The days when all it took was to post the word “Hiring” on the door—or even simply to post a job listing on a website—to find that rare gem are long gone. As candidates with specific skill sets are becoming increasingly hard to attract, it seems essential for a company to diversify its recruitment channels in order to attract qualified candidates and stay competitive in a tight job market. In this article, discover five ideas that should help you recruit talent that meets your needs.

1 - Implement a street sourcing strategy

Street sourcing involves approaching potential candidates directly on the street, without the need for a traditional resume. This innovative method is an excellent way to recruit people who are not comfortable with conventional communication channels—such as job boards—but who might still be a good fit for the company. In fact, street sourcing is an inclusive recruitment method that makes it possible to identify candidates with diverse and non-traditional profiles in terms of age, experience, or professional skills.

In addition, diversifying your recruitment channels by using street sourcing gives you the opportunity to recruit talent for in-demand roles.

To do this, you should first carefully observe and listen to passersby to determine whether or not they are looking for a job. Then, all you have to do is approach them, explain your hiring process, and highlight your company culture.

2 - Focus on partnerships with local stakeholders

To reach as many people as possible with your job postings, it may be worthwhile to reach out to local organizations. By engaging with the local institutional and nonprofit network, you can diversify your recruitment channels while attracting candidates with a wide range of backgrounds. In particular, reach out to organizations that promote diversity and combat discrimination to enhance your employer brand.

You can also establish partnerships with schools in your geographic area, local employment agencies, or job placement organizations. This sourcing strategy offers the advantage of increasing the visibility of your job postings. Furthermore, it allows you to reach a wider range of candidates and practice inclusive hiring by ensuring equal treatment for all applicants.

3 - Use social media to diversify your recruitment channels

These days, social media is a particularly effective tool for recruiting talent for your company. People aged 18–35 use these platforms daily, which makes it easy for you to attract candidates who are likely to meet your needs. To do this, be sure to regularly share relevant information on your chosen social media platform about your job openings, your recruitment process, and company news.

Another reason why more and more companies are deciding to diversify their recruitment channels by turning to social media is to set themselves apart from the competition. This approach allows them to adopt a unique and authentic communication style that enhances their brand image. Furthermore, this sourcing strategy significantly streamlines the recruitment process by primarily attracting qualified talent. While social media recruitment most often takes place on LinkedIn or Facebook, it’s important to understand who uses each platform so you can be present where your target audience is.

4 - Adopt an internal recruitment strategy

When you think about diversifying your recruitment channels, you don't necessarily think of employee referrals or internal hiring. Yet these are strategies that prove successful in most cases.

When it comes to employee referrals, it’s worth noting that 44% of companies used this method to recruit executives in 2020, according to APEC. This recruitment channel allows you to meet experienced candidates who meet your needs. At the same time, it greatly simplifies your HR processes, since employees who recommend candidates effectively perform a form of pre-screening for you. Furthermore, these are often people who have had the opportunity to learn about how your company operates through a team member they know. They therefore already know what to expect in terms of the position and the work environment. Finally, recruiting through employee referrals is a way to engage employees and facilitate the onboarding of new talent.

Internal hiring, on the other hand, helps reduce the risk of error by ensuring that you select someone who is already very familiar with your company culture and possesses the skills required for the open position. It is also a cost-effective solution that allows you to reduce not only your recruitment expenses but also the time spent on HR processes. Internal hiring also helps improve the company’s image by showing your employees that career advancement is possible.

5 - Diversify your recruitment channels by participating in events

Your company’s presence at specialized job fairs gives you visibility among a targeted audience. For example, if you’re planning to hire a work-study student, it might be worthwhile to participate in events exclusively for people seeking this type of employment contract. To diversify your recruitment channels, you can also organize an inclusive “job dating” event to promote your employer brand and the various roles within your company. Through these short job interviews, you can quickly gauge candidates’ interest in joining your company. It goes without saying that meeting your future talent in person allows you to learn more about them than you would by simply reading their resumes.

To attract qualified talent, you can also host an open house at your company. Just like with job dating, this gives you the opportunity to show candidates how your company operates, but this time by immersing them directly in the work environment that awaits them. The fact that they can explore the facilities, meet the various team members, and see the tools and equipment available helps strengthen your brand image.

In conclusion, diversifying your recruitment channels offers numerous benefits for your company: showcasing your employer brand, attracting qualified talent, and saving time on your HR processes. Of course, this depends on the method you choose and how you implement it.

If you're considering recruiting through social media, please don't hesitate to contact us. At Bonanza, we help you develop a unique and effective recruitment strategy to find the candidates who best meet your needs.