

High-cost housing and down payment options in relocation

For today's relocating home buyers, time and money are everything

Crypto + Relo: Mobility industry impacts

Trends in economics, immigration and mobility policy

The moment I knew I’d made it: The Cheesecakery

Opening a business on a budget during COVID-19

How small businesses are growing sales with online ordering

How a bright idea became a successful business (in Charlotte, North Carolina)

Making the leap from employee to owner

Making a ‘workout’ work out as a business

How to stop living paycheck to paycheck post-pay increase

8 Ways for small business owners to manage their cash flow

Give a prepaid rewards card for employee recognition

How to reward employees and teams who perform well

5 steps for creating an employee recognition program

Flexibility remains essential for public sector workforces

In a digital world, Liberty Puzzles embraces true connection

Digital banking and cloud accounting software: How they work together

How running a business that aligns with core values is paying off

Meet the Milwaukee businessman behind Funky Fresh Spring Rolls

How to identify what technology is needed for your small business

What is needed to apply for an SBA loan

Planning for restaurant startup costs and when to expect them

How iPads can help increase efficiency in your salon

Tools that can streamline staffing and employee management

Empowering team members

10 tips on how to run a successful family business

8 ways to increase employee engagement

The costs of hiring a new employee

How to hire employees: Employee referral vs. external hiring

How a small business owner is making the workplace work for women

5 tips for helping employees raise ethics concerns

The growing importance of a strong corporate culture

Business credit card 101

Do I need a credit card for my small business?

How to apply for a business credit card

5 questions business owners need to consider before taking out a loan

How to establish your business credit score

Honey Luxury Beauté: growing a side project into an eye-catching beauty business

How community gave life to lifestyle boutique Les Sol

How Shampoo’ed is transforming hair and inspiring entrepreneurs

The San Francisco bridal shop that’s been making memories for 30 years

How Al’s Breakfast is bringing people together

How a group fitness studio made the most of online workouts

How Wenonah Canoe is making a boom in business last

How a bar trivia company went digital during COVID-19

How to build a content team

The surprising truth about corporate cards

How this photography business persevered through tough times

Community and Coffee: How one small business owner is breaking down barriers

The client-focused mindset: How to network effectively

Business risk management for owners of small companies

For small business growth, consider the international market

Tech tools to keep your restaurant operations running smoothly

The client-focused mindset: Adapting to differing personality types

The client-focused mindset: What do clients expect?

Start of disclosure content

Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rate and program terms are subject to change without notice. Mortgage, home equity and credit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC.