There’s no better example of outstanding customer service than the Zappos flower incident. It all started when Zaz Lamarr was looking to return a pair of shoes to Zappos, when she was met with the sudden passing of her mother. Instead of nagging their customer about returning their product, Zappos responded with empathy. The company took the initiative to arrange the pickup procedure of Zaz’s shoes and even sent a bouquet as a sign of condolences. Their customer service team went above and beyond for their customers—and it worked. To emulate Zappos’s example, you need not just stellar employees, but a company culture that rewards that. And to find the best talents, you need to have an extensive hiring process. However, all HR departments know that this is easier said than done. According to LinkedIn studies, 89% of talent are more likely to join a company if recruiters contact them. This goes to show that conventional recruitment isn't cut out for today's new hires. So, how do you find new talent? If you can't rely on traditional means, you will need to adapt and improvise. For instance, 88% of global companies use AI to find new hires. Using unconventional or innovative means to find new hires can prove lucrative for your continued business. But that’s just one way to break the mold. Here’s a list of creative hiring strategies to use in your business for long-term success. 5 Strategies to Find the Brightest Talents Conventional recruitment techniques like newspaper ads are passé these days. Tapping into LinkedIn is a viable option, but it’s getting far more saturated. Everyone gets recruitment offers from LinkedIn in their inbox, so separating the real opportunities from the scams is harder than ever. To captivate your potential recruits, here are 5 of the best hiring strategies today. 1. Highlight Workplace Flexibility One good thing that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic is the normalisation of remote work. In fact, based on a report from Owl labs, 57% of workers prefer working from home. In addition, the same report showed that 55% of employees are more productive when working remotely. The report mentioned above also highlighted that only 16% of companies are fully remote. However, a study by Mercer showed that 70% of employers plan to adopt a hybrid workflow that embraces both office and remote work. So, to entice new hires, it’s a good idea to highlight workplace flexibility. By offering flexible working conditions, both you and your employees will reap several benefits like: Improved work efficiency Reduced hiring costs Lower office operating costs Access to a broader range of talents Competitive offers when compared to business rivals Improved employee satisfaction However, work flexibility is just one strategy for tapping into the best talent pool. 2. Promoting Diversity In today’s climate, inclusivity is a must for every work environment. For Millennials and Zoomers, employee diversity is expected in their ideal workplaces. In fact, a Glassdoor survey showed that a diverse workforce is an essential consideration for 76% of employees and job-seekers . But diversity isn’t just about appealing to the younger generations. Inclusion and diversity can also benefit the business as a whole. By having a diverse workforce, you benefit from having unique perspectives throughout the entire work environment. You can get insights on: How to boost employee morale How to accomplish goals efficiently How to tackle a project Tips for Promoting Diversity in the Workplace To promote an inclusive environment, companies can take these steps to: Recalibrate the criteria for an “ideal” employee Build a diverse HR team Create inclusive job descriptions Encourage feedback Assess and examine company policy Through diversity, you not only attract potential hires but also improve the company overall. 3. Embrace Freelancers A 9-to-5 job isn’t as commonplace for many employees. Truth be told, 50% of Millennials in the workforce are freelancers. Add to that, 44% of Zoomers are independent contractors. The current generation of employees doesn’t share the same sentiments on work as the older generations. Work stability isn’t as crucial to the current generation of employees compared to flexible working conditions. To attract the brightest individuals to join your company, you need to consider other avenues aside from just hiring employees. Independent workers are a vital resource that companies should adopt, especially if you need short-term assistance before you fill a full-time role. Plus, working with freelancers comes with several benefits. Salaried employees can focus on essential tasks without being distracted by one-off projects. One-off projects can access highly skilled talents outside your workforce. Companies save money due to contractors not needing employee benefits, insurance, vacation leave, and retirement plans. But, your hiring strategy shouldn’t stop at freelancers. You can include additional hiring techniques as well. 4. Adopt Networking In a 2016 report filed by LinkedIn, companies hired 70% of employees through connections. Not to mention 80% of professionals consider networking vital to future success. Finding the best minds for your company can be easier said than done. It could be that a competitor has already hired your ideal employee, or they might be unaware of your job posting. Therefore, you should leverage your current talent pool for the recruitment process. You can potentially find the exact talent that your company requires through referrals. To start networking through your employees, you can employ the following steps: Incentivise networking through a reward program that recognises successful referrals. Employ social media by having your employees blog or post about their work experience. Invite team members into the recruitment and interview process. Update Your Hiring Process Companies must have a hiring process that respects their potential new hires. Because talent is in-demand across all industries, job-seekers can be more particular about what company to join. To stand out, you need to provide a stellar recruitment process to incentivise new hires. For instance, 75% of employees are more likely to stay with their current employer if they have a lucrative benefits package. So, it’s a wise idea to highlight your benefits package when posting job offers. To update your hiring process, you can take steps like: Update job descriptions that highlight benefits and future growth potential Create a simple application process Provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants By providing an exemplary hiring process, you can captivate the brightest talents. 5. Expand Your Talent Pool With Smart Strategies Having the perfect employee walk into an interview is just not going to happen by chance. Every company is looking for the best employees, so finding your ideal talent is easier said than done. So, you need to explore alternative strategies to get the cream of the crop. Newspaper ads and LinkedIn posts aren’t enough to get you the person you need. Instead, consider leveraging tactics like networking or promoting your diverse workplace initiatives to attract the best employees for your company. With tools like Marlin’s Executive Search, you can gain a competitive advantage over the opposition. Executive Search leverages Marlin’s extensive network of connections to help you find the best hires the first time. With these strategies, you can improve the likelihood of hiring outstanding talent. Need help hiring rockstar talent for years to come? Marlin Human Capital can help you find and manage your employees to their full potential. Get in touch with us today to start building your high-performance team.