Poaching Passive Job Seekers with a Business Card
The Unofficial Apple Weblog reports Apple’s newest way of hiring great employees is by poaching them from other companies. A business card Apple’s recruiters give out says simply:
You’re amazing. We should talk.
That’d get me to at least make a phone call to set up a lunch meeting to learn more about the opportunity.
I’m thinking in this down economy that many folks are feeling under-appreciated, undervalued, and probably even underpaid. This small gesture by someone you’ve just met who says “you’re amazing” might be just the ticket out of that dead end job…if you’re amazing.
OK, so it’s not just this cool business card that gets Apple great folks. It’s also a culture of innovation, and some really cool products.
How can you put this into your management briefcase to create the best possible team?
First, always be on the lookout for stars. If you’re a manager who values customer service skills, talk up your local coffee barista, grocery bagger, or waiter. See what they’d rather be doing, find out what their experience is, and determine if you can help them find something in that field, preferably on your team.
Second, always have your business cards handy just in case. You never know when someone might know someone who needs a job doing what you need them to do. A pocketful of business cards can come in handy to share with a potential candidate.
Third, attend events in your field and talk about your great team when you hand out your card. Passive job seekers might not come right out and tell you they’re looking for work, but when they do get unhappy with their current role, they’ll remember you as the manager with the great team and see if you have anything open. I’ve interviewed quite a few people this way, and if you have a great team, why not brag about them.
What do you think? Are there better ways to get great folks with your business cards?
Thanks to Brains on Fire for sharing this.
Flick photo credit to oooh.oooh
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POSTED IN: hiring
4 opinions for Poaching Passive Job Seekers with a Business Card
gregory
Jun 16, 2008 at 7:51 am
your whole concept requires belief in scarcity, and so is necessary. but there is another mind-set to function from, and that is one of creativity based on abundance, and if you can change your mind about it, you will find no shortage of employees. or employers.
if your impulse is to argue against me, ask why. we often prefer to defend our limited beliefs simple for the sake of being right.. we are funny creatures, eh?
M(att) Illion(aire)
Jun 16, 2008 at 10:46 am
The third point you make there is really essential. The “passive job searcher” is a very powerful audience to speak to — I like to think of it as “hand grenade hiring” because there’s a long delay between pulling the pin, tossing the bomb, and detonation. But, I’ve gotten one really strong employee in this manner and I don’t consider it a poach — he left his original company of his own accord.
Poaching makes it sound negative but let’s face it — unless you can afford really good recruiters that charge through the roof you have to hustle to find talent. Sure, I know there are some strong dollar-saving alternatives (like the Dayak website’s “priceline”-type recruiting charges, for one) but I also like finding those diamonds in the rough. Apart from being cost-effective you also find talent with diverse work experience.
One thing you don’t mention: don’t underestimate the power of the e-business card. Linked In is overrated as hell but it is GREAT for “hand grenade hiring”. If you and your employees have a strong, positive online presence, you communicate what a great business you are to work for. And then all passive job seekers need do is drop you an email to find out if anything is available. Along with the recruiting innovations I mentioned above I think the internet is really changing the hiring landscape.
Colin McNamara
Jun 16, 2008 at 7:36 pm
My perspective is primarily based on engineering circles, however I feel it may be valid for others. I find the best talent will hold off “sealing the deal” in their minds until they have met the teams they will be collaborating with.
In my experience, meeting the teams has been what either seals or breaks the my decision to hop. I suggest you enlist your team members to attract and retain top rate talent.
–Colin
Marc Levack
Jun 27, 2008 at 4:17 am
Very nice information about business card. Different size of a business cards so we can distribute in professionals. We have design a business card.
http://www.uvcards.com
Thanks
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