How to Find Qualified Workers
By Michael C. Dennis MBA, CBF, LCM

In periods of low unemployment, it can be difficult to fill certain positions. In periods of economic uncertainly, it can be hard to fill positions because workers want to hold onto a 'sure thing' which they often see as the job they currently hold. To get the most qualified individuals to apply, consider the following ideas:

• Establish an Employee Referral Program in which employees refer friends or acquaintances and if people referred are hired the employee receives a bonus.

• For hard to fill positions, use a headhunter. Headhunters' fees can be steep. Make certain they are negotiated [down] in advance, and that the fee is contingent on the new employee making it through the introductory/probationary period.

• Make sure that the hiring manager and the H/R department tell everyone they know professionally that the company is looking to fill a certain position.

• Contact the professional organizations your company belongs to. Many organizations have an informal matchmaking arrangement for employers interested in finding qualified applicants, and other professional organizations have formalized this process.

• Advertise if you must, but recognize that someone will have to do a great deal of work to sort separate what is typically a small number of candidates from the rest of the responses received, and ultimately only a small percentage of new hires come from cold ads placed in the local newspaper.