The best workers to recruit are probably also the best workers at the company they already work for! Unfortunately this means that they are probably well treated and are not actively looking for a job. As a result, they probably would not visit anyone’s job web page. Other content, employed performers look at “having to visit a job site” as an admission that they are not well connected and that they have slipped into mediocrity. Putting it simply… they require an excuse to visit a job page (other than the fact that it contains job opportunities). Much like the old adage of men that say, “I read Playboy magazine for the articles!” we need to give non-jobseekers a convincing reason to visit the “forbidden” job page. Savvy firms have learned to use subtle techniques to get employed non-joblookers to visit their page on a regular basis. It takes time to build a relationship with the non-jobseeker, so techniques that encourage them to visit a site are essential to start this relationship building process. A list of possible features can be found in the next section. Finding Out What Will Attract and Keep Them at Your Site: Many web developers “wing it” when it comes to finding out what triggers a non-jobseeker to visit a job-related site. The best use a combination of market research techniques and continual data collection. Start with a profile of your target candidate. What skills do they need to have; what experiences; where do they work, and what are their identifying characteristics? You need these so that when you connect with them, your page can treat them “special.” Next, through focus groups with current employees and selected passive job seekers, you can usually begin to identify the factors that trigger their initial visit. By offering small incentives to every “1000th Visitor” that fills out a detailed profile you can get more information about why people visit, why they stay, and why they abandon a site. For example research shows that one tried and true technique is to do something on the page that “WOW’s the targeted person’s friends.” As their friends spread the word that this is a “must see site” non-seekers will visit just to see the WOW’s. Famous examples include “the dancing baby,” Cisco’s friends, the “boss button,” SGI’s Microsoft interview questions AND answers, and Microsoft’s self-assessment feature. Company Specific Web Features:
- A virtual tour of the facilities
- Videos of speeches by top officers
- Profiles of the exciting projects, equipment, challenging environment, learning and growth opportunities applicants may have (with video clips) as an addition to traditional job descriptions
- Meet the managers and their style of management videos and information pieces
- Videos illustrating our culture and values
- Profiles of key team members with video clips
- A “people like me already work here” feature that will allow you to search to see if people with similar backgrounds, interests, and education work at the firm
- A chance to see how many people “like me” (with a similar background, college, country, etc.) work there
- A WOW list of great things about the company (ex. – on site gym, a woman CTO, product awards, etc.) and a virtual tours to see them
- Profiles of the key products and key customers
- Lists of the firms’ alumni that have gone on to fame in government or have become CEO’s
- An e-mail/phone tool to “make a friend”/relationship with “an employee like me”
- Recent patents and technology advances
- Recent press releases
- Articles that mention the firm or our key employees
- Video clips from TV shows featuring the firm and it’s employees
- Graphics showing stock/market share/profit growth of the firm
- Video comments from college hires (from their college/or recent hires) on why it’s a great place to work
- Affinity groups, sports leagues, and other quality of work life features (video and list of events)
- Copies of professional presentations given by key employees
- A list of the competencies the firm/industry sees as essential for future success
- A opportunity to join the friends/partners of our firm which allows people to begin a long term relationship with the firm (someday you will work for us)
Web Technology Features:
- Quick abandon/Bail button to keep the boss from seeing you looking at a job page
- Sending automatic “push” information (about the firm, its products, and open jobs)
- Allowing the candidate to create an anonymous e-mail address in order to receive “push” job positions
- On line pre-qualifying for positions. By pre-qualifying applicants (sometimes without their knowledge) so that you can treat them “special” and speed up their hiring cycle
- Personalization/customization. By immediately showing that a web site “morphs” (as a result of a easy to fill out visitor profile) to fit the visitors individual needs and interests piques their interest and shows them that individuals matter at the firm. It also gives the person “something to talk about” to their friends.
- Instant/personalized feedback to my questions that encourage visitors to stay connected
- On-line simulations/video games to assess your technical skills
- WOW graphics
- Free software
- It’s fun and gives me a WOW within 1 minute and gives me a new WOW every 5 minutes
- Q & A format rather than requiring a resume
- It builds up my trust by not pushing job openings so that it doesn’t scare non-job seekers and allows them to build a continuing relationship with the firm
- Interactive features that ask me what I want (my interests) and it responds in real time
Learning and Information Features for Web Pages:
- “Push” information to them on happenings in our industry
- Speeches made by industry leaders on the future of the industry
- On-line interest assessment (and suggested jobs and career paths)
- Technical chat rooms for idea exchange (a listserver is also an option)
- Articles by leading practitioners on “hot topics”
- Surveys of the hot issues in the industry
- Glossary of key industry terms and buzz words
- Best places to work lists and industry “rankings” lists
- Lists of company sponsored seminars that are open to the public
- Lists of upcoming industry events
- Web links to the leading industry on-line publications
- Table of contents of the leading industry journals
- Miscellaneous business, humor, and sports news (or links)
- Projections for careers and salary possibilities for different industry career tracks
- Online mini-courses
- Product discounts
- Forecasts of industry trends
- Profiles (who’s who) of industry leaders and guru’s
- Tools that help me do my current job better/improve myself
Other Functions of Web Sites: Most web sites are no more than job posting bulletin boards that have been automated and put on the web. Only a few visionary firms (Cisco, Microsoft, SGI and World.hire are leaders) have begun to go beyond the job listings and resume capturing features. Some emerging tools and strategies include:
- Keeping top applicants informed about their progress in the selection/ interview process through a password protected web site
- Capturing applicant tracking and EEO information for legal purposes
- Attaching on line applicants to the relevant requisition number and headcount category
- Capturing “names” of visitors that can be added to our relationship recruiting list for future communication
- Well done corporate recruiting sites also can help sell our products and build customer relationships so they should be coordinated with and linked with product sites
Possible Problems: Some firms are reluctant to let outsiders know who their star employees are and what things a firm offers an applicant for fear of being raided or copied. Although such things do happen, firms that are confident that they are offering a great “deal” and that are continually improving realize that their best people and benefits already get a great deal of press and exposure. By continually re-recruiting their web featured employees firms can minimize their risk of losing them. The WOW’s of your effort will be more than rewarded with a better firm “brand image” and an increased quality of their recruits!
