November 9, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — "Some companies, no longer relying on traditional job posts to attract candidates, are asking job seekers to tell them what kind of job they want. That’s proving to be a boon to creative candidates," notes a MarketWatch article.
"This is a brilliant technique to attract and engage top talent from a deep, muddy and often tepid talent pool," Steve Langerud, director of professional opportunities at DePauw University, is quoted in the piece.
Marty Orgel writes, "By using an open-ended 'tell us what you want' approach, companies are skimming the top of the talent pool in a strategic and effective way that will have a positive, long-term impact on their recruitment and retention, Langerud said. For the company, there are numerous benefits to this approach, he said. They are not promising the candidate the job he or she proposes. Companies get access to talent that would never apply for one of their current openings. The company can reframe the conversation with the candidates around existing positions and bypass the thundering herd of average job seekers. And companies can bring in new employees, particularly Gen Y employees, who will be highly engaged because they designed their own job. Another benefit, Langerud said, is positive reviews through social media about the companies if their positive hiring messages go viral."
"With the high numbers of job seekers there must be another way to differentiate yourself," Langerud states. "This is a good way."
Later, the story notes, "DePauw University’s Langerud said that while it’s a great idea for job seekers to initiate contact with potential employers, it’s not an easy or fast strategy. Job seekers have to figure out what value they can offer, and they have to determine the type of environment they’d thrive in. Then they need to be innovative in how they articulate what they are seeking, and they should identify someone inside the company to contact."
You'll find the complete text, headlined "Need a job? Getting creative works for some," at MarketWatch.com.
Steve Langerud has helped more than 15,000 people with workplace issues and is regularly quoted in articles on the job market and career development, including the October 30 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the October 23 edition of the New York Times. He is available to help DePauw students and alumni with career planning.
Visit DePauw's Office of Civic, Global and Professional Opportunities here.