'Corner Office': How to Recruit 24/7
July 23 -- — Legend has it that teenage Lana Turner was having a soda at Schwab's drugstore on Sunset when a studio talent scout spotted her. A screen test followed, and a movie queen was born.
Turner herself insisted that the story isn't true. But it has a kernel of truth: Casting scouts were on the lookout for talent and did routinely sign performers — just as baseball scouts do today. Major league teams don't wait for future home-run sluggers to show up for batting practice. They send scouts to watch game after game at colleges and in the minor leagues.
There's no reason that such a proven technique should only be used in the so-called glamour professions. Does it really make sense to assume that the perfect person will appear at the precise moment we need her? Why not improve the odds by acting as a scout and recruiting 24/7?
Granted, this approach works best when you're hiring several people for the same or similar jobs, when you have some positions that are always open, or during an active search to fill a key job.
But even if you aren't actively looking, recruiting 24/7 has its rewards. Such informal marketing can help make your company the first place people apply when jobs open up. Impromptu "interviews" can expand your Rolodex, so you have people to call when you're hiring. And focusing on hiring all the time forces you to think about what you're really looking for; better interviews are sure to follow.
Don't worry: 24/7 recruiting doesn't mean you'll never have time to watch Monday Night Football again. It just means training yourself to notice candidates when you spot them and being willing to make your pitch when you do.
Take Action
Think about the qualities you need. If you hire people who play a customer service role, for example, you might look for friendliness, efficiency or grace under pressure. If you're hiring salespeople, you might pay attention to how quickly you're approached and whether they ask for the sale. Make a list of the qualities you need in your employees and then look for those. A chance encounter during your lunch hour can't replace an interview. But it can open the doors to further conversation.
