As we enter August, the effects of the dog days of summer start settling in. You need to crush your hiring goals for the year. Yet, the hot, sultry weather can make everything seem stale, stealing your energy and leaving even the most energetic among us feeling lethargic and unmotivated. Yet, that feeling is exactly what you want to avoid this month, especially if one of the things on your to do list is recruiting and hiring for your business.
August is one of the best times of the year for recruiting. While the boss is away on vacation, many passive candidates use this time to toy around with the idea of a new opportunity. Or, after returning from vacation to a job that is out of alignment with their career goals, many great candidates start looking for new opportunities. You can be a step ahead of your competition by taking advantage of the candidates testing the employment waters this month.
Here are three ways you can leverage the dog days of summer to meet your recruiting and hiring goals:
Communicate Like a Boss
Have you noticed that things get quiet in August? Phones stop ringing, your inbox stops exploding, all’s quiet on the text front, and it seems as if everyone is on vacation. This is a gold mine of opportunity for you. Take advantage of the quiet to showcase your positions and your company. Use social media channels, text messages, video, and email to break through the noise and catch your candidates’ attention. Even if your potential candidates are on vacation, you have an opportunity to catch their eye. A recent study showed found the average number of times people check their phones per day is 150. Take advantage of the lazy days of summer to communicate with candidates and build your pipeline for current and future openings.
School’s out for the summer
This is your opportunity to grab a few recent college grads. These eager grads are filled with hopes and dreams and are ready to begin a new chapter in their lives. They are bursting with energy, fresh ideas and skills, and a determination to make an impact in the world. An Accenture study showed that only one in seven college graduates preferred to work in a large company. In large companies, it is often difficult for a high-performing employee to have their work noticed. In a small business, top performers can work closely with the owner or upper management and can be more involved with the heart and soul of the business.
Be Creative and Flexible with Scheduling
Summer schedules can be tough to manage so be creative and flexible with scheduling. With everyone out of the office on vacation, it can be difficult for you to coordinate schedules for your hiring team. I can also be harder for your candidates to take time off on short notice. Alternatively, many companies have relaxed summer schedules so interviewing late in the day becomes a possibility. Video interviews are a great way to have a conversation with a candidate when you are unable to gather everyone together in person. Keep the momentum going with video rather than waiting for everyone to return for an in-person interview.
If you doubt August is a great time to recruit, you are missing an opportunity to get in front of great candidates. I just completed a search for a client with a very narrow set of requirements in five days. And, my client had four great candidates from which to choose, even while people were out on vacation.
While your competition is enjoying their summer vacation, you can take advantage of reduced competition and crush your recruiting goals. What are you waiting for?
In my upcoming book, The YOLO Principle: The Ultimate Hiring Guide for Small Business, you will find more tools and resources for attracting the right people to your business. Simply text RECRUITER to 44222 to get a free sample of The YOLO Principle™.
Of course, you can always ask for personalized help. If you need some insights to get started, schedule your insight session today, call me, send an email. And, the best part is that it’s FREE!