Green & Clean Tech Hiring
In the 80s it was computer programmers. In the 90s the jobs were found in the medical field. The first ten years of this century were all about global market management. Now, if you're looking for a bright future, your best bet is to look at green technology. The industry is growing rapidly and competition is fierce. Both applicants and employers need to have an edge over their rivals. For the applicants, it's simple. Be the best you can be. For employers, it's a bit more complicated, but there are some tools that can give you the edge. Here are a few tips to help you find the best in your industry.
Invest in an applicant tracking system to find the best and brightest in your field. Engineers, technicians, and green technology sales and marketing people are available in huge numbers right now, but you only have a limited number of spots available. How do you determine who the best is? That process consists of an evaluation of their resume, an interview, some reference checks, and maybe a second interview. Each step needs to be taken individually and everything about the candidate needs to be recorded and tracked. The applicant tracking software necessary to do all of that has to be top of the line, so spare no expense when you purchase it.
Once your recruitment tracking system is in place, take a good hard look at your advertising and promotions strategy. You need engineers. Where will you find them? Chances are an ad in the Sunday paper will not give you the talent level you're looking for. You'll get a lot of phone calls, a number of resumes submitted, and a logistical nightmare when you have to sort through to see who is actually qualified for the job. There might be a diamond in the rough there, but they're rare and hard to find. You're better off targeting industry help boards or networking groups, places where the people in your industry hang out and look for work.
Social networking is another tool that far too many companies overlook. Facebook is the second most popular site in the world behind only Google. Have a discussion with someone who works with you in your company and there's a good chance they'll have friends in another company. It's a great way to recruit talent away from your competitors without crossing any legal or ethical lines. Just make sure you keep track of where those candidates come from using your applicant tracking system.
You'll probably find that your social media strategy works better than most of your other advertising and marketing efforts. If you're happy with Facebook, try Google+ or do a search for local green technology chat rooms and networking opportunities. Trade publications also work, and there are quite a few of them out there, some new and some that have been established for a while. Try a mix and track results. You will need to recruit again at some point, probably sooner rather than later. The industry is growing that fast and new people are joining it every day.
Invest in an applicant tracking system to find the best and brightest in your field. Engineers, technicians, and green technology sales and marketing people are available in huge numbers right now, but you only have a limited number of spots available. How do you determine who the best is? That process consists of an evaluation of their resume, an interview, some reference checks, and maybe a second interview. Each step needs to be taken individually and everything about the candidate needs to be recorded and tracked. The applicant tracking software necessary to do all of that has to be top of the line, so spare no expense when you purchase it.
Once your recruitment tracking system is in place, take a good hard look at your advertising and promotions strategy. You need engineers. Where will you find them? Chances are an ad in the Sunday paper will not give you the talent level you're looking for. You'll get a lot of phone calls, a number of resumes submitted, and a logistical nightmare when you have to sort through to see who is actually qualified for the job. There might be a diamond in the rough there, but they're rare and hard to find. You're better off targeting industry help boards or networking groups, places where the people in your industry hang out and look for work.
Social networking is another tool that far too many companies overlook. Facebook is the second most popular site in the world behind only Google. Have a discussion with someone who works with you in your company and there's a good chance they'll have friends in another company. It's a great way to recruit talent away from your competitors without crossing any legal or ethical lines. Just make sure you keep track of where those candidates come from using your applicant tracking system.
You'll probably find that your social media strategy works better than most of your other advertising and marketing efforts. If you're happy with Facebook, try Google+ or do a search for local green technology chat rooms and networking opportunities. Trade publications also work, and there are quite a few of them out there, some new and some that have been established for a while. Try a mix and track results. You will need to recruit again at some point, probably sooner rather than later. The industry is growing that fast and new people are joining it every day.
