At Meetup #11, we followed the un-meeting format again: I pitched the topic of Facilitating the Hiring Process. Hiring the talent you need is easier said than done. You not only need to find the right talent, you’ll likely need to find it locally. They also need to fit into your culture no matter how good they may be at what they do. No small feat for any business owner, and members of Silicon Halton shared their experiences and tips in an open discussion.
Finding the Talent
Unless you’re lucky enough to have talent already knocking at your door at your door looking for work, a number of outlets are available: Job Postings, though impersonal, may reach the widest market. As one Silicon Halton member suggested, using tools like Craigslist may be a great alternative to other large-scale posting sites and you may be surprised at the quality of responses you’ll receive, LinkedIn and other networking sites can help you tap into your existing network of contacts, or use the advanced search tools to find potential candidates quickly, Recruiters can be great if you’re short on time, and are able to pay a premium. Co-op positionsthrough local schools, if your position allows for an entry-level candidate, can be a great way to give real-world experience and receive a lot of energy and enthusiasm in return.
Networking is Key
Often the expertise you need is closer than you think, and nothing counts more than a face-to-face introduction or a recommendation from a colleague. For virtual networking, make sure the information on your company is up to date on all online sites, and if you’re looking for work make sure your LinkedIn and other online profiles give as much information as possible on what you can offer.
Finding Talent in Halton
From a Silicon Halton point of view, a better company directory and a focused forum to “pimp” the skills of members could make Silicon Halton more of a resource for companies looking for talent. There are difficulties in communicating all the skills we can offer, along with up-to-date availability, but we can certainly push in that direction and improve over time. Finding the right talent may not be an overnight process, but the ideas from the discussion certainly gave us food for thought. All the best finding the next member of your team, and would certainly welcome your thoughts below to help us all along the way!
About the Silicon Halton Blogger
Brian Hogg is owner of a web development and consulting company in Canada and the UK. Born and raised in Burlington and graduate of McMaster University, he has helped bring sites like Meylah, RushPRNews, Community Connections and Freeads to life. Brian can be reached through his company site at bhconsulting.ca, Twitter at @brianhogg, by phone at 1-877-774-4767, and by e-mail at brian@bhconsulting.ca