The Pivotal Role of Recruiting Research
On the heels of Canada’s stellar performance at the 2006 Olympics, including Team Gushue’s curling Gold - organizations, whether businesses or sports teams, are constantly looking for ways to find the “Best” talent. The quest for those top performers who can leapfrog companies to the next level is becoming more intense and competitive.
Methods for finding these corporate stars have radically changed in my 25 years in the HR industry. The days of simply placing an ad in the local newspaper while sitting back and waiting for the steady stream of resumes to flow in are long gone. Not only are today’s job seekers often imminently more qualified, but many are also far more sophisticated and selective in their approach to finding new employment. Organizations also now find themselves grappling with the shortage of talent due to the aging Boomer generation adding yet another layer of complexity to the situation. All of these factors paint a rather challenging picture for those individuals tasked with recruiting in an organization.
Enter the pivotal role of research.
While recruiting research has always been one of many tools used in helping to find qualified candidates – it’s now making its way to the podium and becoming more noted and valued for its actual “medal potential” in going for gold. Organizations are now forced to become more deeply engaged in a far more detailed exercise in exhaustive research.
What exactly does this mean you might ask?
Recruitment research requires much more than making a few calls to obvious candidates in the marketplace who you feel might be qualified for a particular position. First, the recruiter needs a clear understanding of the ideal candidate profile. This will be an integral part of achieving success later on in the search. Next, the recruiter must undertake intensive investigative research scouring appropriate databases and industry organizations creatively mapping the industry to ensure no stone is left unturned. It’s sometimes the unconventional approach that turns up a winner. Networking is also a resourceful tool to consider during this phase. As the search process continues and you gain insight on exactly where your target resides, you will need to become very focused and thorough in engaging potential candidates.
By employing this in-depth form of recruitment research and going far beyond the old “advertise only” plan, your chances of bringing home gold for your organization goes up exponentially. You’ll discover that recruiting magic and come to the realization that often times, what you might be looking for is not always exactly where you think it is, but rather; in an obscure place just waiting to be unveiled.