I’m an American dammit, and American’s like deals – we want 40% – 60% off stuff, even if you priced that crap up 75% to begin with (hello Kohl’s!) – I don’t care – just give me a receipt that shows I saved $45 dollars on a $90 pair of shoes and I’m sold! I think HR Pros are even worse at this concept – probably because 75% of us are female and like a good sale as much as the next guy gal, but also because we rarely have any money in our budget, so we need to make our dollar stretch!
This is why I think it’s funny that most HR Pros do a terrible job at trying to get Talent on Sale. Yep, you read that correctly – you can get great talent on sale, but we often refuse to do it. Here are some of the best talent bargains we often miss:
1. New College Grads: This can be tricky in finding a real deal. First, you have to get one that has cut the purse strings from mommy and daddy, and doesn’t want a freaking trophy for just showing up to work. I look for new grads that had to work their way through college in the dirtiest job possible – those are the kids who really get it – get what it takes to work. Also, look for kids who worked nights and weekends – even if your schedule doesn’t need them to – they’ll just appreciate you 9 to 5 environment even more!
2. Alumni: This seems like an obvious one, but as I talk to HR Pros around the country, most hiring managers still struggle in hiring back employees who left them, looking for greener pastures. If an HR Pro can talk their hiring managers into really tapping this pool, you can find some great bargains, because the people come in already trained and already acclimated to the culture – two huge over-looked values when hiring new. This is really an ego thing with hiring managers – if you can get them to check it at the door – you can make some great hires. Before you go put a ton of money into a Boomerang or Alumni type program, spend some time surveying your hiring managers – what you find might surprise you!
3. Old People: Before you blow a gasket on the term “old people” – let me explain. I use to be young, now I’m over 40 – and while I still feel young, my kids look at me like I should be in a museum on display! People aren’t lying when they say 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30 – people are beginning careers later in life, living much longer, and healthier than ever. So, when I see someone who is now 60 – I can’t think – oh, they’re only a few years away from retirement. Heck, they might not retire until 75 or later – and I’ll take 15 great years from a hire – especially from someone who has proven over the past 40 at what they can do. This is the greatest untapped labor pool in America right now!
4. Single Moms and Dads: OK, you’re going to have some attendance and flexibility issues, but if you know that going into the hire – you won’t find anyone else who “has” to work harder to make it all work. Some of the best workers I’ve ever had are the full-time single moms and dads (where no other parent is in the picture) and they’ve proven they can handle the single parent role for a few years. Word of caution – new single parents will have many more issues than ones who have figured it out.
So, am I advocating paying these people less? No! What I’m saying is you’ll get more for your dollar with some of these hires than you’ll get from your college grad, 5-7 years of experience with one employer. Why? Because every hiring manager is looking for the latter – and thus that market gets overly inflated for no reason.
Where else do you find your talent bargains?
photo credit: http://www.couponaudit.com