How to Catch a Big Fish in a Little Pond

Getting the top talent to work for your smaller organization.

By Kam Attwal, CEO of IT By Design On Jun 29, 2015

To ensure continued success, stability and growth, corporations need to acquire the best talent for their specific company. A smaller corporation may have more challenges gaining visibility in this realm, in comparison to larger ones. No matter what the size, any organization can find and hire the most elite talent in the field.

Establish a unique corporate culture. What makes a top tier organization? Defining an organization’s values is a key component. This acts as a compass towards which candidates attain to hold your morals and values to be true, as well. Organizations are used to having candidates vie for positions; it’s time for organizations to “woo” prospects. Cultivate and promote a company environment that’s inviting to candidates.

Smaller companies can use their size to their advantage. With a smaller organization, employees won’t get lost in the shuffle, like in the case with larger conglomerates. Here, employees will get more individualized training. Their efforts will be highlighted more, increasing their chances of promotion within the company at a more rapid rate.

Recruiting early is an important factor as well. There are over 4,000 colleges within the US. The Ivy Leagues aren’t the only institutions that have top talent. By looking at smaller universities, where some of these larger corporations may overlook prospects, you can find a hidden gem.

Going to career fairs at colleges is the perfect place to quickly gain prospects. Even if a candidate doesn’t graduate for another two years, you can start them with an internship and keep them in the organization’s pipeline. By the time graduation comes, you will have a groomed candidate already familiarized with the company’s expectations. Established candidates who have proven track records and have been within the industry for decades can be the most valuable resources, as well. They have confidence and understand the corporate world.

Something as simple as the application process can be a deterrent. Although online applications with multiple pages of questions benefit the employers, they don’t benefit candidates. These surveys can only show so much; bring candidates in! Employees need to have a certain attitude and personality to successfully navigate certain corporate cultures and organizations want to make sure that their values and the candidate’s coincide.

The definition of top talent is unique to every organization. How you can gauge if you have successfully acquired an elite candidate is by how successfully they transition into the workplace and add self-worth to the company. With the proper training and mentorship, a candidate will become one of your organization’s most valuable assets.

About the Author: Kam Attwal is the CEO of IT By Design, a managed service provider. She can be reached at 212-888-1919, ext. 2002 or [email protected].

 

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