Not so long ago, it used to be that companies seeking to hire new employees would run recruitment advertising to lure potential candidates.  As though a promise of a better life in sunny San Diego was enough, here is an historic 1960s example of a local company’s efforts.

These days (although the recent news reports on layoffs and rising unemployment figures would suggest otherwise) companies are still hiring, but the most modern recruitment methods are far more sophisticated and targeted.

For example, our agency has recently hired several people — all of them sourced without running the traditional “want ad”.   Being the social media experts that we are, our agency utilized our online resources to get the word out.  Here’s some successful avenues to consider if (and when — and there will be a when again) you are hiring up and trying to find the best talent to join your company:

• Your company blog - We’ve hired all our recent interns this way.  Young, web-savvy college students and recent grads live online, so it’s natural they would find your job posting there.
• LinkedIn - Great connection site for professionals of all makes and models.  There are groups to join for your own specialty area, plus ways to ask your network if they know anyone who might fit your job opening.
• Online job posting sites -  These have been highly successful for us.  In our industry, we use TalentZoo and Creative Hotlist.  AdWeek, Monster and HotJobs are okay too, but frankly have not worked as well for us.  Craig’s List is a bust — too many yahoos.
• Club/Organization website - AdClub, PRSA, IABC ,and AMA all have sites with job listings.  Whatever your industry area, there’s plenty of opportunities for networking.
• Twitter - 140 characters to let your followers know about the link to your blog post on the job opening
• Stalking - No, not the creepy kind.  The in-person kind when you literally go to meetings and places intending to introduce yourself to potential candidates.  We hired a fantastic new copywriter right out of Miami Ad School by going to their graduation ceremony and meeting him there.  (Thanks for listening, Mike!)

And the best way to entice potential employees to consider your company for their next great success is your own website.  Let it be known you seek top talent, and when someone sends you a great resume, save it!  You never know when you might need to fill a position fast, and having a mailbox full of resumes helps you leapfrog the collection process.

Recent posts by Jon

• Social media a game-changer for homebuilders - June 19th, 2009
• Homebuilders on Twitter (or not) - June 16th, 2009
• Homebuilders embracing social media - June 2nd, 2009
• Client/Agency Relationships - May 27th, 2009
• Museum Marketing at its Finest - May 20th, 2009
• Economy Breeds Creative New Ad Spaces - May 18th, 2009
• Reverse mentorship assists social media training - May 12th, 2009
• Information is King in the Creative Process - May 4th, 2009
• PR Blunder: Poor planning behind Air Force One debacle - April 29th, 2009
• Celebrating our Addy Awards - March 23rd, 2009
• Bailey Gardiner Wins Big at San Diego Ad Agency Awards - March 23rd, 2009
• Union-Tribune sale announced in Twitter code - March 19th, 2009
• The Outliers - Insight, or Just Entertainment? - March 17th, 2009
• Celebrities Twitter. But Does Anyone Care? - March 10th, 2009
• Don Draper learns to twitter - February 26th, 2009
• Dr. Seuss had it going on - February 26th, 2009
• Our blog predicts brand futures - February 24th, 2009
• Amish Advertising Takes Over World - February 18th, 2009
• Confessions of a DVR-aholic - February 16th, 2009
• If Creativity Were a Color... - February 6th, 2009
• Art imitates Life imitates Art... - February 3rd, 2009
• Marketing When Consumers Aren't Buying - January 29th, 2009
• The Future of the Union-Tribune? - January 26th, 2009
• New Acura spot reminds of Yellow Submarine - January 26th, 2009
• LinkedIn is the office, Facebook is the bar - January 22nd, 2009
• Hope - January 20th, 2009
• Magazine ads spiral down - January 14th, 2009
• Brand Makeovers Reach for Lighter Days - January 12th, 2009
• 30 days of Twitter - January 7th, 2009
• Addy Awards Judges Step Up - January 7th, 2009
• Resolving to resolutions - December 30th, 2008
• Setting the tone for a great client relationship - December 19th, 2008
• Recruitment advertising - old and new - December 8th, 2008
• It's "Purple Tuesday" - shhhhh - December 1st, 2008
• Art for the artists - November 19th, 2008
• The Cost of Creativity - November 14th, 2008
• A new voice in real estate joins the blogosphere - November 5th, 2008
• Emotional bonding in the branding process - November 3rd, 2008
• Marketing in a Crazy Economy - October 27th, 2008
• The Plain Talk about Marketing Jargon - October 21st, 2008
• BG Wins Awards for PR, Blogging and Creative Design - October 17th, 2008
• The Five Pillars of Brand Management - October 10th, 2008
• Adios Direct Mail - October 6th, 2008
• We're going to Interbike - September 23rd, 2008
• Horseracing ads break for Golden Gate Fields - September 18th, 2008
• Marketing to Millenials - September 16th, 2008
• My Grandma-Influenced Career - September 11th, 2008
• Shopping Center Proud - September 2nd, 2008
• Even Stuart Elliott agrees (mostly) - August 27th, 2008
• ESPN ad shows class - August 27th, 2008