Executive Search: Creative Recruiting - Ditching Your Dull Job Announcements

by Roy Notowitz, Executive Recruiter and Partner Generator Group

I recently was forwarded a really interesting job announcement from my friend Steve Rosenbaum, the CEO of Pop Art (one of the best interactive marketing agencies in Portland). The announcement was for a Director of Online Programs position at a company called Grassroots Enterprise. Rather than making the usual dull, drab, no-frills list of bulleted requirements, they decided to have some fun, and ask people to answer a few questions in their responses. 

The questions were as follows:

• What's the second coolest thing you've ever done? 
• What's your slogan (or soundtrack)? 
• What would you do with an extra 6 hours a day? 
• What question should we ask you in an interview?

And one request:

• Write a haiku about online technology

The candidate response that they received was much greater than what they had gotten from their traditional job announcements because the message engaged the target audience vs. being a company-centric “all about us” type of posting. 

 

This is strong proof that recruiting is truly a function of marketing.  I would also maintain that the style, creativity, and messaging of job postings can be a vehicle for communicating your employment brand. Targeting your ideal employee audience is one of the best ways to draw more candidates who fit your company culture, while screening out those who are not a fit. Creating a properly differentiated employment brand is a significant undertaking, but it is time well spent and it can go a long way in helping your company to get more than a fair share of job applicants.

To be honest, I am surprised that creative job announcements are still typically the exception to the norm considering our advertising focused culture. Perhaps Coca Cola or Visa can help us reach the right audience. It would be great, as long as you do not mind having “this posting was brought to you by Coca Cola” at the bottom of your job announcement! 

Now that your curiosity is peaked, you can see some of the best haikus that Grassroots Enterprise received by going to their blog: http://www.grassroots.com/

Comments

[Steve Schwartz]

I couldn't agree with you more! Traditional job descriptions may generate good resumes but they don't always bring in qualified candidates! It's pretty easy to embelish who you are in a resume but it's much harder to fake creativity. This approach says quite a bit about the employer who will give someone the chance to prove they are qualified rather than claim that they are.