1. Define your communications strategy

Make sure you have clearly defined your company’s brand, your target applicants, and your main sources of potential candidates. Identify what is the right language and channel you should use so you can aim for the best hires.

2. Build a pipeline of candidates

Some recruiters spring into action the moment they need to fill a vacant position. Smart recruiters, however, anticipate the need to have a candidate database even before a position is officially open. This ensures that there will be a pool of great talents you can recruit right away, without wasting valuable time and money.

3. Build your employer brand

One key recruitment strategy is to build a positive image of your brand and making sure you remain visible to your target audience. Preferred employers can easily get potential applicants because everyone dreams of becoming part of their team.

4. Approach passive applicants

The best candidates may already be employed, but it won’t hurt to still approach them with your current job vacancies. Do realize, however, that it will take a lot to convince a happy employee to leave their current job and move to your company instead. This means you have to make it worthwhile for them.

5. Identify your best sources of candidates

Sometimes, traditional newspaper ads or job boards no longer bring in the quality candidates you are looking for. These days, employee referral is one of the best sources of great hires, producing employees who stay longer, happier and are better cultural fits. While you’re at it, use a software like Firstbird to keep up-to-date on the status of your referred candidates.

6. Make your candidates the center of recruitment

Great candidates are hard to find which is why one part of recruitment is successfully marketing your job and your company to the potential applicant. Be concise by giving clear background information about your company and your job needs, and briefly explain why you’re considering them for the job. Don’t let the application process drag on for too long because then you will run the risk of losing your potential hire’s enthusiasm.

7. Prioritize job vacancies

Focus on filling positions with the highest business impact first, because these people will bring in the money and affect the company’s profit targets. You can give higher rewards for employees who are able to refer great candidates for these top priority positions.

8. Offer location flexibility

For most industries, work happens anywhere as long as there is a reliable Internet connection. By being location-flexible, you can attract great candidates even if they do not live in the same city, or want to work from home, or want to experience a long commute.

In order to succeed in getting top candidates, recruitment strategies must be defined with well-thought-out plans and clear end-goals. There are no clear-cut rules, but the eight tactics mentioned above will help guide you to make the best recruitment decisions for your business.