Finding Employees For Your Small Business

Where do I find employees for my small business?

Great employees are everywhere; you just have to know how to meet them. You can find possible hires online, through networking, or at just about any institute of learning. However, you’ll need to find recruiting strategies for locating and getting to know talent. 

Below are some suggestions for where and how to reach possible hires. While some of these options cost money, there are plenty of cost-effective strategies for small business owners. When you find the right hire, they’ll want to learn everything they can about your company. ZenBusiness can help you make a great company website that will educate and impress visitors.

Networking

You can network online using sites like LinkedIn. LinkedIn is designed for professional use and allows you to connect with job seekers and see their resumes, experience, and portfolios. After you post your job ad on your LinkedIn page, you can search for professionals in your industry and reach out to anyone who interests you. 

In-person networking can be scary for some, but it’s really important. Set up a booth at a career fair or attend a trade conference for people in your industry. If these events get too expensive for your small business, though, you can always network for free with the people you come in contact with daily. You never know if your waiter, bagger, or bank teller has the personality and skills you need. Always be prepared with business cards on hand. 

If you’re still not sure how to network, there are plenty of guides to help.

Online Job Postings

As a small business owner, you’ll likely want to post your job for free on a site like Indeed, Google, or even Craigslist. However, you might have better luck finding quality job candidates if you pay to post jobs on sites like Glassdoor and Monster. On some job sites, you can pay to get your job posting sponsored or advertised.

RELATED: Using Craigslist To Find Work

Referrals

You might not have enough current employees to start an employee referral program, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find referrals elsewhere. Try using your personal network, or think about connections with family or friends who could be perfect for your business. You can also speak to co-workers or bosses from previous jobs to see if they know anyone looking for employment.

HR Software

Unfortunately, when you post your job online, you risk getting inundated with applications from unqualified potential candidates. That’s why it’s smart to have HR software to keep track of everything. One type of HR software that helps with recruiting is called an applicant tracking system (ATS).

A good ATS can help you keep up with all of your job seekers. ATSs like Oracle Taleo and Bullhorn can automate processes like scheduling interviews, sending rejection letters, and posting on several job sites. They also serve as a database to store information for all of your candidates.

Social Media

Because of the vast number of people who use it, social media has become extremely popular for marketing professionals. You can also use it to find new hires; simply post your job description on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Social media lets you connect with people who have an interest in your field. You can also see elements of their personality through their pages. Facebook even has social groups you can join for almost any career choice. 

The more your post gets shared, the better, so try to get everyone you know to share your job description. You can even purchase ads that will ensure your post is seen by a wide audience.

Local Universities, Colleges, and High Schools

Schools are great places for finding young, hungry talent. Students are looking to take the next step in their careers. Universities and smaller colleges hold several job fairs and recruiting events every year. Make a call to local colleges to see if you can grab a booth at an upcoming event. Another option is to contact a school’s journalism department to see if they’ll include your job post in their publication. 

Depending on the expertise required for your job, you can even try contacting nearby high schools. Some high-achieving students could be looking for a summer job or internship that will look good on a college transcript.